Roles in a foreign business
Last updated: 22 June 2026.
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 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.
A contact person can only be registered if there are no other physical roles to be registered, and it must be confirmed that the contact person has a connection to the foreign company. The confirmation must be from the foreign company.
If a company is reported as the Norwegian representative, and the reported contact person is employed with the representative, the representative can confirm the contact person’s connection to the foreign company.
Attachments, applies only to the registration of a general manager:
- minutes confirming the employment of a general manager, unless the entire board has signed the form
- a declaration from the general manager confirming to take on the assignment
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.
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 and any deputy 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 from the new board members and deputy board members, which show that they have taken on the assignment
If the board members and deputy 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 and accountant have to confirm the assignment by signing the form.
When you are reporting an accountant for the Norwegian business and it is registered in the Register of Business Enterprises, you have to attach
- documentation showing that the reported accountant has been engaged
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