Guides · Updated 10 October 2026

Checking Swiss and Norwegian VAT numbers

Switzerland and Norway aren’t in VIES. What their VAT numbers look like, where to check them, and how invoicing their businesses differs.

Why VIES can't check them

VIES only covers the EU's member states (and Northern Ireland). Switzerland and Norway are outside the EU and run their own VAT systems, so their numbers have to be checked in their national registers. Both registers are public and also say whether the business is registered for VAT.

Swiss VAT numbers

Every Swiss business has a UID (business identification number): CHE-123.456.789. A business registered for VAT uses the same number with a suffix in one of the national languages: MWST (German), TVA (French) or IVA (Italian). They all mean the same thing, so CHE-123.456.789 MWST and CHE-123.456.789 TVA are the same registration.

The catch: a UID on its own doesn't mean the business is VAT-registered. Many Swiss businesses have a UID but aren't registered for VAT, for example because their turnover is below the CHF 100,000 threshold. The UID register, run by the Federal Statistical Office, shows both whether the business exists and whether it's registered for VAT.

Norwegian VAT numbers

Norwegian businesses have a 9-digit organisation number. Once registered for VAT, which is required above NOK 50,000 of taxable sales in 12 months, they write it with NO in front and MVA after: NO 123 456 789 MVA.

As in Switzerland, an organisation number alone proves nothing about VAT. The Brønnøysund Register Centre holds both the Register of Legal Entities and the VAT register, so one lookup shows whether the business exists, whether it's being wound up, and whether it's registered for VAT.

Invoicing Swiss and Norwegian businesses from the EU

The EU reverse charge doesn't apply, because the customer isn't in the EU. The usual outcome is similar, though:

Most business services are taxed where the customer is, so an EU supplier usually invoices without EU VAT, and the Swiss or Norwegian business accounts for its own country's VAT on the purchase.
Goods shipped to Switzerland or Norway are exports: normally zero-rated, as long as you keep proof that the goods left the EU. Import VAT and customs are paid at the border.

Checking the customer's number still matters: it's how you show the customer is a business, and that the company you're invoicing really exists.

Checking them with Validitool

The free company lookup asks the Swiss UID register or the Brønnøysund register directly, and shows the official name, address, legal form, whether the company is active, and whether it's registered for VAT.
Signed in, each lookup is saved with a PDF certificate.
On the Growth and Scale plans, Swiss and Norwegian numbers can go in the same spreadsheet upload as EU ones. Swiss numbers are checked a little more slowly, because the Swiss register limits how many lookups it answers per minute.
From your own software, use the company lookup API or the compliance check.

Formats in detail: Swiss VAT number, Norwegian VAT number.

Check a Swiss or Norwegian number

Free, no sign-up needed for a few checks a day.