Am I allowed to keep something I find in Norway?
No — you cannot simply keep something you find. Under the Found Property Act you must without undue delay hand the find to the owner or the police. The police keep the item, and if it is unclaimed after 3 months, it can be given to you as the finder or sold. You may claim a finder's reward: up to 20% for small values, and at most 10% when the value is over 500 kr. Cultural-heritage finds, by contrast, are state property and must be reported under the Cultural Heritage Act. Keeping a find without handing it in can count as embezzlement.
📋 The rules
- You must hand the find to the owner or police
- Unclaimed after 3 months: can go to the finder
- Finder's reward: at most 10% for values over 500 kr
- Smaller values: up to 20%
- Cultural finds are state property (Cultural Heritage Act)
🔓 Exceptions
- Cultural-heritage and archaeological finds belong to the state and must be reported
- A find on someone's private property can give the property owner a claim
- Money and certain items have their own handling rules
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Keeping a find without handing it in can count as embezzlement under the Penal Code and bring a fine or prison.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Can I keep what I find?
Not automatically. You must hand the find to the owner or police. If unclaimed after 3 months, you can get it.
How long do the police hold found property?
If the item is unclaimed after 3 months, it can be given to the finder or sold.
Do I get a finder's reward?
You may claim a finder's reward: up to 20% for small values, and at most 10% when the value is over 500 kr.
What if I find something old?
Cultural-heritage and archaeological finds belong to the state and must be reported under the Cultural Heritage Act.
What happens if I keep the find?
Keeping a find without handing it in can count as embezzlement and bring a fine or prison.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I keep what I find norway”
- “found property hand to police”
- “finder reward 10 percent”
- “found property 3 months”
- “find something valuable”
- “embezzlement found property”