A catering permit is the permission from the municipality that you must have to operate a café, restaurant, food stall, or food truck. It is free, but the manager must first pass the establishment test, and alcohol requires a separate alcohol license.
What is a catering permit, and who must have one?
Everyone who wants to make money operating a food service venue must have a catering permit from the municipality (serveringsloven § 3). The permit is issued by the municipality where the venue is located, and it is free both to apply for and to hold.
The law applies to all places that serve food or drink where "conditions allow for consumption on the premises" (§ 2). Common examples:
- café, restaurant, bar, and pub
- food stall, grill shop, and kebab shop
- food truck and mobile units — Oslo requires a permit for carts and e-bikes as well
- commercially operated canteens and self-service venues
You must have a registered business first — see how to register a sole proprietorship (ENK). If you are a citizen of a country outside the EEA, you need residence permission as a self-employed person.
Do I need a permit if I only sell takeaway?
Probably yes. The test is not whether you have seating, but whether "conditions allow for consumption on the premises". Bergen municipality states it plainly: "You do not need to have seating to be considered a food service venue."
The old kiosk exemption was repealed on 1 January 2008. Since then, kiosks and food stalls have been equally subject to permit requirements.
These fall outside the catering law:
- catering, because the food is prepared in a different place than where it is eaten
- delivery only, without the opportunity to eat on premises
- free serving and serving "of a sporadic nature", for example waffle sales at a flea market
Ask the municipality in writing before you sign a lease.
The establishment test: 50 questions in 90 minutes, Norwegian only
The manager must have passed the establishment test (serveringsloven § 5) and be of legal age, that is, at least 18 years old (§ 4). This is set out in regulation FOR-2000-01-18-46:
- 50 questions, and at least 40 correct to pass
- 90 minutes for the electronic exam
- fee of up to 400 kroner per attempt
- the municipality must hold the exam within two months of registration
The regulation sets no limit on the number of attempts and no expiration date for the certificate. Oslo municipality states that the certificate is valid indefinitely. Oslo, Bergen, Bærum, and Drammen charge 400 kroner per attempt.
The curriculum is financial management and the legislation governing the operation of food service venues: serveringsloven, tax and duty legislation, accounting legislation, bankruptcy legislation, working environment legislation, and alkoholloven.
In Oslo, the Business Agency (Næringsetaten) holds the exam on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. You book an appointment using ID-porten, pay with Vipps, and must show physical identification.
The establishment test or the knowledge test — what is the difference?
The most important practical difference is the dictionary: permitted in the knowledge test for the alcohol law, not permitted in the establishment test. Instead, you may bring a legal compilation or reprint of relevant laws. Both tests are available only in Norwegian, and an interpreter is not permitted in either of them.
| Establishment test | Knowledge test, serving | Knowledge test, sales | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who takes it | manager | manager and deputy | manager and deputy |
| Questions | 50 | 30 | 30 |
| Pass mark | 40 correct | 24 correct | 24 correct |
| Time | 90 minutes | 60 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Fee | up to 400 kroner | 400 kroner | 400 kroner |
| Dictionary | no | yes | yes |
The dictionary rule is municipal practice. Oslo, Bergen, and Bærum state as of August 2026 that a dictionary is not permitted in the establishment test. Other municipalities say nothing, so check with your own municipality.
Health and Care Minister Jan Christian Vestre answered on 19 March 2026 that the Directorate of Health is revising the knowledge test, and that it "will then be considered whether the knowledge test should be translated into English". Regarding the establishment test, the minister said that "the current arrangement can make it more difficult for people who do not master Norwegian". Nothing has been decided as of August 2026, and SamfunnPrep is following the matter.
Alcohol license: this comes in addition
If you want to serve alcohol, you need an alcohol license in addition. Alcohol may only be served on the basis of a permit (alkoholloven § 1-4a), and an alcohol license requires that the venue already has a catering permit.
