To ensure a smooth registration process, pre-clearance of documents will be encouraged. A Norwegian call sign will be allocated during the registration process.
1. Application for certificate of name
Names of vessels of 15 meters and more must be approved prior to registration. Please forward the application, KR-0019, to post@nis-nor.no
2. Notification for registration
The form, notification for registration, KR-0010, must be signed with binding signature by the owner and sent to post@nis-nor.no. The original is not to be forwarded afterwards.
3. Tonnage Certificate
A Tonnage Certificate must be issued or approved by the NMA, section for cargo vessels, before registration can take place.
4. Ownership
Title documents such as Builder's Certificate and Bills of sale must form an unbroken chain of ownership back to the last registered owner in the previous assets register or all the way back to the manufacturer.
If the ship is changing flag: Last registered owner must correspond with seller on Bill of Sale.
If the vessel is a newbuilding not yet registered: Builder's Certificate has to be issued.
Signature requirements
All title documents and powers of attorney must be signed with binding signature. For Norwegian registered companies: according to the certificate of company registration.
Confirmation of issuer's signature on Norwegian documents
Issuer's signature may be confirmed by:
- two individuals who are of age and resident in Norway
- lawyer/ assistant lawyer
- licensed registered accountant or
- Notary Public
Confirmation of issuer's signature on foreign documents
Title documents and power of attorneys issued abroad must be notarized and thereafter legalized/ amended with an Apostille.
A Notary Public has to confirm:
- the identity of the person signing
- that the person is of age
- that the person is authorized to sign for and on behalf of the company in question
It must be confirmed that the Notary Public is a public official holding the position specified in the document and, therefore, has the right to sign.
Notarial statements issued by Notaries in countries that are party to the Hague Convention are confirmed by the amendment of an Apostille by local authorities in the country.
Notarial statements issued by Notaries in countries that are not party to the Hague Convention are legalized by the Norwegian consular station in the relevant country.
Notarial statements from the Nordic Countries are exempt from legalization requirements.
You can find the list of countries that are parties to the Hague Convention on Apostille here.
All title documents must be submitted in original.
Registration may take place on the basis of electronic copies. The originals are then to be forwarded to the Ship Registers within three weeks form entry into the journal.
5. Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance (PDA)
If the vessel is a newbuilding and confirmation of delivery is not stated in Builder's Certificate: an electronic copy signed by both the builder and the owner must be sent to the Department of Ship Registration prior to registration. The original is not to be forwarded.
6. If documentation of ownership is not possible the vessel may still be registered
Ownership must then be acquired through the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39 S.35:
Acquisition of Registered Title by Consolidated Proceedings against possible Holders of Rights.
- If the owner of a Norwegian ship lacks a registered title and it is impossible or unreasonably difficult for him or her to obtain registered title in any other manner, he or she can acquire registered title by a judgment confirming his or her title to the ship, obtained in consolidated proceedings against possible holders of rights and by registration of such judgment.
- If the Court finds that the conditions have been met, it shall order that an extract of the writ be published in Norsk lysningsblad (the official gazette), with an announcement calling on any person claiming to have a better right to the ship than the plaintiff to appear in Court within a period, which shall be set at not less than 3 months, and prove his right.
- If no defendant appears within the time limit, the Court shall give judgment without a hearing confirming that the plaintiff is the owner. Such judgment shall immediately become final and binding on each and every person and shall not be subject to the right of appeal.
7. Owner's nationality
Section 1 of the Maritime Act sets out the requirements to owner's nationality
The main rule is that the owner of a pleasure craft in NOR is a Norwegian citizen, or a citizen of a country associated with the EEA agreement and resident in Norway.
The owner must confirm her/his nationality in the form "Notification of Change" (item 2 above).
If the owner is a Norwegian citizen resident abroad, the following must also be submitted:
- Appointment of a Norwegian representative. Use form KR-0060.
- The representative must satisfy the nationality conditions in Section 1 of the Maritime Act and confirm this by completing the relevant "Declaration of Nationality". Select the correct form, KR-0001 – KR-0007 in our forms directory, tab for “Registration in NIS/NOR”.
If the owner is an EEA citizen living abroad or a citizen from a country outside the EEA
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries (NFD) can in special cases approve applications for a dispensation from the nationality conditions according to Section 1 of the Maritime Act. If the vessel is owned by several people, all owners must either fulfill the nationality conditions or be granted a dispensation.
Applications are approved if the ministry considers that there is a sufficiently strong connection between the owner, the vessel and Norway.
More information about what the application to NFD must contain about the owner of the vessel.
8. Certificate from the previous ship register/ country
Norway does not permit dual registration. A certificate from the previous assets register in the country in which the ship has been built and/or transferred must always be produced.
If the vessel has not been registered before, this fact must be stated by the relevant register.
a. The vessel has been registered
The Deletion Certificate must contain the following information:
- time of deletion
- owner at the time of deletion
- that the vessel was deleted free from registered encumbrances
b. The vessel has not been registered before entering NOR
A statement to this fact (often called "certificate of non-registry) must be produced by the relevant assets register.
c. The vessel has been owned, but not registered, in more than one country prior to registration in the NOR
The assets registers in all relevant countries must issue a statement confirming "non-registry".
Confirmation of the certificates issued by overseas ship registers
Certificates issued by countries that are party to the Hague Convention are confirmed by the amendment of an Apostille by local authorities in the country.
Certificates issued by countries that that are not party to the Hague Convention are legalized by the Norwegian consular station in the relevant country.
Certificates from the Nordic countries’ ship registries are exempt from legalization requirements.
You can find the list of countries that are parties to the Hague Convention on Apostille here.
Submission of the certificates
- Copies may be accepted at the time of registration if sent directly to the NOR from the previous register.
- The original is then to be forwarded without delay.
- Kindly note that final registration is conditional upon receipt of the original document.
9. Registration fees per 1 January 2023
NOK 3 927, -
NOK 2 762, - for each mortgage registered against the vessel.
An invoice will be sent out after registration has taken place. To ensure correct invoicing we kindly ask the recipient to fill in the form payment information, KR-0070. Send to post@nis-nor.no. The original is not to be forwarded afterwards.
In addition, there will be charged applicable fee rates and hourly rates related to the initial-and annual fees based on the vessel’s length/ NET as well as other, relevant fees (for example dispensation applications and certain certificates) ref. the NMA's Tariff of Fees / Fees Regulations.
10. Certificate of Nationality
The registered owner will automatically receive a Certificate of Nationality after registration of the vessel has taken place, ref. the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39 S.5. This is free of charge.
11. Please note
Language
All documents, notarial statements etc. must be issued in one of the Scandinavian languages, English or translated by a licensed translator.
All documents related to the registration process must be sent directly to the Department of Ship Registration
The Norwegian Maritime Authority, Department of Ship Registration,
P.O.Box 73 Nygårdstangen
N-5838 BERGEN
Please contact us and we will guide you through the registration process
Phone: + 47 52 74 50 00
post@nis-nor.no