To apply for a dispensation that enables you to stay outside of the Faroe Islands for a longer period of time than what you are allowed to, you must submit your application before you leave the Faroe Islands. Subsequently, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) will decide on whether you can be allowed to stay outside of the Faroe Islands for the desired period without it causing your residence permit to lapse.
You can only be granted a dispensation, if you intend to resume your residence on the Faroe Islands after your stay abroad and if you continue to meet the conditions for your residence permit at the time you intend to return to the Faroe Islands.
If you meet the basic requirements, it is also a requirement that your stay outside of the Faroe Islands is temporary, and it must have a well-founded purpose, such as:
- Work
- Education
- Stationing for a Danish/Faroese authority, institution, organisation or company based on the Faroe Islands,
- Stationing for an international institution, organisation or company based on the Faroe Islands
The duration of your dispensation period depends on why you are applying for a dispensation, how long time you have been living on the Faroe Islands and your ties to the Faroe Islands. Normally, you cannot be granted a dispensation for more than a maximum of 3 years. However, you can apply for an extension of your dispensation period before your initial dispensation period ends.
If you do not return to the Faroe Islands before your dispensation period ends, your residence permit will lapse automatically. You will have to submit a new application for a residence permit if you want to continue to stay on the Faroe Islands.
If you are granted a dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing, the dispensation can also apply to your spouse, cohabiting partner or children living at home under the age of 18.
Family members must submit their own application for a dispensation.
You can read more about how to apply for a dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing on the “How to apply” tab on the top of this page.