Firearms, firearm components and ammunition
- Document symbol
- G/LIC/N/3/NOR/11
- Original language
- English
- Published on
- 01/05/2025
Outline of Systems
Q1. Give a brief description of each licensing system as a whole and, with respect to each, reply to the following questions as relevant, placing all of the material with respect to a given system in sequence together, and using cross references as appropriate when elements which have already been described are also present in another system.
Act No. 7 relating to Weapons, Firearms, Weapons components and Ammunition of 20. April 2018 and Regulation No. 91452 on Weapons, Firearms, Weapons Components and Ammunition of 7 May 2021 require a permit granted by the Police for commercial and non-commercial imports of firearms, firearm components and ammunition (not covered by Act No. 39 relating to Explosive Goods of 14 June 1974 (applies only to Svalbard) or the Fire and Explosion Prevention Act).
Commercial imports of ammunition from a member state covered by the EEA Agreement may only occur pursuant to Directive 2014/28/EU of 26 February 2014 on the harmonization of the provisions relating to the placing on the market and supervision of explosives for civil uses.
Purposes and Coverage of Licensing
Q2. Identify each licensing system maintained and state what products, appropriately grouped, are covered.
Civil permits for commercial and non-commercial imports of firearms, firearm components and ammunition. Firearms, weapons components and ammunition subject to a license or reporting obligation, cf. Firearms act section 5, 6, 7 or listed in Firearms Regulation section 10-1, require an import license.
Q3. The system applies to goods originating in and coming from which countries?
The system regarding import licensing of firearms, firearm components and ammunition regulates imports from all countries.
Q4. Is the licensing intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports, and if not, what are its purposes? Have alternative methods of accomplishing the purposes been considered and if so which? Why have they not been adopted?
The purpose of the permit is to ensure that only suitable persons import firearms, firearm components and ammunition.
Q5. Cite the law, regulation and/or administrative order under which the licensing is maintained. Is the licensing statutorily required? Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion? Is it possible for the government (or the executive branch) to abolish the system without legislative approval?
Firearms Act No. 7 of 20 April 2018, section 21, and Firearms Regulation No. 1452 of 7 May 2021, chapter 10. The permit is statutorily required. It is not possible for the government or the executive branch to abolish the system without legislative approval.
Procedures
Q6. For products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports (whether applicable globally or to a limited number of countries or whether established bilaterally or unilaterally):
Q6.I. Is information published, and where, concerning allocation of quotas and formalities of filing applications for licences? If not, how is it brought to the attention of possible importers? Of governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries and their trade representatives? Is the overall amount published? The amount allocated to goods from each country? The maximum amount allocated to each importer? How to request any exceptions or derogations from the licensing requirement?
Q6.II. How is the size of the quotas determined: on a yearly, six-monthly or quarterly basis? Are there cases where the size of quota is determined on a yearly basis but licences are issued for imports on a six-monthly or quarterly basis? In the latter case, is it necessary for importers to apply for fresh licence on a six-monthly or quarterly basis?
Q6.III. Are licences allotted for certain goods partly or only to domestic producers of like goods? What steps are taken to ensure that licences allocated are actually used for imports? Are unused allocations added to quotas for a succeeding period? Are the names of importers to whom licences have been allocated made known to governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries upon request? If not, for what reason? (Indicate products to which replies relate.)
Q6.IV. From the time of announcing the opening of quotas, as indicated in I above, what is the period of time allowed for the submission of applications for licences?
Q6.V. What are the minimum and maximum lengths of time for processing applications?
Q6.VI. How much time remains, at a minimum, between the granting of licences and the date of opening of the period of importation?
Q6.VII. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?
Q6.VIII. If the demand for licences cannot be fully satisfied, on what basis is the allocation to applicants made? First come, first served? Past performance? Is there a maximum amount to be allocated per applicant and, if so, on what basis is it determined? What provision is made for new importers? Are applications examined simultaneously or on receipt?
Q6.IX. In the case of bilateral quotas or export restraint arrangements where export permits are issued by exporting countries, are import licences also required? If so, are licences issued automatically?
