METHODS OF SHIPPING

Commercial Moving Companies

Some families like to hire commercial moving companies. We suggest that you do some investigating in your area and then decide which method will suit your needs best.

Extra Airplane Luggage

Many people bring all of their personal belongings with them on the airplane and pay for excess luggage. This is one way of ensuring your shipment arrives when you do. Be sure to read the fine print on your ticket or call the airline a couple weeks in advance of departure to find out your weight allowance and request to send extra luggage. When crossing the Atlantic, weight allowance is often greater than for domestic flights.

Some families have purchased large plastic containers for sending goods rather than using multiple suitcases. These can be taped shut during transit and nested for easy storage on this end.

Bringing bulky items like bicycles, strollers and golf clubs is also possible on airplanes. These items can also be purchased reasonably second-hand in Norway.

Be sure to insure valuable possessions before sending them.

Sea/Surface

Shipping your belongings by surface is usually less expensive than air, but it takes, on the average, six weeks to arrive in Stavanger from North America.

Sometimes families will pack some items in advance and send them by surface and bring the rest with them. For surface handling costs you should contact a local shipping service. Make sure to bring things you need at the start of the school year in your airplane luggage in case your shipment is delayed.

Air Freight

Air freight tends to be costly, but is also much quicker than surface. There is usually a basic charge for airfreight shipments depending on the point of origin. With increasing weight, there is a lower charge per pound. Check with a local air freight company, or an airline, for current rates. The shipping time via airfreight is usually a few days.

Mail/Post

Another method that has been used in the past by many people is to use their national mail system i.e. USPS to send belongings in boxes. Contact the post office for specific size and weight regulations.

It has been the case that UPS will not ship used personal items. DHL is reliable but more expensive, and can be used for shipping used personal items.

For shipping books from the US you might want to look into sending them by "M-bag," putting a box of books into a special canvas bag. Shipping books this way is less expensive but can be slow. Be aware that some post offices haven't heard of this shipping method and don't bother to look through the regulations to find out they really do have such a thing.

CUSTOMS DECLARATIONS

When moving from abroad you can bring most household effects to Norway free of customs duties and taxes. You must submit a declaration to Norwegian Customs, see https://www.toll.no/en/goods/moving-goods/. A customs declaration can be done through the Norwegian Customs app.

Customs: Receiving Packages in Norway

Be wary that all packages sent to Norway can be subject to customs duties and taxes. Customs fees can sometimes exceed the value of the item purchased so it is wise to make sure that customs (toll and MVA/moms) is included when making online purchases. For more information see: https://www.toll.no/en/online-shopping/. For more information see the section under Living in Norway.

Customs: Travel Quotas

For information about alcohol and tobacco quotas, the customs app, currency, or traveling with expensive items, pets or medicines, see: https://www.toll.no/en/travelling/