Living in the Faroe Islands


Living conditions in the Faroe Islands are considered attractive for a number of different groups e.g families with small and teenage children and for students to name a few.

  • Citizens from the Nordic countries are free to reside, study and work in the Faroe Islands.

  • All EU citizens, except Nordic nationals, need a residence and work permit to work in the Fare Islands.

  • All non EU nationals, except Nordic nationals, need a work and residence permit before they start working in the Faroe Islands.

EU citizens can apply for a work permit in order to work with either an advance-approved employer or with an employer that does not hold an advance-approval. Procedures in connection with the two types of employment are different, and the applicant will also need different forms when applying.
  

Immigration rules
The Faroe Islands are part of the Danish immigration policy, still there are some differences with regard to working, residing and visiting.

 

Stay under 3 months

  • Foreigners shall, on entering the Faroe Islands for a stay no longer than 3 months, provide valid travel identification and have the required means for the stay and for the return journey.

  • If the purpose of the stay is not tourism, the foreigner must have a work permit in order to take paid or non-paid work or to conduct similar activities in the Faeroe Islands.

Travel identification
Nordic citizens are not obliged to show passport, but have to be able to identify themselves with a document of identification that includes a picture.Other foreigners shall show a valid passport. There are some exemptions to this rule, EU citizens may enter the Faroe Islands with their ID cards that they use when traveling to countries in EU.Foreigners from countries from where a visa is mandatory must hold a visa valid for up to three months, or a residence permit. Please note that a Danish residence/work permit does not grant any specific right to enter the Faeroe Islands without a visa for such a foreigner.

 

Residence permit
Some of the conditions for requiring a residence permit in the Faroe Islands are:

  • The applicant has the necessary means for the duration of the stay and for the return journey. If the spouse or partner is responsible for the expenses, this requirement no longer applies. The applicant and the spouse/partner must confirm cohabitation.

  • Passports should be valid for at least two months longer than the period applied for.

Applications should be submitted to the Danish Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country of origin or in the country where the applicant has had his/her permanent residence for the last six consecutive months. Accompanying the application should be a valid travel passport and two good passport photographs.Children under 18 years of age who live permanently with their parents or custody holder, are included in the applicant’s residence permit and need not submit a separate application. They must be endorsed on the applicants passport or have their own passport.

Residence permit in Denmark is not valid for the Faroe Islands.

Residence permit is not a work permit.


Further information is available at www.utlendingastovan.fo

 

 

Working in the Faroe Islands 


Work Permit
Work must not commence before a work permit is issued. Conditions in order to require a work permit are:

  • Valid residence permit.

  • A statement from the employer declaring that the applicant is ensured work.

Employment service
The Faroese labour market has an unemployment insurance scheme, which also incorporates a job centre. Both departments are known as ALS.

The job centre registers unemployed as well as those who want to change occupation. The job centre has manpower registered in many professions and with different levels of education.

ALS has an ongoing project, which aims to improve the qualifications of those registered as unemployed. This project will give the unemployed an improved opportunity to re-enter the labour market. Among other things the project offers the unemployed courses in for example the maritime- and computer industries and in personal development.

 

Further information is available at the Employment Office www.als.fo (only in Faroese)


Studying in the Faroe Islands
If you are interested in studying or applying for an apprenticeship in the Faroes, the International Office, ASK (Altjóða Skrivstovan), will provide you with information on where to go and whom to contact. The International Office was established in 2000 and its main objective is to provide external contacts and agreements with higher educational institutions outside the Faroe Islands and to advise students on studies abroad. The International Office is in charge of the mobile programmes of The Nordic Council of Ministers (Nordplus programmes). 

 

The University of the Faroe Islands focuses its teaching and research on Faroese and Nordic language as well as literature, in addition to the natural and social sciences.

Nordic citizens who wish to come to the Faroe Islands for educational programmes are free to reside and study in the Faroe Islands.

All other foreigners need a residence permit in order to study in the Faroe Islands.

Further information is available at www.utlendingastovan.fo


Terms and Conditions for Visa
For information on Visa regulations please see under Important facts for travelers/passport and visa.

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