How to register a recreational craft between 7 and 23,99 meters

1. Application for certificate of name - only applicable for vessels of 15 meters and more

Names of vessels of 15 meters and more must be approved prior to registration. f a Norwegian call sign has not been assigned previously, it will be assigned upon receipt of the Application for Certificate of Name. If the PDF version is chosen, please send a signed copy to nis-nor@sdir.no.

The desired home port should be entered according to this list, approved home ports in NOR and NIS

2. Notification for registration

Please use the correct notification form according to the length of the vessel.

For registration of a vessel less than 15 meters, choose this form: Notification for registration, NOR less than 15 m.

For registration of a vessel of 15 meters or more, choose this form: Notification for vessel to be registered - NIS and NOR. 

The form must be signed with a binding signature by the person registering the vessel. If the PDF version is chosen, please send a signed copy to nis-nor@sdir.no.

The desired home port should be entered according to this list: Approved home ports in NOR and NIS.

3. Call sign and marking

If a Norwegian call sign has not been allocated prior to registration, the Department of Ship Registration will assign one in connection with the registration process.

The call sign shall be permanently marked on board on a fixed structural member by cutting, welding or centre punch marking (for instance in a deck coaming, hatch beam, on a bulkhead or similar). Markings should not be made on removable plates. The marking shall always be painted in a contrasting colour re. the retulations on ship’s name, call sign, marking and home port, etc.

The Ship Registers will send out guidance on marking requirements upon assignment of the call sign or upon receipt of the registration form and other necessary documentation.

4. Picture of marked call sign and HIN/CIN/WIN Code

Send pictures in JPG or PDF format to nis-nor@sdir.no.

5. Documentation of vessel measurements

The vessel's length, breadth, depth and/draught must be documented prior to registration, by submission of: builder's certificate from the manufacturer; general arrangement drawings; approved CE documentation; other declaration from the manufacturer or similar documentation considered unobjectionable by the Registrar. If this is not possible, the Norwegian Maritime Authority can in some cases measure the vessel. Clarify this with the Department of Ship Registration in connection with registration.

6. Documentation on CE marking of the vessel

From 16 June 1998, it has been required for pleasure vessels to be CE marked. If applicable, send a PDF copy of the declaration of conformity/other documentation to nis-nor@sdir.no prior to registration. The documentation supports that the vessel has been CE marked, but the Norwegian Maritime Authority does not approve this upon registration.

7. Documentation on CE marking of the engine

Since 1 January 2006, also engines have been required to be CE-marked. If applicable, send a PDF copy of the declaration of conformity/other documentation to post@nis-nor.no prior to registration. The documentation supports that the engine has been CE marked, but the Norwegian Maritime Authority does not approve this upon registration.

8. 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; a 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.

The regulations on registration of ships in the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register (NOR)§ 18 identifies who can confirm or witness the signatures.

All title documents must be submitted in original.
Registration may take place upon receipt of PDF copies. Final registration will then be conditional upon receipt of the original documents within three weeks thereafter.

9. 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.

10. If documentation of ownership is not possible the vessel may still be registered

Ownership must then be acquired through the Norwegian Maritime Code § 36 or § 35. You will find the Norwegian Maritime Code here: Acts.

S. 36: Acquisition of Registered Title by Advertisement
Whenever a Norwegian ship with a greatest length of less than 15 meters belongs to someone who has no registered title, the person exercising an owner’s rights of disposal and declaring in writing that he or she is the owner, can obtain registered title provided that he or she can show prima facie that he or she, together with those from whom he or she has acquired title, have been owners for at least ten years - or back to the boat was new / manufacturer.
If the Registrar finds that these conditions have been met, he or she shall publish an invitation to possible owners to appear within a time limit which shall be set to at least one month. 
If no person appears, the Registrar shall enter the ship in the Register of Ships with the owner as registered titleholder or, if the ship is already registered, note that the title of the owner is in order.

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.

11. Owner's nationality

The Norwegian Maritime Code (available here: Acts) § 1 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, Appointment of Process Agent
• The representative must satisfy the nationality conditions in Section 1 of the Maritime Code and confirm this by completing the relevant "Declaration of Nationality". Choose the correct form, KR-0001 - KR-0007, in our forms directory The declaration must be signed with binding signature by the owner or the owner's representative. If the PDF version is chosen, please send a signed copy to nis-nor@sdir.no.

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. here: Application to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries for dispensation from the nationality conditions in § 1 of the Maritime Code.

12. Certificate from the previous ship register/country

This only applies to vessels imported from abroad. To ensure that the vessel is not registered in two countries and to document the connection between the last registered owner in the previous assets register and the person registering the vessel, confirmation from the previous country's ship register (not small boat register) must be obtained.

If the vessel has been registered in a foreign ship register (real assets register), a deletion certificate must be obtained. In case of sale, there must be consistency between the last registered owner according to the deletion certificate and the seller in the deed/Bill of Sale. The certificate must contain the following information: time of deletion, the owner at the time of deletion, and a positive confirmation that the vessel was deleted free of encumbrances  

 If the vessel has not been registered in the country it comes from, this must be confirmed in writing by the relevant ship register (real asset register) by issuance of a "Certificate of Non-Registry": 

If the vessel has been unregistered and owned in several countries before registration in NOR, the ship register (real asset register) in all these countries must issue a confirmation that the vessel has not been registered.

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
PDF copies may be accepted at the time of registration. Final registration will then be conditional upon receipt of the original documents within three weeks thereafter.

13. Fees for the formal registration - per 1 January 2025

NOK 4 255, - for registration if theif the measurements are documented through submitted documentation.
NOK 2 993, - if physical measurement had to be carried out prior to registration.
NOK 2 993, - for each mortgage registered against the vessel (if any).

An invoice will be sent out after registration has taken place. To ensure correct invoicing we kindly ask the recipient to fill in this form: Payment information for the formal registrations in NIS/NOR/BYGG.. If the PDF version is chosen, please send a signed copy to nis-nor@sdir.no.

Annual fee for NOR pleasure craft from 7 meters, but under 24 meters: NOK 229, - The registered owner as of January 1st is responsible for the entire annual fee.
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 and Fees Regulations.

14. Certificate of Nationality

A certificate of Nationality will be issued upon request, free of charge.

15. Language and submission of the documents

All documents, notarial statements, etc. must be issued in one of the Scandinavian languages, English or translated by a licensed translator re. the regulations on registration of ships in the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register (NOR) § 17.

Please contact us and we will guide you through the registration process
Phone: + 47 52 74 50 00
nis-nor@sdir.no