Norway has imposed a ban on the entry of cars with Russian license plates, which will come into effect on October 3rd. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this decision.
The restrictions will apply to private vehicles with a seating capacity of no more than nine. Buses and minibusses will be allowed to cross the border. Additionally, the ban will not affect cars owned by Norwegian citizens or European Economic Area residents permanently residing in Russia, as well as their relatives.
Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained the decision to impose the ban as a "response to Russia's war in Ukraine." The head of the department, Anniken Huitfeldt, stated,
"It is important that sanctions are effective"
On September 8th, the European Commission issued clarifications on the import of certain personal items from Russia, reiterating the impossibility of importing cars with Russian license plates into the European Union. As a result, Poland, Finland, and the Baltic states have banned the entry of Russian vehicles. Currently, Norway's border—being part of the Schengen Zone but not the EU—is the only one through which such vehicles can still pass.