Work on the Faroe Islands - extension

You want to extend your permit to work on the Faroe Islands

Normal processing time
3 months

Due to the ongoing labour dispute on the Faroe Islands, the current processing time might be up to
5 months

Processing fee
No fee

As of September 1, 2024, the Faroese authorities have taken over the responsibility of processing applications for residence and work permits in the Faroe Islands from SIRI and the Danish Immigration Service. In the future, you will have to apply for a residence and work permit via Útlendingastovan's website.

If you have submitted an application to SIRI before September 1, 2024 for a residence permit in the Faroe Islands, SIRI will process your case. If you have any questions about your pending case or additional information, new documents or comments, please contact SIRI.

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Can I extend my residence permit?

You can apply for an extension of your work permit on the Faroe Islands if there has not been made changes to your employment. This means that

  • your position and your workplace must have been the same during the entire period,
  • you must have been working and receiving salary during the entire period, and
  • your salary and terms of employment must be unchanged.

When receiving your application, SIRI requests a statement from the Government of the Faroe Islands that stresses the following conditions:

  • Whether there are available professionals residing on The Faroe Islands who are qualified to carry out the job in question, 
  • whether the nature of the job in question is specialised enough to warrant a residence and work permit, and
  • whether salary and terms of employment correspond to Faroese standards.

 

What do you want to print?

What are my rights if I am granted a permit?

What are you allowed to do with a residence and work permit on The Faroe Islands? – and what are you not allowed to do?

You are only allowed to work in the job and in the company that you have been granted a permit to work in.

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, you have to obtain a separate permit.

You can read more about sideline employment and apply here. 

You must be able to support yourself and your family during your stay. You are not allowed to receive public benefits.

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

A residence and work permit allows you to stay on 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. A violation will result in the lapse of your permit. This means that you will lose your right to stay on the Faroe Islands.

If you have been staying on the Faroe Islands legally for less than 2 years, you are allowed to stay outside of the Faroe Islands for 6 successive months. 

If you have been staying on the Faroe Islands legally for more than 2 years and you hold a residence permit that can be made permanent, or if you already hold a permanent residence permit, you are allowed to stay outside of the Faroe Islands 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 a dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing.

Stays in Denmark or Greenland are considered as time abroad.

What do you want to print?

How long can I stay on the Faroe Islands?

A residence permit on the Faroe Islands can be granted with a validity of up to 1 year from the date a decision is made on your case.

A residence permit can only be valid until 3 months before the expiry date of your passport.

If your passport has a shorter validity than the otherwise possible period of stay, your residence permit will be shortened. This means that the validity of your residence permit will be shorter than it could be. When you have renewed your passport, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit – however, this can only be done 3 months before your permit expires at the earliest. 

Read more about the passport requirements here. 

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Can my family’s residence permits be extended?

An extension of your residence and work permit based on a job on the Faroe Islands allows any accompanying family members to extend their residence permits as well. 

The extension of their permit will be for the same period as your extension.

A permit can be granted to your spouse, civil or cohabiting partner as well as your children living at home under the age of 18 years.

Read more about accompanying family members here.

What do you want to print?

What should I do if I lose my job or change job?

Your residence permit is linked to your job on the Faroe Islands. Your employment is the foundation for your permit.

You must always inform SIRI if you lose or change your job.

Your work permit is limited to the employment that is the basis for your permit.  You are not allowed to work in other positions than the one stated in your permit.

This also applies if you are offered a new position in the same company.

You must inform SIRI if you lose your job. Your residence and work permit will be revoked as it is based on this exact job. 

If you find a new job while working on the Faroe Islands, you must submit a new application for a residence and work permit with information on your new employment. You are not allowed to start working in the new job before you have been granted a new permit.

What do you want to print?

What more do I need to know before I apply?

An application for an extension of a residence and work permit on the Faroe Islands must generally be sent directly to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) or be submitted to the Police on the Faroe Islands. The Police will forward the application to SIRI.

It is a requirement that you are staying on the Faroe Islands legally at the time of submitting the application.

You can find the relevant application form, FO1, on the “How to apply” tab to the right. 

Your employer must fill in one of two parts of the form.

SIRI will contact you or your employer if we need further information to process your case.

What do you want to print?

As of September 1, 2024, the Faroese authorities have taken over the responsibility of processing applications for residence and work permits in the Faroe Islands from SIRI and the Danish Immigration Service. In the future, you will have to apply for a residence and work permit via Útlendingastovan's website.

If you have submitted an application to SIRI before September 1, 2024 for a residence permit in the Faroe Islands, SIRI will process your case. If you have any questions about your pending case or additional information, new documents or comments, please contact SIRI.

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Last updated 01-09-2024 - Published by: SIRI