Religious worker on the Faroe Islands
You will apply for a residence permit as a religious worker in the Faroe Islands.
Questions and Answers
Who can apply for a residence permit?
Who can get a residence permit as a religious worker etc. on the Faroe Islands?
As a foreign national, you have the option of obtaining a residence permit on the Faroe Islands as a religious worker, missionary, nun or monk within a religious community, if you meet certain requirements.
What are the requirements?
What are the requirements?
You must provide documentation for your work
You can get a residence permit if you can provide documentation that you are to work as a religious worker, missionary, nun or monk within a recognized or approved religious community on the Faroe Islands.
You need to be affiliated with the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (Folkekirken) or a religious denomination
You need to document that you are affiliated with the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (Folkekirken) or another officially acknowledged or sanctioned religious denomination on the Faroe Islands. Documentation can be in the form of a written agreement or declaration by the denomination stating that you are a religious worker within the denomination or religious order.
The number of foreigners with residence permits as religious workers etc. within a religious community must be proportionate to the size of the religious community.
Which type of resident permit will you be granted
Which type of residence permit will you be granted?
The residence permit is granted for 1 year at a time for a maximum of 3 years. An extension presupposes that the religious worker's employment conditions within the religious community are unchanged.
If the religious worker is sent by the home country's authorities, the permit can however be extended for 1 year at a time for a total stay of no more than 4 years.
The residence permit can be extended beyond 3 years if the religious worker has marriage competence.
Can my family be granted a residence permit?
You can bring your family with you to the Faroe Islands, if you have been granted a residence and work permit in the Faroe Islands.
Accompanying family can be:
A spouse
A cohabiting partner
A registered partner
A child under the age of 18 living at home.
Read more about accompanying family members here.
Application form
You can apply for a residence permit on the Faroe Islands as a religious worker or accompanying family member of a religious worker by completing and submitting an 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 employer 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 employer.
Required documents
Required documents:
You must submit:
Copy of all pages of your passport – including all blank pages as well as the front and back cover of the passport
Documentation of relevant background and/or education
Documentation of an application for authorization to perform marriages (only if you are applying for a residence permit as a religious minister with authority to perform marriages)
The religious community may need:
A description of the work tasks you, as the applicant, will carry out in the Faroe Islands (e.g. an employment letter or invitation including a description of the work duties)
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.
How do you 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.
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 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.