Starting and registering a private limited company (AS)
When you start a private limited company, you must choose a name, found the company and obtain share capital. The company must then be registered.
Conditions for starting a private limited company:
- Private limited companies can be founded by one or more people. Both natural and legal persons (such as private limited companies) can be founders.
- You must be aged 18 or over in order to be a founder or perform another role in a private limited company (and not be under bankruptcy disqualification or other limitations preventing you from founding or holding a role in this 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. Postbox addresses will not be accepted). The business may have a separate mailing address in addition to the business address.
Founding and registering a private limited company
How to found and register a private limited company if the founder(s) and those who will perform roles in the company have a Norwegian national identity number or a d-number.
- Found the company by completing and signing the form 'Foundation of a private limited company'.
- Ask the bank to set up a share capital account. Deposit the share capital (minimum NOK 30,000) and ask for confirmation of receipt from the 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 assets other than cash, only the auditor can confirm the payment.
- Register the company by following the link to register in the Register of Business Enterprises in the notification you received in your Inbox in Altinn. Confirmation of paid-in share capital must be attached. (In the case of contributions with assets other than cash, a statement and confirmation by the auditor must also be attached).
- Send the notification for signing. You will then receive a notification for signing in your Altinn inbox, which you will use in order to sign the form. The entire board of directors must electronically sign the notification, and the person who has provided confirmation that the share capital has been paid in must sign this electronically. If the company has chosen to have an auditor, the auditor must electronically sign the notification.
An alternative to founding and registering a private limited company (AS) in Altinn, is to do so through certain banks using a service called digital company formation. Please note that there are several exceptions to when this solution can be used. For example, it cannot be used if assets (non-cash contributions) are to be used as share capital, or if the company is being established as part of a merger or demerger.
More examples and information about this solution can be found here:
You will be notified when the company has been registered via your Inbox in Altinn.
Once the company is founded, the board of directors shall immediately establish a share register.
What if some of the founders do not have a Norwegian national ID number or d-number?
- Establish the limited company by preparing the articles of association and memorandum of association. The memorandum of association must be signed by all founders.
- Ask the bank to set up a share capital account. Deposit the share capital (minimum NOK 30,000) and ask for confirmation of receipt from the bank. The confirmation can also be given by an auditor, a lawyer or authorized accountant. If the share capital consists of other assets (non-cash contribution), the value of these assets must be confirmed by an auditor.
- Register the company using the form entitled 'Coordinated register notification'. Attach the memorandum of association, articles of association, and confirmation of paid-up share capital. (If contributions are made with assets other than cash, a statement and confirmation by an auditor must also be included.)
- Send the notification for signing and sign the notification. The entire board of directors must electronically sign the notification, and the person who has provided confirmation that the share capital has been paid in must sign this electronically. If the company has chosen to have an auditor, the auditor must electronically sign notification.
You will be notified when the company has been registered via your Inbox in Altinn.
What if some of those who are to perform a role in the company do not have a Norwegian national ID number or d-number?
- Found the company by preparing and signing a memorandum of association and articles of association. The memorandum of association must be signed by all founders.
- Ask the bank to set up a share capital account. Deposit the share capital (minimum NOK 30,000) and ask for confirmation of receipt from the bank. The confirmation can also be given by an auditor, a lawyer or authorized accountant. When contributions are made with assets other than cash (non-cash contributions), only the auditor confirms the contribution, and a statement along with the auditor's confirmation of this must also be included.
- Register the company by completing the paper form for registering a private 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 have a role in the business).
The Brønnøysund Register Centre – Coordinated Register Notification (downloadable variants)
Guide to Coordinated register notification
The Brønnøysund Register Centre – Application for a d-number
- Enclose original confirmation that the share capital has been deposited, any letter of undertaking from an auditor and a certified copy of valid identification for the person or persons who are applying for a d-number. Send the forms to the postal address printed on the Coordinated Register Notification.
You will be notified by regular post once the registration process is complete.
The Brønnøysund Register Centre – Establish a limited company
The Brønnøysund Register Centre – How to start a limited company
Foreign Citizen
If you are not a citizen of an 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 can be found on the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration's (UDI) website.
Directorate of Immigration – apply for a residence permit
Naming a private limited company
Private limited companies must have the form of incorporation 'aksjeselskap' or the abbreviation 'AS' after the company name. More about choosing names (domain names, business names and trademarks).
Deadline for registration
The Register of Business Enterprises must receive notification of the registration of the company no later than three months after the company is founded. The company is founded when the last founder has signed the memorandum of association. Companies cannot normally take on obligations until they have been registered.
How long does it take?
When you submit the message electronically through Altinn, the case will be processed within ten working days after it is received. If you have also used the electronic form for founding a private limited company, the case will be processed within five working days after it is received. The Brønnøysund Register Centre's case processing times is longer for regular post, and will vary throughout the year.
The Brønnøysund Register Centre – Expected processing time
How much does it cost?
The registration fee for online registration of a private limited liability company through Altinn, is NOK 6,500. If you submit the registration form by regular post, the fee is NOK 7,653.
When the registration has been processed, the company will be assigned an organisation number.
Running a private limited company
Before registering a private limited company, you should familiarise yourself with the rules for running a private limited company.
