Apply for extension on the grounds of family reunification on the Faroe Islands

Your residence permit on the grounds of family reunification can be extended, if you are:

• Spouse or cohabiting partner
• Child under the age of 18
• Parent over the age of 60
• Other family member or close acquaintances of a Faroese resident

Other rules apply if you have previously held Danish citizenship or are of Danish/Faroese descent. Read more about extension on the grounds of strong attachment

A residence permit on the grounds of family reunification is granted with a view to permanent residence but is temporary for the first few years. Normally, it is granted for one year at a time.

As soon as your residence permit nears its expiry date, you may apply for a one-year extension.

If the residence permit was granted to a child who has been reunified with a parent holding a Faroese residence permit, the permit’s validity period will match the validity period of the parent’s residence permit. A child's residence permit can be extended until the child's 18th birthday. However, it cannot be extended beyond the expiry date of the parent's residence permit.

After having held a residence permit for three years with a view to permanent residence under section 9(1) and (2)(i) you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

Read more about permanent residence

A residence permit granted to a foreign national who has previously held Danish citizenship is granted with a view to permanent residence but is temporary for the first year.

After the first year, you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

A residence permit granted to a foreign national of Faroese/Danish descent (descended from Faroese/Danish parents/grandparents) is intended as a temporary residence permit. The initial permit is valid for one year and can be extended for a second year.

You can apply for a permanent residence permit after two years, if you meet certain requirements.

Read more about permanent residence

In order to be granted an extension, you must normally continue to meet the requirements of your original residence permit.

A residence permit on the grounds of family reunification is normally granted subject to specific conditions. For example, if you have been granted a residence permit on the grounds of marriage with a person residing in the Faroe Islands, you must live with that person.

The conditions for your residence permit are listed in the letter you received together with your original residence permit.

Important information about your passport

When you apply for an extension of your residence permit, make sure that your passport is valid. The Immigration Service can revoke or refuse to extend your temporary residence permit if you do not hold a valid passport or other travel documents. You will be asked to present your passport if you submit your application at a police station. If you send your application to the Immigration Service, you must send a copy of your passport.

Please note that your residence permit can only be extended up to three months before your passport expires. In other words, if your passport expires in 12 months, your residence permit can only be extended by nine months.

If you hold a national passport (i.e. a passport from your country of origin) it must be renewed by your country’s diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate general).

You must submit your application for an extension no sooner than two months before, and no later than one month before your residence permit expires.

Please note that it is your own responsibility to apply in time. If you apply too late you can be prosecuted by the police and/or fined. The Immigration Service may also choose to change your residence permit’s date of issue or view and process your application for a extension as an application for an entirely new residence permit.

The length of time you must wait before you can apply for permanent residence varies depending on the type of temporary residence permit you hold. You will also need to meet a number of additional requirements. Read more about qualifying for a permanent residence