Svalbard and Jan Mayen: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 0 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Svalbard and Jan Mayen.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Svalbard and Jan Mayen in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Svalbard and Jan Mayen may still be on a list.

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On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Svalbard and Jan Mayen recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Svalbard and Jan Mayen: logistics and trade

Arctic niche location; supplied via Longyearbyen

Svalbard and Jan Mayen (ISO code: SJ) lie in the high north of Europe in the Arctic Ocean, north of Norway, and consist of the Svalbard archipelago and Jan Mayen island. Politically, both areas belong to Norway, although Svalbard has a special status with limited sovereignty for international treaties. The climate is Arctic to subarctic, with long, cold winters, short, cool summers and pronounced snow cover. Economically, fishing, coal mining on Svalbard, research and tourism play a central role, while industry and agriculture are of practically no importance. In foreign trade, the regions mainly export fish products and coal, while they depend on imports from Norway and Europe for nearly all consumer and industrial goods. Logistically, connections are made via ports, airports and ship links, with Svalbard taking on a limited transit function for Arctic research and maritime routes. The national currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK). Strategic investments focus on infrastructure, research facilities and sustainable logistics to secure the economic use and international connectivity of the regions.

Capital: none
Population: 2,556
Area: 62,422 km²
Currency: Norwegian krone (NOK)
Continent: Europe
Region: Arctic / Northern Europe
Economic area: Norwegian territory; outside EU/EEA and VAT area
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air

Current situation: Norway's last coal mine, Gruve 7, stopped production in 2025; Russian mining in Barentsburg continues. Longyearbyen has had no coal power plant since 2023 (switched to diesel).
Seasonal conditions: Polar night (Oct to Feb) and midnight sun; ice, storms and icing can delay sea and flight connections. Sea access year-round, but highly weather-dependent.

Main cargo airports

Svalbard Airport, LongyearLYR
Svalbard Airport Longyear (LYR) on Spitsbergen: world's northernmost scheduled airport, SAS and Norwegian flights, no dedicated cargo – alternative Tromsø (TOS).

Main trade lanes

Mainland Norway (Tromsø/Bodø)–Longyearbyen
Oslo/Tromsø–Longyearbyen (air freight)

Customs and import

Customs authority Tolletaten (Norwegian Customs), Longyearbyen customs officeOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Own customs territory outside mainland Norway; no import duties. Since May 2022 customs presence (Tolletaten) in Longyearbyen, so far without formal advance notification and presentation obligations.
Export customs system: Shipment from mainland to Svalbard counts as export; goods from Svalbard to mainland are customs-cleared on arrival like imports from a third country. Source: Tolletaten.
Import VAT: No VAT: Svalbard and Jan Mayen are outside the Norwegian VAT area. No import duties are levied either. Source: Skatteetaten / Tolletaten.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Svalbard and Jan Mayen do not belong to the EU/EEA or any free trade area; no preferential origin rules apply. Trade flows via mainland Norway.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Norwegian bans and restrictions apply accordingly (weapons, narcotics, CITES). Strict nature protection under the Svalbard Environmental Act for importing and exporting animals, plants and waste.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Waybill (sea freight/air freight)
Export papers from mainland Norway

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Waybill
Customs declaration on arrival on mainland

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: Low to medium
Customs delays: Low
Port congestion: Low
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Low
E-commerce relevance: Low

Trade

Top import goods

Food
Fuels
Consumer goods
Equipment

Top export goods

Coal
Fish

Typical cargo

Food
Fuel
Building materials
Equipment
Fish products

Logistics questions

Is customs duty or VAT charged when importing into Svalbard?

No. Svalbard and Jan Mayen are outside the Norwegian customs and VAT area. No import duties and no VAT are levied (basis: Svalbard Treaty 1920; Source: Tolletaten, Skatteetaten).

How do goods get to Svalbard?

Almost all supplies come via mainland Norway: by sea freight from ports such as Tromsø and Bodø to the port of Longyearbyen, and by air freight via Svalbard Longyear Airport (LYR).

What applies when goods are brought from Svalbard to mainland Norway?

They are customs-cleared on arrival on mainland as imports from a third country. Conversely, shipment from mainland to Svalbard counts as export.

Does Jan Mayen have a port?

No. Jan Mayen has no port and no permanent resident population; only a meteorological and a military station are operated. Supplies are delivered by aircraft via a gravel runway and occasionally by ship.

Is coal still mined on Svalbard?

Norwegian coal mining ended in 2025 with the closure of the Gruve 7 mine near Longyearbyen. Russian mining in Barentsburg (Trust Arktikugol) continues.

Which currency applies and how high is the tax?

The legal tender is the Norwegian krone (NOK). Svalbard applies a low wage withholding tax (8 percent low rate, 22 percent high rate) and no VAT (Source: Skatteetaten).

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