Fast Track Faroe Islands
You have been offered employment at a company that is Fast Track approved by Útlendingastovan (the Immigration Office in the Faroe Islands).
Questions and answers
What is Fast Track Faroe Islands?
You can apply under the Fast Track Agreement, if the Immigration Office has Fast Track approved your employer.
When a company has been approved by the Immigration Office, it means that an employment agreement made with the company in question, meets the requirements for salary and terms of employment that must correspond to the Faroese standards.
If you reside legally in the Faroe Islands, you can submit your application from the Faroe Islands under the Fast Track Agreement.
You are not allowed to start working before you have received your residence and work permit from the Immigration Office.
What are the conditions?
Your employer must be Fast Track approved by the Immigration Office
You can only apply for a residence and work permit in accordance with the Fast Track scheme, if your employer has been Fast Track approved by the Immigration Office.
The Immigration Office publishes a list containing all of the companies that have been approved to hire foreign labour in accordance with the Fast Track Agreement.
You can see the list here (opens in a new window).
Please note that your employer must apply for a Fast Track approval, even if the company has already been given a prior approval under the EU scheme.
Your salary and terms of employment must correspond to Faroese standards
As you are employed by a Fast Track approved employer, it is a rule that your employment must be based on the Faroese standards for salary and terms of employment.
This means that:
Your salary, holiday entitlements, terms of notice etc. must not be inferior to the standards within the professional field in the Faroe Islands, in which you are going to work.
You must work full time, which corresponds to 40 hours per week.
The unemployment rate in the Faroe Islands must not exceed 3,5%
The Fast Track agreement will be suspended if the unemployment rate exceeds 3,5 pct. for an extended period of time. In this case it is no longer possible to apply for a residence and work permit based on the Fast Track Agreement.
If the Agreement is suspended, the Immigration Office will publish a notification on www.utlendingastovan.fo
If the agreement is suspended and you already have a residence and work permit based on the Fast Track Agreement, you are allowed to continue to work until your work permit expires. However, you are not able to apply for an extension of your Fast Track permit, and must instead apply for a new first-time residence and work permit based on the standard rules.
In certain cases, you must have a Danish or Faroese authorisation
In certain cases, you are required to have a Danish or Faroese authorisation. This applies, for example, if you are a health professional.
Please note that if you are applying for a residence and work permit for a job as a doctor at Landssjúkrahúsið, Klaksvíkar Sjúkrahús or Suðuroyar Sjúkrahús, your application will automatically be processed under the Sports Agreement.
What are my rights if i am granted a permit?
What are you allowed to do with a residence and work permit in the Faroe Islands, under the Fast Track agreement ? – and what are you not allowed to do?
Work
You are not allowed to work before you have been granted a permit.
You are only allowed to work in the position, and at the company, for which you have been granted a permit to work.
If you are offered a new job, you must apply for a new permit before you start the new job. This also applies if you are offered a new position within the same company.
If you wish to take a sideline job in the Faroe Islands, you must apply for a special permit for this.
Residence
A residence and work permit allows you to stay in the Faroe Islands for the period of time your permit is valid.
If you are a citizen who does not need to have a visa for your stay in the Faroe Islands, you can stay in the Faroe Islands for up to 90 days after your residence and work permit has expired. You are not allowed to work during a visa free stay.
You can read more about who needs a visa for entering the Faroe Islands here.
Your residence permit will lapse if you give up your address in the Faroe Islands, or if you stay abroad for more than 6 consecutive months. This means that you will lose your right to stay in the Faroe Islands.
Stays in Denmark or Greenland are considered as time spent abroad.
You can read more about lapse and dispensation options, and apply for it here.
Public Benefits
You must be able to support yourself and your family during your stay in the Faroe Islands. Therefore, you are not allowed to receive public benefits.
If you or your family members receive public benefits during your stay in the Faroe Islands, your permits can be revoked – and you will all lose the right to stay in the Faroe Islands.
How long can I stay in the Faroe Islands?
Validity period
A residence permit in the Faroe Islands can be granted with a validity of up to 1 year, starting from the date a decision is made in your case.
I wish to continue to work at my job in the Faroe Islands for more than 1 year - what should I do?
A residence and work permit in the Faroe Islands can only be granted for a maximum of 1 year at a time. This also applies if you are hired for a job or a position that lasts for more than 1 year.
If you wish to continue to work at your job after your permit has expired, you must remember to 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 the application for an extension before your current permit expires, you are allowed to stay in the Faroe Islands and continue to work until a decision on your application has been made – even though your permit expires in the meantime.
You can read more about the rules concerning extension of your residence and work permit, as well as apply for it here.
Shorter validity because your passport expires
A residence permit can only be valid until 3 months before the expiration date of your passport.
If your passport has a shorter validity than the period of stay that you would otherwise be able to be granted a permit for, this will result in your residence permit being shortened. This means that the validity of your residence permit will be shorter than it normally could be.
If you wish to extend your permit, you can submit an application 3 months before your permit expires, at the earliest. Please note that you must attach a copy of your renewed or extended passport.
You can read more about the requirements for extension of your residence and work permit, as well as apply for it here.
What should I do if I lose or change my job?
Your residence permit in the Faroe Islands is linked to the job and the employer that is written on your permit.
You are not allowed to work in other positions, or for other employers, than the one stated in your permit. This also applies if you are offered a new position in the same company.
You must inform the Immigration Office if your employment changes. This may be because of situations such as:
You lose your job
You change your position
You change your job and work for another employer
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 this exact job.
If you change your job
If you find a new job or are offered a new position while you are working, you must submit a new application for a residence and work permit with information regarding your new employment.
You are not allowed to start at your new job or in your new position before you have been granted a new permit.
Can my family be granted a residence permit in the Faroe Islands?
You can bring your family with you to the Faroe Islands, if you have been granted a residence and work permit in the Faroe Islands.
Accompanying family can be:
A spouse
A cohabiting partner
A registered partner
A child under the age of 18 living at home
As an accompanying family member to an applicant who currently holds or is currently applying for a residence permit in accordance with the Fast Track Agreement, you have the option of submitting your application in the Faroe Islands, if you are staying legally in the Faroe Islands.
Read more about accompanying family members here.
When can I submit an application?
You can submit an application for a residence and work permit 6 months before you start your new job, at the earliest.
If you submit an application earlier than 6 months before you start your new job, your application may be refused.
What more do I need to know before I apply?
An application for a residence and work permit in the Faroe Islands must be submitted to the Faroese Police or the Immigration Office.
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.You can find the relevant application form (AR5) below.
The application form includes information on how to complete and submit the application form.
In the printable application form (AR5) 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.
Download a printable form (AR5) (Word format)
Download a printable form (AR5) (Pdf format)
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 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 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 enclosed.
The Immigration Office will contact you or your employer if further information is required in regard to the processing of the application.