EU Scheme - work at pre-approved employer
You are a EU citizen, and you have been offered employment by a pre-approved Faroese employer.
Questions and answers
The EU scheme in the Faroe Islands
As the Faroe Islands is not a member state of the EU, the EU rules do not apply to the Faroe Islands.
However, when the unemployment rates in the Faroe Islands are low, you can apply for a residence permit as EU citizen through the special EU Scheme.
The scheme does not apply to citizens of Switzerland and EEA citizens (i.e. citizens of Island, Liechtenstein and Norway).
Faroese employers can be pre-approved for employment of citizens from the EU countries. If you are an EU citizen and have an employment agreement with such a pre-approved employer and the conditions listed below are met, then you can start working as soon as the employment has been notified through an application to the Faroese Immigration Office. The Immigration Office will subsequently process the application and you will receive a response.
What are the conditions?
The rate of unemployment in the Faroe Islands
To be granted a permit based on the special EU Scheme, the rate of unemployment in the Faroe Islands must be below 3.5 percent. If you are a worker within the construction industry, you can in some cases be granted a permit when the rate of unemployment is below 6 percent.
Since the unemployment rate currently is below 3.5 percent, it is possible to apply for a residence and work permit based on this scheme within most trades.
The EU-scheme will be suspended if the rate of unemployment exceeds 3.5 and 6 percent respectively for a period of 3 successive months.
Other conditions
In order to be granted a permit based on the EU-Scheme, your average working week must be at least 30 hours according to your employment contract.
Furthermore, you must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- You must be employed according to terms of a Faroese collective bargaining
agreement, or - you must be employed as a researcher, educator, specialist or senior official etc., or
- your salary and terms of employment must correspond to Faroese standards.
In certain cases you must have a Danish or Faroese authorisation
In certain cases, it is required that you have a Danish or Faroese authorisation. This applies, for example, if you are working as a health professional.
What are my rights if I am granted a permit?
What are you allowed with a residence and work permit in the Faroe Islands? – and what are you not allowed?
Work
You are only allowed to work the specific job at the specific company, to which your work permit is based upon.
If you are offered a new job, you must apply for a new permit before starting the new job. This also applies if you are offered a new position within the same company. If you apply for a new work and residence permit under the EU scheme on the basis of employment at a pre-approved employer, you may start working as soon as the application has been submitted to the Police or the Immigration Office.
If you wish to take a sideline job, you must obtain a separate permit. You can read more here.
Residence
A residence and work permit allows you to stay in the Faroe Islands for the period of time your permit is valid.
You must not give up your Faroese address or stay abroad for a longer period of time. Doing so will result in the lapse of your permit. This means that you will lose your right to stay in the Faroe Islands.
If you have been staying in the Faroe Islands legally for less than 2 years, you are allowed to stay abroad for up to 6 successive months.
If you have been staying in the Faroe Islands legally for more than 2 years and you hold a residence permit (which sometimes can be made permanent), or if you already hold a permanent residence permit, you are allowed to stay abroad for up to 12 months.
If you need to stay abroad for an extended period of time, e.g. if you are stationed abroad for a period of time by your employer, you can apply for an exemption to prevent your permit from lapsing. You can read more about dispensation from lapse and how to apply here.
Staying abroad while serving in the military as a conscript or performing required community service will not be considered time living outside of the Faroe Islands. Stays in Denmark and Greenland are regarded as time abroad.
Social benefits
You must be able to support yourself and your family financially during your stay. Receiving social benefits will in many cases have a negative impact on your permit.
If you or your family members receive such benefits during your stay, your permit can be revoked – and you will lose the right to stay on the Faroe Islands.
How long can I stay in the Faroe Islands?
Period of validity
A residence permit in the Faroe Islands is valid for up to 1 year from the date of issue.
Duration of the permit if your employment is less than 1 year.
If your employment is limited for a period of less than 1 year, the duration of your permit will usually be the same as the duration of your employment. If you want to continue to work in the Faroe Islands beyond this period, you must apply for an extension of your residence and work permit.
It is very important that you apply for an extension before your permit expires.
If you submit an application for an extension before the expiration of your current permit, you are allowed to stay in the Faroe Islands and continue working until a decision on your application has been made – even though your current permit might have expired in the meantime.
Duration of the permit if your employment is for 1 year or longer
If the duration of your employment is planned to be for 1 year or longer, you will normally be granted a residence permit valid for 1 year. If you want to continue working in the Faroe Islands beyond the first year, you must apply for an extension of residence and work permit based on the extension of your employment contract.
It is very important that you apply for an extension before your permit expires.
If you submit your application for an extension before the expiration of your current permit, you are allowed to stay in the Faroe Islands and continue working until a decision on your application has been made – even though your current permit might expire in the meantime.
Shorter permit validity due to expiration of your passport.
A residence permit can only be valid up until 3 months before the expiry date on your passport.
If your passport has a shorter validity period than the otherwise possible period of stay, your residence permit will be shortened accordingly. This means that the validity of your residence permit will be shorter than it otherwise could be. When you have renewed your passport, you can apply for an extension of your current residence permit – however, this can at the earliest be done 3 months prior to the expiration of your current permit.
Read more about the passport requirements.
What should I do if my job situation changes?
Your residence permit is linked to your job in the Faroe Islands. Your employment is the basis for your permit.
You must always inform the Immigration Office if your job situation changes.
Your work permit is based on and limited to the job that, on which your permit is based. You are not allowed to work in other positions than the one which is stated in your permit. This also applies if you are offered a new position in the same company.
If you lose your job
You must inform the Immigration Office if you lose your job. Your residence and work permit will be revoked as it is based on the exact job as stated in your permit.
If you change your job
If you find a new job while working in the Faroe Islands, you must submit a new application for a residence and work permit with information regarding your new employment. You are not allowed to start a new job before you have been granted a new permit, unless the new job is also at a pre-approved employer in accordance to the EU scheme.
Can my family be granted a residence permit?
A residence and work permit based on a job in the Faroe Islands can allow your family to come with you to the Faroe Islands.
A permit can be granted to your spouse, registered or cohabiting partner as well as children under the age of 18 living at home.
Read more about accompanying family members here.
What more do I need to know before I apply?
Language
If you submit documents written other languages than Faroese, English, Danish, Norwegian or Swedish, you must also submit certified translations into Danish or English.
How to fill in the application form
You can find the relevant application form (AR8) below. The application form includes information on how to complete and submit the application form.
Download a printable form (AR8) (Word format)
Download a printable form (AR8) (Pdf format)
In the printable application form (AR8) the employer must complete part 2 of the form. When the employer has completed their part, you must complete part 1. Once parts 1 and 2 have been completed, they must be submitted together. Necessary documents must also be submitted with the application.
You can complete the printable application forms on screen to a certain extent before printing. Please note that signatures on the application forms must be written by hand.
How to apply
It is important that you have carefully read the conditions for being granted a residence permit before you apply and it is vital to the processing of your application that you include the correct documents.
How to submit the application
You can submit your application to the Faroese Immigration Office by e-mail. Send a completed and signed application along with all relevant documents to the following address: info@utlendingastovan.fo.
You can submit your application to the Faroese Immigration Office by letter. Send the completed application to the following address:
Útlendingastovan
Skálatrøð 20
Postrúm 264
FO-110 Tórshavn
Please ensure that all required documents are included.
The Immigration Office will contact you or your employer if further information is required in regards to the processing of the application.