Invoicing Clients as a Freelancer in Norway
What to include on an invoice, when to register for VAT, and getting paid across currencies.
A valid Norwegian invoice (faktura) generally needs: your business name and organisation number, the customer's name and address, an invoice number and date, a clear description of the goods or services provided, the amount excluding VAT, the VAT rate and amount (if registered), and the total amount due, along with your payment details and due date.
If your business's annual turnover is below the VAT registration threshold, you're generally not required to charge VAT — but you also can't reclaim VAT on your own business purchases. Once you cross the threshold, registration becomes mandatory, and your invoices must show VAT separately using the VAT Calculator to get the numbers right.
If you invoice international clients, decide upfront whether to bill in NOK or in their local currency (often EUR or USD). Billing in your own currency removes exchange-rate risk for you but may be less convenient for the client; billing in theirs shifts that risk onto you. Either way, the Currency Converter is useful for quoting a rough equivalent when discussing a rate.
Keep a simple record of each invoice sent and paid — the Working Days Calculator can help when quoting turnaround times that exclude weekends and Norwegian public holidays.