Private individuals are prohibited from importing tobacco and nicotine products in consignments

This prohibition applies regardless of the method used to place the order, including online, telephone, postal, or other forms of distance sales. A sale is considered a "cross‑border distance sale" when the seller and the customer are in different countries at the time the order is placed.

The products covered by the distance sales prohibition are in addition to the tobacco- and nicotine products that were already prohibited from being imported prior to 1. January 2026.

From 1. January 2026 it is prohibited to import the following products:

• Cigarettes
• Snus
• Vape/ e-cigarettes with nicotine
• E-liquid with nicotine
• Cigars
• Other tobacco products
• Nicotine snus (without tobacco)
• Heated Tobacco Products (HTP)
• Waterpipe tobacco
• E-cigarettes and e-juice without nicotine with characterising flavours
• E-cigarettes without nicotine with characterising flavours
• Cases, boxes, covers, wrappers, packaging, and any other product intended to wholly or partially conceal or obscure the health warnings on the products

It is permitted to import:

• Herbal mixtures and snus without tobacco and nicotine.
• E-cigarettes without nicotine with tobacco flavour.
• Private individuals may still import nicotine‑containing e‑cigarettes for personal use as smoking cessation products, provided that the requirements of medicinal products legislation are fulfilled.

What does the prohibition entail?

The prohibition applies to anyone who does not hold a licence to import tobacco products into Norway,which in practice means all private individuals. If products are imported in violation of the regulations, the Norwegian Customs may detain, confiscate, and destroy the goods. No compensation may be claimed for products that are destroyed.

The legislative amendment follows the decision of the Norwegian Parliament to prohibit "cross‑border distance sales" of tobacco products, e‑cigarettes, and refill containers to or from Norway. The prohibition on distance sales (online sales) of tobacco products, e‑cigarettes, and e‑liquids is laid down in Tobakksskadeloven §21b and Lov om endringer til bl.a. tobaksskadeloven §21 b.

What does the legislation say?

• Tobakksskadeloven
• Forskrift om innhold i og merking og utforming av tobakksvarer mv.
• Forskrift om godkjenningsordning for nye tobakks- og nikotinprodukter