Q6.X. In cases where imports are allowed on the basis of export permits only, how is the importing country informed of the effect given by the exporting countries to the understanding between the two countries?
Q6.XI. Are there products for which licences are issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the domestic market?
Q7. Where there is no quantitative limit on importation of a product or on imports from a particular country:
Q7.a. How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made? Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence (for example, owing to inadvertency)?
Application for a license must be made in time for the license to be granted before actual importation.
Q7.b. Can a licence be granted immediately on request?
No.
Q7.c. Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation may be made? If so, explain.
No.
Q7.d. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?
The Police.
Q8. Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria? Are the reasons for any refusal given to the applicant? Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence and, if so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria?
Police supervision of applications for commercial import permits:
In addition to check that a person who seeks an import permit is licensed to trade in firearms, firearm components and ammunition, and that the application meets the requisite formalities, the police evaluates whether the type and number of weapons the application concerns are defensible from policing, security and social points of view cf. Firearms Regulation section 10-3.
Are the reasons for any refusal given to applicants?
The reasons for any refusal shall be given to the applicant.
Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?
Yes.
If so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
The applicant has a right to appeal to the National Police Directorate. The procedures are pursuant to Norwegian administrative law.
Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence
Q9. Are all persons, firms and institutions eligible to apply for licences: (If not, is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation? What persons or firms are eligible? Is there a registration fee? Is there a published list of authorized importers?) a) under restrictive licensing systems? b) under non-restrictive systems?
Everyone is eligible to apply for a permit to import firearms, firearm components and ammunition. A permit for commercial import requires a license to trade in firearms, cf. Firearms Act section 23 and Firearms regulation section 10-3
Documentational and Other Requirements for Application for Licence
Q10. What information is required in applications? Submit a sample form. What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
What information is required in applications?
The application for commercial imports of firearms, firearm components and/or ammunition information on:
- the applicant's (the firm's) full name and address;
- the name and address of the supplier;
- firearm type/part, make, model, calibre, action and quantity; and
- the number of consignments, the expected delivery date and quantity of each consignment.
What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
The application must be submitted on a prescribed form to the police district in which the business is registered, cf. the Firearms Regulation section 10-2.
Documentation showing the value (total purchase price) must be attached to the application, cf. the Firearms Regulation section 10-3.
The application form can be found here: application-for-a-permit-to-import-firearms-firearms-parts-and-ammunition-for-commercial-purposes.pdf
The application for non-commercial imports of firearms, firearm components and/or ammunition must contain information on:
- the applicant's full name and address, date of birth and birthplace;
- the applicant's firearms permit reference; and
- accurate information about the firearm, the weapon part or the ammunition, including the type/part, brand, model, caliber, length, mechanism and quantity.
The application must be submitted on a prescribed form to the police district in which the person is registered, cf. the Firearms Regulation section 10-7. The application form can be found here: soknad-om-ikke-ervervsmessig-inn-forsel_skytevapen-08.10.2024.pdf
Q11. What documents are required upon actual importation?
A permission granted by the Police.
Q12. Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge? If so, what is the amount of the fee or charge?
Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge?
Yes.
What is the amount of the fee or charge?
The fee for commercial imports of firearms, firearm components or ammunition is NOK 520. The fee for non-commercial imports of firearms, firearm components or ammunition is NOK 269.
Q13. Is there any deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issue of licences? If so, state the amount or rate, whether it is refundable, the period of retention and the purpose of the requirement.
There is no specific requirement to pay in advance or to deposit money for acquiring a licence.
Conditions of Licensing
Q14. What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity of a licence be extended? How?
The permit for commercial imports of firearms, firearm components or ammunition is valid until goods for the stated amount have been imported, but no longer than a period of six months. The permit for non-commercial imports of firearms, firearm components or ammunition is valid one year.
Q15. Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
No.
Q16. Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
Transfer of an import permit is prohibited.
Q17. Are any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence? a) for products subject to quantitative restriction? b) for products not subject to quantitative restriction?
No.
Other Procedural Requirements
Q18. Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
No.