Roles in a foreign business
Last updated: 16 December 2025.
Here you find an overview of the roles a foreign business must register with us.
As a general rule, all persons who are registered with a role, must state a complete Norwegian national identity number or d-number. The exception is the board and partners in the country of origin. Legal persons which have roles are to state the organisation number. Examples of legal persons are limited companies and partnerships.
The d-number is a separate number identifying foreign persons without a Norwegian national identity number.
You have to use this form to apply for a d-number, and the form must be attached to the form Coordinated register notification. Additionally, you must include an originally certified copy of a valid identification document containing a photo, full name, date of birth, gender, expiration date, and citizenship. You will find an overview of who can confirm the identification documents in the application form for d-number. The requirement for the copy of the identification document to be originally certified in order to get a d-number, makes it necessary to submit the application by post.
A Norwegian registered foreign business is to have a general manager, contact person or business manager. The business is not obliged to have a general manager, but if the business in Norway has a general manager, you must report this.
When you want to notify a general manager in the Register of Business Enterprises, you need to enclose
- documentation showing the appointment or engagement of the general manager
When you are going to register a contact person, you have to enclose
- a confirmation showing the connection between the contact person and the business in the country of origin
The confirmation should be made by the foreign business. If a business has been reported as the Norwegian representative and the contact person is employed by the representative, the representative may confirm the connection between the contact person and the foreign business.
There is no requirement for attachments to register a general manager or a business manager in the Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities.
Foreign businesses without permanent business address/establishment in Norway, which fall under VAT regulations, must notify a Norwegian representative. This does not apply for businesses residing in an EEA state with which Norway has an agreement for the exchange of information and mutual assistance with the collection of VAT claims. In addition, there is an exception for enterprises domiciled in Great Britain. Other foreign businesses without permanent business address in Norway, can voluntarily report a Norwegian representative.
Who can be the Norwegian representative?
The Norwegian representative can be a natural or legal person. The representative is to have home address or business address in Norway. If the Norwegian representative is a legal person, you need to register a contact person or general manager in addition.
Persons with d-number and Norwegian registered foreign businesses (NUF) without a Norwegian business address cannot be the Norwegian representative.
When you register a Norwegian representative, you need to enclose
- records from the foreign business showing the appointment of the Norwegian representative
- declaration of acceptance from the Norwegian representative who has taken on the assignment
If the Norwegian representative signs the form Coordinated register notification, you do not need to enclose a separate declaration.
The board in Norway
If a separate board is elected for the business in Norway, this must be reported in the form with names, addresses and Norwegian national ID-numbers or d-numbers for all the board members.
Upon registration in the Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities please enclose
- records from a corporate body in the foreign business which is authorised to appoint a board for the business in Norway.
- original declarations of acceptance, which show that they have taken on the assignment
Upon registration in the Register of Business Enterprises, please enclose
- records from a corporate body in the foreign business which is authorised to appoint a board for the business in Norway.
- original declarations of acceptance, which show that they have taken on the assignment
If the board members sign the Coordinated register Notification, you do not need to enclose the declarations of acceptance.
The board in the country of origin
If the business has a board in the country of origin, you need to report all these with names, addresses and date of birth.
Partners in the country of origin
If the business has partners in the country of origin, you have to report all these with names, addresses and national identity number.
If the business in Norway has a certified Norwegian auditor or accountant, you must report this in the registration form. The auditor or accountant has to confirm the assignment by signing the form.
Signature is an authorisation to sign and to act on behalf of the business in all matters.
Power of procuration is an authorisation to sign and to act on behalf of the business in some matters. Power of procuration cannot be used to sell or mortgage the business’ real properties.
Power of procuration can be registered only for organisations with business activity.
Which signature rights and power of procuration can be registered?
Signature rights and power of procuration can be granted to named persons, general manager in Norway or the board for the Norwegian business. If more than one person is granted signature rights or power of procuration, you must specify whether it is separately or jointly. No other restrictions can be registered. It is not possible to register signature and power of procuration that only apply to the Norwegian activities.
When you register signature rights, please enclose
- records showing who has been granted signature rights, such as proof of registration from the registry in the country of origin, articles of association or records from a corporate body which is authorised to assign this