Obligatory and voluntary registers
When running a business there are a number of different registers in which you either can, or must, register.
Here is a brief overview of some of these registers:
Register of Legal Entities
The Register of Legal Entities is a national register which allocates organisation numbers. Associations and sole proprietorships are entitled to register in the Register of Legal Enterprises. Registration in many other registers entails an obligation to be registered in the Register of Legal Entities, e.g. the Register of Business Enterprises and the Value Added Tax Register. Private limited companies, co-operatives and general partnerships are amongst the entities which are obliged to register in the Register of Legal Entities. To find out whether an enterprise is registered, you can search in the Register of Legal Entities.
The Brønnøysund Register Centre – About the Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities (CCR)
Register of Business Enterprises
The Register of Business Enterprises is responsible for registering Norwegian and foreign enterprises which operate commercially in Norway or on the Norwegian continental shelf. Sole proprietorships trading in ready-made goods or have more than five employees are obliged to register in the Register of Business enterprises. Other sole proprietorships are entitled, but not obliged, to register. Registration in the Register of Business Enterprises affords protection for the enterprise's name. Most information in the Register of Business Enterprises is public information. In order to find out whether an enterprise is registered in the Register of Business Enterprises you can use the search area "Find business/entity" at Brreg.no. Registration in the Register of Business Enterprises will be specified under special information.
The Register of Business Enterprises (in Norwegian only)
Search the Brønnøysund Register Centre (in Norwegian only)
The Employer and Employee Register (NAV Aa Register)
The Register of Employers and Employees contains information on employments. Employers and contractors are obliged to report monthly on their employees and freelancers every by submitting an a-melding. Registration in the Aa-register is done by submitting the A-melding. Employers and contractors must register in the Register of Legal Entities before they can submit an A-melding. The register is used by most public authorities.
State Register of Employers and Employees (Aa-registeret)
The Value Added Tax Register
The Value Added Tax Register contains an overview of businesses which are subject to value added tax. This means enterprises which are required to add value added tax to vatable products and services. To find out whether an enterprise is registered in the Value Added Tax Register, you can use the search area "Find business/entity" at Brreg.no. Registration in the Value Added Tax Register will be specified under special information.
The Norwegian Tax Administration — Registration in the Value Added Tax Register
Search the Brønnøysund Register Centre (in Norwegian only)
Register of approved cleaning enterprises
Anyone who provides cleaning services to any extent must have official approval from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority in order to provide such services. It is illegal to purchase cleaning services from enterprises which are not registered in the Register of approved cleaning enterprises. You can search in the Register of approved cleaning enterprises to find out whether an enterprise is approved as a cleaning enterprise. All approved cleaning enterprises must each year, no later than January 31, notify the Labour Inspection Authority that they still meet the requirements for approval.
The Register of approved cleaning enterprises (in Norwegian only)
The Labour Inspection Authority – find approved cleaning companies in your area (in Norwegian only)
Annual notification for Authorised cleaning undertakings
Register for of staffing enterprises
Enterprises whose object is to hire out labour are obliged to register in the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority's register for staffing enterprises. It is illegal to hire labour from staffing enterprises which are not registered with the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority. Contact the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority for more information on who is obliged to register. You can search the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority's register of staffing enterprises in order to find out whether an enterprise is approved as a manpower enterprise.
The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority's register for staffing enterprises (in Norwegian only)
The Register of Non-Profit Organisations
In order to be registered in the Register of Non-Profit Organisations, you must carry on voluntary activity and be registered as an association, foundation or private limited company. Upon registration in the Register of Non-Profit Organisations, an enterprise can apply for VAT compensation. If an enterprise operates at a local or regional level, it can participate in the Grass Roots Scheme. To find out whether an enterprise is registered in the Register of Non-Profit Organisations, you can use the search area "Find business/entity" at Brreg.no. Registration in the Register of Non-Profit Organisations will be specified under special information.
