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Starting and registering a public limited company (ASA)

When starting a public limited company, you must choose a name, found the company and obtain share capital. The company must then be registered.
Last updated 18.03.2025

Conditions for starting a public limited company.

  • Public limited companies can be founded by one or more people. Both natural and legal persons (such as private limited companies and associations) can be founders.
  • You must be aged 18 or over in order to be a founder or fulfil another role in a public limited company (and not be subject to bankruptcy disqualification or loss of rights preventing you from founding or holding a role in the relevant company). 
  • The company must have a Norwegian business address (i.e. a Norwegian physical address which is stated in the format: street/road, house number, postcode and postal town. A postbox addresses alone is not accepted, only as a supplement).

Founding and registering a public limited company

How to register a public limited company when those who are to perform roles in the company have a Norwegian national ID number or d-number:

  1. Found the company by preparing and signing a memorandum of association and articles of association.
Requirement for memorandum of association for public limited company (ASA) (in Norwegian only)
    • The Brønnøysund Register Centre – Establish a public limited company
  • Ask the bank to set up a share capital account. Deposit the share capital (minimum of NOK 1 million) and ask for confirmation of receipt from your bank. The confirmation can also be given by an auditor, a lawyer or authorized accountant. (If all or part of the share capital is to consist of anything other than cash, the auditor must confirm the payment.)
  • Register the public limited company using the form entitled 'Coordinated register notification'.
    • Register a public limited company ASA (Form Coordinated Register Notification) (in Norwegian only)
  • Enclose the memorandum of association, articles of association, a confirmation that the share capital has been deposited.
    • The Brønnøysund Register Centre – Guide to attachments
  • Send the notification for signing. The board members and auditor have to sign electronically. You will be notified when the company has been registered via your "Inbox " in Altinn.

    • If someone who is to have a role in the company do not have a Norwegian national ID number or d-number

    How to register a public limited company when those who are to perform roles in the company do not have a Norwegian national ID number or d-number
    1. Found the company by preparing and signing a memorandum of association and articles of association.
    Requirement for memorandum of association for public limited company (ASA) (in Norwegian only) The Brønnøysund Register Centre – Establish a public limited company
  • Ask the bank to set up a share capital account. Deposit the share capital (minimum of NOK 1 million) and ask for confirmation of receipt from your bank. The confirmation can also be given by an auditor, lawyer or authorized accountant.
  • Register the company by completing the paper form for registering a public limited company (Coordinated register notification – Main form) and Application for a d-number (one form for each person who requires a d-number because they are to perform a role in the company) and send them collectively by post. Enclose confirmation that the share capital has been deposited and a certified copy of valid identification for those who require a d-number. 
    • Coordinated register notification, Main form (in Norwegian only)

    The Brønnøysund Register Centre – Application for a d-numberThe Brønnøysund Register Centre – Guide to attachments
  • Send the forms to the postal address printed on the Coordinated Register Notification.

    • You will be notified once the registration process is complete.

    Foreign Citizen

    If you are a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country, and are planning to run a business in Norway, you need to have a residence permit that will allow you to work here. Information about the terms and requirements for a permit can be found on the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration's (UDI) website.

    Directorate of Immigration – apply for a residence permit

    Naming a public limited company

    Public limited companies must have the form of incorporation 'allmennaksjeselskap' or the abbreviation 'ASA' at the end of the company name. Read more about choosing a name (domain names, business names and trademarks).

    Deadline for registration

    Notification of the registration of the company must be received by the Register of Business Enterprises no later than three months after the company is founded. The company is founded when the last founder has signed the memorandum of association. A company cannot normally take on obligations until it has been registered.

    How long does it take?

    The Brønnøysund Register Centre's case processing times vary through the year.

    The Brønnøysund Register Centre – expected processing time (in Norwegian only)

    How much does it cost?

    Registering a public limited company costs NOK 6,500 when registering electronically in Altinn, or NOK 7,653 when registering using the paper form.

    Upon registration, the cooperative will be assigned an organisation number.

    Switching from a private limited company to a public limited company

    A private limited company (AS) can be converted to a public limited company (ASA) while retaining its organisation number.