PhD studies in the Faroe Islands
You will be participating in a PhD study programme linked to a Faroese educational institution.
Questions and Answers
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 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.
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?
Residence and study
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 need to stay abroad for a longer period of time, you can apply for dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing.
Work
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.
Public benefits
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.
What are the conditions?
You must be enrolled in a PhD programme
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.
You must be able to support yourself
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.
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 have certain language abilities
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.
How long can I stay in the Faroe Islands
Residence while you study
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.
Shorter validity because your passport expires
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.
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.
Application form
Application form:
You can find the relevant application form (AR1) below. The application form includes information on how to complete and submit the application form.
Download the application form here:
Download a printable form (AR1) (Word format)
Download a printable form (AR1) (PDF format)
Your education institution has to complete the second part of 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.
If the Immigration Office needs more information during the case process, we will contact you or your education institution.
Required documents
Required documents:
- Copy of all pages of your passport – including all empty pages and the passport’s front and back cover
- Documentation that your have been enrolled into a Faroese or Danish educational institution (or in your home country if you are a guest Ph.D)
- Documentation that you can support yourself during your residence in the Faroe Islands (only if you are not a salaried Ph.D).
- Copy of your employment contract (if you are a salaried Ph.D).
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.
Submit the application
Submit the application
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
Normally, you must have obtained a residence permit before entering the Faroe Islands. If you submit your application after entering the Faroe Islands, the Immigration Office may reject your application. This means that you will have to return to your country of origin or residence and submit a new application.
You can submit your application at a Danish embassy or consulate general in your country of origin. When you have completed and submitted your application, it will be forwarded to the Faroese Immigration Office for processing.
If you have resided permanently in another country for longer than three months, you can also submit your application at a Danish embassy or consulate general in that country. If there is no Danish embassy or consulate general in your country of origin or residence, you may submit your application in another country. You can find additional information about Danish embassies and consulates on the website of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We recommend that you visit the local diplomatic mission’s webpage to get more information before you submit the application. The individual diplomatic mission can have additional requirements regarding payment of additional fees, submission of additional passport photos or additional copies of the application.
Submitting directly to the Faroese Immigration office:
You can submit your application directly 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 also submit your application to the Faroese 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 included.
The Immigration Office will contact you or your employer if further information is required in regards to the processing of the application
Receive an answer
You can see the normal case processing time to the right on this page.
When we make a decision in your case, you will receive an answer via the Danish diplomatic representation closest to you. If you have legal residence in the Faroe Islands, you will be contacted either by letter sent to the address stated in your application or asked to appear at the Immigration Office with your passport to collect your decision.