In short: an Estonian private limited company (OÜ) and a Norwegian aksjeselskap (AS) are both limited-liability companies that one person can found. They differ in the minimum capital, in the registration deadline, in how a share changes hands and in when the company's profit is taxed. This page sets the facts of both side by side from the official texts; it does not say which is better for you.

The facts side by side

The company and its owners: Estonian OÜ: One founder with one share is a valid company (Commercial Code § 148(1)); a shareholder is not personally liable for the company's obligations (§ 135(2), (3)); Norwegian AS: The person or persons who will subscribe for shares, the founders, draw up a memorandum of association containing the articles, on paper or through an approved electronic solution (Limited Liability Companies Act, § 2-1(1)); the shareholders are not liable to the creditors for the company's obligations (§ 1-2(1))
Register: Estonian OÜ: Commercial register (e-Business Register); Norwegian AS: Reported to the Register of Business Enterprises within three months after the memorandum is signed (§ 2-18(1)); the share contributions are paid in full before that (§ 2-18(2))
Minimum capital: Estonian OÜ: Share capital in euros (Commercial Code § 136); the smallest share has a nominal value of one cent (§ 148(1)); Norwegian AS: At least 30 000 Norwegian kroner (§ 3-1(1))
Transfer of a share: Estonian OÜ: Notarised; the notary sends the notice to the register within two days (Commercial Code § 149); Norwegian AS: Shares can change owner unless the law, the articles or an agreement between the shareholders provides otherwise (§ 4-15(1)); the acquisition needs the company's consent and the other shareholders have a right of first refusal, unless the articles provide otherwise (§ 4-15(2) and (3))
Yearly filing: Estonian OÜ: Annual report within six months after the end of the financial year (Commercial Code § 179); Norwegian AS: Not covered by the official texts used here
How company profit is taxed: Estonian OÜ: Corporate income tax is paid when profit is distributed; no income tax is paid on profit while it stays in the company — see how Estonia taxes company profit; Norwegian AS: Companies pay tax to the state of 22 percent of their income for the income year 2026, and 25 percent if they pay the financial activity tax on wages (the Storting's tax decision for the income year 2026, § 3-3)
VAT number: Estonian OÜ: An Estonian VAT number is an EU VAT number that customers can check in VIES; Norwegian AS: Norwegian VAT rules are not covered by the official texts used here

This is general information, not tax advice: in Estonia the tax becomes due when profit is distributed, and LexorCorp Global does not provide tax advice. The rule and its official sources are in the guide How Estonia taxes company profit.

What each route requires

Estonia. Customer due diligence by the service provider, a registered address in the commercial register and, if the company's address is abroad, a contact person in Estonia (Commercial Register Act § 24). A ready-made company or a formation at a notary needs no e-residency.
Norway. A memorandum of association with the articles (Limited Liability Companies Act, § 2-1), at least 30 000 kroner of share capital paid in full (§ 3-1 and 2-18(2)), and the report to the register within three months of signing (§ 2-18(1)).

How an Estonian company is obtained

Choose the route: a ready-made company that already exists, a new company formed at a notary or by power of attorney, or online formation with an e-residency card.
Order online and pay by card; the order form shows the total before you pay.
Identification. As a provider licensed by the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU000117) we identify every client first.
Signing at a notary in Tallinn, by a power of attorney signed in your country, or digitally on the online route.
Register entry and documents in PDF by email.

Documents

For an Estonian company you are asked for an identity document and proof of address of the board members and beneficial owners; on the remote route a power of attorney signed before a notary in your country, as a rule with an apostille.

Prices of the Estonian routes

ready-made company: €900 Registered address and contact person service for one year are included. in person, €1,200 remote; with a VAT number €1,150 and €1,450;
new company: €950 Registered address and contact person service for one year are included. in person, €1,250 remote;
online formation for an e-resident: €950 Registered address and contact person service for one year are included..

The Estonian notary fees and state fees, the registered address and the contact person for the first 12 months are included in these prices. We do not form Norwegian companies, and this page states no Norwegian register fee.

Timeline

In Norway the company must be reported to the register within three months after the memorandum is signed (§ 2-18(1)); how long the entry itself takes is not stated in the texts used here. For Estonia this page states no number of days: the time depends on the notary's appointment, on customer due diligence and on the register. A ready-made company already exists, so only the transfer has to be done.

Limits of this comparison

It compares formation, capital, share transfer, yearly filing and the company's own tax rate, not the tax result for you: where a company is taxed depends on where it is managed and where its owner lives. If you will run an Estonian company from Norway, see Estonian company run from Norway.
Opening a bank or payment account is decided by the bank or payment institution in both countries.
The Norwegian figures are those of the texts in force on the day they were read (22 October 2026) and can change.

Related service

If the Estonian route fits, start with the ready-made company packages or the list of companies for sale; ready-made or new compares the two Estonian routes.

Official sources

Norway: Aksjeloven (LOV-1997-06-13-44, last amended by LOV-2025-06-20-106 from 1 January 2026), § 1-2, 2-1, 2-18, 3-1 and 4-15; Stortingets skattevedtak for the income year 2026 (FOR-2025-12-18-2747), § 3-3 — Lovdata, read on 22 October 2026;
Estonia: Commercial Code §§ 135, 136, 148, 149 and 179, Commercial Register Act § 24 — Riigi Teataja; company data — e-Business Register.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice for your specific situation.

Sources are named in the text, without links. To see which of our services your company needs, open the Business Navigator.

Estonian company (OÜ) or Norwegian AS: the official facts compared