Kindly note that we strongly encourage pre-clearance of documents.
1. Application for certificate of name
Kindly forward an application for certificate of name, KR-0019, to post@nis-nor.no. If not allocated earlier, a Norwegian call sign and IMO number will be assigned upon receipt of this application. The original application is not to be forwarded afterwards.
2. Notification for registration
The form, Notification for registration KR-0010, must be signed with binding signature by the owner or owner's process agent (representative) and sent to post@nis-nor.no. The original application is not to be forwarded afterwards.
3. Tonnage Certificate
A Tonnage Certificate must be issued or approved by the NMA, section for mobile offshore units, before registration can take place.
4. Technical and operational safety
The unit’s technical and operational safety shall be audited and accepted by the NMA, section for Mobile Offshore Units.
5. Ownership
An unbroken chain of ownership must be documented back to the last registered owner in the previous register or to the shipbuilder.
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.
Confirmation of issuer's signature on Norwegian documents
Binding signature according to the certificate of company registration.
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, i.e. Builder's Certificate and Bill of Sale 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.
6. Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance
An electronic copy signed by both the builder and the owner must be sent to the register prior to registration. The original is not to be forwarded after registration has taken place.
7. Owner's nationality
NIS is open to owners of all nationalities, re. the act of 12 June 1987 No. 48 relating to a Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) §1.
- If owner satisfies § 1 no. 2 or 3, the main part of the technical and/or commercial management must be done by a shipping company with its head office in Norway.
- Foreign companies according to § 1 no. 3 must also appoint a Norwegian Process Agent. The main role of the Process Agent is to accept writs on behalf of the owner. The Process Agent has to fulfil the same conditions as a managing "reder" according to the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39
§ 103.
Declaration of Nationality
- Owner according to the Norwegian Maritime Code §1 no. 1:the owner fills in and signs a "Declaration of Nationality".
- Owner according to the Norwegian Maritime Code §1 no.3: the representative fills in and signs a "Declaration of Nationality".
Please choose the correct form here. The declaration is to be signed with binding signature and sent to post@nis-nor.no. The original is not to be forwarded afterwards.
8. Appointment of process agent
If registered according to the act of 12 June 1987 No. 48 relating to a Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) §1 no.3: KR-0060 must be signed with binding signature by the owner and the appointed process agent. Please send to post@nis-nor.no. The original is not to be forwarded afterwards.
9. Management agreement
If the shipowner satisfies the conditions set out in the act of 12 June 1987 No. 48 relating to a Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) § no 2 or 3 a management agreement is to be presented. The agreement must show the connection between the registered owner and the Norwegian management company. BIMCO's standard agreement may be used. A certified true copy must be sent to the Department of Ship Registration either by e-mail or by regular mail prior to registration.
10. Company documentation, if owner is a foreign registered company
For Norwegian registered companies, the NIS relies on registered information in the company register in Brønnøysund. Foreign owners must prepare equivalent documentation prior to registration. Read more about the requirements here. To be forwarded in original.
11. Certificate from the previous ship register/ country
A Deletion Certificate must be presented upon change of flag. If there is also a change of ownership vendor on Bill of Sale must be in accordance with this certificate.
a. The Deletion Certificate must contain the following information:
- Time of deletion.
- Registered owner at the time of deletion.
- Confirmation that the ship was deleted free from registered encumbrances.
Some flag states do, however, not issue a Deletion Certificate upon deletion.
b. If a Deletion Certificate cannot be produced at the time of registration in the NIS
The ship may be entered into the journal of the NIS upon receipt of a "Permission to transfer" together with a "Certificate of Ownership and Encumbrances- free from registered encumbrances". Final registration will be conditional upon receipt of a Deletion Certificate within a given time-limit
c. If the newbuilding has not been registered during the construction period
The main rule is that this must be stated by the ship register in the country in which the ship has been built. This is, however, not possible to obtain from all countries, i.e. China. In such cases, an equivalent statement from the shipbuilder will be accepted.
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 NIS 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.
12. Guarantee for wages and homeward journey
This requirement is applicable if there are employees on board that are not covered by Norwegian or EEA social security schemes. The purpose is to protect the employees in case of employer's bankruptcy. All guarantors must be approved by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. Read more on the scheme and see the list of approved guarantors here. Bank guarantees must be forwarded in original.
13. ISM/CSR
a. ISM-liable company
The ISM-Code regulates safe management of ships and mobile offshore units. Which ships/units this applies to is regulated in the NMA’s regulations of 5 September 2014 No. 1191 on a safety management system for Norwegian ships and mobile offshore units § 1.
We kindly as you to use the standard form, KR-0014. The form is to be signed by both parties and forwarded sent directly to post@nis-nor.no. After registration has taken place a color scan of the endorsed form will be sent to the ISM liable company per e-mail to be kept on board.
b. Continuous Synopsis Record - CSR
A standard form has been drawn up the International Maritime Organization- IMO. The form consists of 16 items. Whenever a change occurs to one of the items the flag state is to be notified on FORM 2, KR-IMO-02.
For newbuildings the CSR history starts with Application for CSR, KR-IMO-01.
It is not a registration requirement for Application for CSR or FORM2 to be forwarded in original.
c. FORM 3
Kindly note that each and every CSR document is to be accompanied by a FORM 3, KR-IMO-03: Index of amendments to that specific document. It is not a registration requirement for FORM3 to be forwarded in original.
d. CSR file
Upon change of flag, please ensure that a copy of the ship’s complete CSR file, including «Closed CSR», is sent to post@nis-nor.no.
14. Registration fees per 1 January 2024
NOK 4 099, -
NOK 2 884, - for each mortgage to be registered against the unit.
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 and send it to post@nis-nor.no. The original is not to be forwarded afterwards.
In addition, there will be charged initial- and annual fees according to the ship's NET, annual fee to maintain the registration as well as fees for dispensation applications and certain certificates ref. the NMA's Tariff of Fees / Fees Regulations S. 7.
15. Certificate of Nationality/Registry
The Ship Registers will issue a Provisional Certificate of Nationality/Registry upon registration and send a PDF copy directly on board/to where the owner instructs. The provisional certificate will not be forwarded in original.
A permanent Certificate of Nationality/Registry will be issued once the registration has been approved by the Registrar. The permanent certificate will be forwarded in original to be kept on board.
16. 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
17. Maritime Certificates
The certificates are issued by the NMA. Read more about the supervisory system and maritime certificates here.
18. Qualification and Medical Certificate Requirements
Maritime personnel must possess either Norwegian certificates of competency or a Norwegian endorsement on their national certificates. See our guidance on endorsements.
Any questions regarding personnel certificates may be directed to the section for Education, Certification and Manning via phone no. (+47) 52 74 50 00+47) 52 74 50 00.
About Medical Certificates approved for service on board Norwegian vessels.
19. Please also remember to apply for a radio license
Maritime radio licenses are issued by Telenor Kystradio. Follow this link to Telenor Kystradio for license application for commercial vessels.