Each permit must have an approved manager and deputy manager. Both must be over 20 years old and demonstrate knowledge of alkoholloven (§ 1-7c). The knowledge test is the documentation. An alcohol license is issued for periods of up to four years (alkoholloven § 1-6).
Breaches result in points. The system is national and has applied since 1 January 2016: 12 points in two years means suspension for at least one week. Serving alcohol to someone under 18 years old carries 8 points, the highest rate. Serving an obviously intoxicated person and breaching serving hours carry 4 points. Serving hours are set by the municipality.
What does it cost? License fees in 2026
The catering permit is free. The alcohol license costs an annual license fee calculated on alcohol sales. The rates were changed by regulation FOR-2025-11-28-2361 and apply from 1 January 2026.
| License fee for serving | Rate from 1 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alcohol group 1, per sales liter | 0.63 kroner |
| Alcohol group 2, per sales liter | 1.62 kroner |
| Alcohol group 3, per sales liter | 5.35 kroner |
| Minimum per year | 6,600 kroner |
| Temporary license, per occasion | up to 470 kroner |
The municipality may in exceptional cases set the fee lower than the minimum rate.
You report the quantity in an annual sales return. There is no national deadline — the municipality sets the date. In 2026, the deadline was 17 February in Bergen, 1 March in Bærum, and 16 March in Oslo. A late return incurs 2 points.
Food service has the full value added tax rate of 25 per cent, while food you take away has a reduced rate of 15 per cent. A food service venue quickly exceeds the threshold for VAT registration and the 50,000 kroner limit.
How long does it take, and what does the municipality check?
The municipality must decide on the catering permit application "as quickly as possible and no later than 60 days" (serveringsloven § 10). The deadline starts from when the application is complete, and restarts if documentation is missing anything. The deadline can be extended once if the matter is complicated.
For an alcohol license, there is no such statutory deadline. Oslo municipality states four months for an alcohol license. If you set your opening date based on the 60-day deadline but also need an alcohol license, you will be two months off.
Much of the time goes to conduct checks. The permit holder, manager, and anyone with significant influence must have "unblemished conduct" under criminal law, tax and duty legislation, accounting legislation, and the equality and anti-discrimination act (§ 6). The municipality obtains a statement from the police before the application is decided (§ 9).
Shares held by family and close associates count (§ 7), so you cannot circumvent the conduct requirement through a relative. The business structure determines who is assessed — see limited company or sole proprietorship. The requirements apply also after the permit is granted; the municipality may revoke it after notice and reasonable notice (§ 19).
The permits many forget
The permit from the municipality is not enough. You must also have this in place:
- Mattilsynet. Everyone starting a food business must notify in advance, via the form "New food business". Mattilsynet does not charge a fee for registration itself, but for approval. You can book a free guidance session. Most food service venues need only registration, not approval.
- The premises. Separate areas for food preparation and washing, hand washing and toilet facilities for staff, temperature control, and internal control.
- Cash register system. Cash sales must be registered in a cash register system with a product declaration (bokføringsloven § 10 a). The penalty fee is ten court fees, that is, 13,450 kroner as of 2026 (skatteforvaltningsloven § 14-7).
- Smoke-free air. Food service premises must have smoke-free air (tobakksskadeloven § 25), and the ban also applies to electronic cigarettes (§ 28 a).
- Insurance and pension. Occupational injury insurance is mandatory when you have employees. Mandatory occupational pension (OTP) is triggered by at least two persons in the business at 75 per cent employment, by one employee without owner interest at 75 per cent employment, or when multiple employees with at least 20 per cent employment together perform at least two full-time equivalents (OTP-loven § 1).
- The documents. serveringsloven § 8 requires a tax certificate. Bergen also asks for an operational concept, lease, and usage permit.
Working life is among the topics you encounter in the social studies test. On SamfunnPrep you will find our tools for newcomers to Norway and free practice for the test.
