Conditions for obtaining and holding a community licence for goods vehicle and coach transport
The company must have a stable operation in Norway, as well as satisfactory repute, financial standing and professional competence.
The conditions are set out in the Norwegian Professional Transport Act (Lovdata, Norwegian only) and in Regulation (EC) 1071/2009 (EUR-Lex.eu).
The transport company must be established in Norway in order to obtain an operator’s licence
The transport company must be registered in the Brønnøysund Register Centre, and have an effective and stable establishment in Norway. A PO box cannot be considered to meet the requirement for an effective and stable address under the Professional Transport Act and its subordinate regulations. We recommend avoiding the use of a c/o address, as it may be unclear in the licence document who the licence holder is.
The transport company cannot have Russian or Belarusian owners
When you apply for a Community licence for goods transport in Norway, you have to confirm that the enterprise is not owned 25 percent or more by Russian or Belarusian owners. This includes individuals, companies, organisations and public institutions from Russia or Belarus.
Pease note that transport operators with Community licences for goods transport must notify the licensing authorities immediately if there is an increase in their Russian ownership share to 25% or more.
Conduct history (repute) and police certificate
Applicants for a transport operator’s licence must document their conduct history with a police certificate of good repute. This requirement includes the transport manager, the Managing Director / CEO and the Chairman of the Board. The certificate must not be older than three months at the time of application.
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) is responsible for monitoring that the conditions for holding a transport operator’s licence are met at all times. For this reason, conduct history checks of the enterprise, the transport manager and the MD/CEO are carried out every three years. The police routinely send police certificates directly to the NPRA when we request such checks. The transport company thus does not need to take any action.
Satisfactory financial standing
An applicant for an operator’s licence must have sufficient guarantees for all of the enterprise's licences. The guarantee statement is sent directly from the bank or insurance company to the NPRA. Furthermore, the applicant for an operator’s licence needs to submit a certificate from the Norwegian Tax Administration showing any outstanding arrears or taxes. The enterprise cannot be under bankruptcy proceedings.
The guarantee statement for goods transport over 3,500 kg and passenger transport by coach must amount to a NOK value equivalent to EUR 9,000 when applying for one single operator’s licence. For additional operator’s licences, a NOK value equivalent to EUR 5,000 is required for each licence. The guarantee statement for goods transports between 2,500 kg and 3,500 kg must amount to a NOK value equivalent to EUR 1,800 when applying for one single operator’s licence, and EUR 900 for each additional licences. The value of the euro in NOK is determined in accordance with Article 7 (1) of Regulation (EC) 1071/2009 for all licence types. The Ministry may set out more specific requirements concerning submission of the guarantee statement.
Sufficient professional competence
Holders of and applicants for operator’s licences for goods vehicle and coach transport must comply with the detailed requirements for professional competence and documentation of such competence in Articles 8 and 21 of Regulation (EC) No. 1071/2009.
The requirement for professional competence is considered fulfilled if one of the following criteria is met
- Passing the operator’s licence test for goods and passenger transport at one of the NPRA’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Offices
- Holding a certificate from passing an examination from an examination scheme approved by the Ministry,
- Managing valid operator’s licences for the type of operator’s licence applied for,
- Holding documented experience:
Goods transports of more than 3.5 tonnes: The transport manager has managed a transport enterprise with valid operator’s licences continuously in the period of 10 years before 4 December 2009.
Goods transports between 2.5 tonnes and 3.5 tonnes: The transport manager has managed a transport enterprise using light goods vehicles continuously for the period of 10 years before 20 August 2020.
Documentation of approved education must be attached to the application.