PhD studies in the Faroe Islands

You will be participating in a PhD study programme linked to a Faroese educational institution.

Processing fee
No fee

Normal processing time
3 months

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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Who can apply for a residence permit?

You can apply for a residence permit in the Faroe Islands as a PhD if: 

  • you are enrolled as a PhD student at a Danish or Faroese university and receive a salary from the university or a company affiliated with the PhD programme, 
  • you are enrolled in a PhD programme without receiving a salary or
  • as a visiting PhD if you are enrolled in a PhD programme abroad and wish to do a part of your programme in the Faroe Islands.

As the Faroe Islands is not part of the EU/EEA, you must apply for a residence permit with SIRI if you are a citizen from an EU/EEA country. Citizens of Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland) do not need visa or permit to reside and work in the Faroe Islands.

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What rights do I have, if I am granted a permit?

What are you allowed to do with a residence permit as a PhD student in the Faroe Islands? – and what are you not allowed to do?

A residence permit allows you to stay and study in the Faroe Islands for the period your permit is valid.

A residence permit does not give you the right to reside in the Schengen area. 

If you have been living legally in the Faroe Islands for less than two years, you can reside outside the Faroe Islands up to 6 months. 

If you need to stay abroad for a longer period of time, you can apply for dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing.

 

You are allowed to work full-time at the university in which you have been enrolled or in the company affiliated to your PhD programme. This only applies to work tasks that are part of your PhD programme and only for the duration of you study.

In addition to your residence and work permit as a PhD student, you are also granted a limited work permit allowing you to take up additional employment besides your full-time job as a PhD student or visiting PhD student. 

The limited work permit allows you to work:

  • for up to 15 hours per week during the normal period of study from September to May, and
  • full-time through June, July and August.

If you work more hours than allowed, it will be regarded as illegal work. Illegal work can result in a warning, a fine, or your residence permit as a student can be revoked. You can read more about that here.

During your residence you must be able to support yourself and your family. Thus, you are not allowed to receive any public benefits. 

If you or your family member receives any public benefits during your stay, your residence permit will be revoked – and you will lose the right to reside in the Faroe Islands. 

 

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What are the conditions?

It is a requirement that you have been enrolled in a PhD programme in the Faroe Islands, if you are doing a full degree.

If you are only going to do part of your programme in the Faroe Islands as a visiting PhD student, it is a requirement that you are enrolled in a PhD programme abroad and that you are associated with a Faroese educational institution. 

As a PhD student, you can be employed by a university or by a company and receive a salary while you are enrolled in the PhD programme.

You can also be a PhD student without employment and salary. 

If you are employed by a university or by a company, your self-support is secured by your salary.

Please note that if you do receive a salary as a PhD student, then we will send your case for hearing at the Útlendingastovan. 

If you are not employed and, thus, do not receive any salary, you must have sufficient funds to support yourself during your residence in the Faroe Islands. 

You have sufficient funds, if your disposable amount is in accordance with the monthly grant amount awarded by Studni (The Faroese Student Grant Fund) for the number of months you plan to stay in the Faroe Islands. 

Documentation of your ability to provide for yourself and any accompanying family members could be in the form of a bank statement (in your name).

You must be able to speak and understand the language of instruction. You must be able to understand either Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German at a reasonable level. 

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How long can I stay in the Faroe Islands

You can stay in the Faroe Islands for the standard (nominal) duration of your PhD programme, however not more than one year from the date of permit. The permit can subsequently be extended for up to one year at a time.

If you do not complete your PhD programme within the nominal period of study, it is important that you apply for an extension.

Make sure to apply for an extension before your permit expires, however not earlier than three months before the expiration date. 

If you change to a different PhD programme, you must apply for a new residence permit based on the new programme.  You can, however start your new programme while you wait for us to reach a decision regarding the new application.

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.

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Can my family be granted a residence permit?

A residence and work permit based on studies in the Faroe Islands gives the possibility for your family to come with you to the Faroe Islands. 

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

Read more about bringing accompanying family members to the Faroe Islands here.

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What more do I need to know before I apply?

An application for a residence permit on the basis of PhD studies is processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). If you are in the Faroe Islands when submitting the application, you must be there legally. 

You must either be enrolled at a Faroese university as a PhD student or at your home university (only for visiting PhD student) to be able to apply. 

You can submit the application by clicking on the tab ’How to apply’ on the right. There, you will also have access to the relevant application form, PHD1.

Your educational institution must fill in one of the two parts of the application form, and it is often the institution that begins the application process. 

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

 

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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 28-11-2024 - Published by: SIRI