Residence Permit and Work Permit
Depending on your country of origin and the duration of your stay you may need a residence permit and a work permit.
When you come to the Faroe Islands to work, you will need a civil registration number (Faroese: »p-tal«) or a temporary p-number, depending on the length of your residence in the Faroe Islands. If you are not a Nordic citizen, you will also need a work permit.
If you are a citizen of Finland, Sweden, Åland, Norway or Iceland, you already have legal rights to reside and work in the Faroe Islands. You only need to register at your local municipality within five days of moving to the Faroe Islands.
If you are a citizen of Switzerland or an EU/EEA country other than the Nordic countries, you must apply for a work permit in order to work in the Faroe Islands. The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration’s website »Ny i Danmark« below contains more information and the application form.
Citizens from countries other than the Nordic countries, Switzerland or EU/EEA countries must in general apply for a residence and work permit in the Faroe Islands through a Danish embassy or consulate.
In some countries you can submit your application at a Norwegian embassy or consulate.
The link below to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs guides you to where you can submit your application.
In general, you need to have an employment agreement with a company registered in the Faroe Islands before you are able to apply. There are certain exceptions, such as if you work for a foreign company that already operates in the Faroe Islands.
Please note that you must also apply for a residence permit and work permit if you engage in voluntary or unpaid work.
Some professional qualifications such as medical doctors, dentists or schoolteachers need to be authorised by Danish or Faroese authorities before you are able to use your qualifications in a professional job in the Faroe Islands.
Your employer in the Faroe Islands must fill out one of two parts of the application form. The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration’s website »Ny i Danmark« below contains more information and the application form.
When you come to the Faroe Islands to work, you will need a civil registration number (Faroese: »p-tal«) or a temporary p-tal, depending on the length of your stay in the Faroe Islands.
Your p-tal or temporary p-tal will be your Faroese personal identification number.
P-tal is for longer stays in the Faroe Islands
If you are working in the Faroe Islands for more than three months (six months if you are from a Nordic country), you will need to apply for a p-tal from the Faroese National Registration Office (Landsfólkayvirlitið).
You need to contact local municipality’s Citizen Services Centre to apply for the p-tal.
Temporary p-tal is for shorter stays in the Faroe Islands
If you are working in the Faroe Islands for less than three months (six months if you are from a Nordic country), you will only need a temporary p-tal from the Faroese Tax Agency (TAKS).
If you are coming to the Faroe Islands to work for more than three months (six months if you are from a Nordic country), you need to apply for a p-tal from the Faroese National Registration Office (Landsfólkayvirlitið).
Six of the Faroese municipalities can allocate a p-tal to you immediately from the National Register: Tórshavn Municipality, Klaksvík Municipality, Runavík Municipality, Eystur Municipality, Sjóvar Municipality and Sunda Municipality.
If you move to a municipality other than those listed above, your municipality will ask you to fill a form, which the municipality will forward to the National Registration Office (Landsfólkayvirlitið).
If you have previously lived in the Faroe Islands after the p-number system was introduced in 1982, you will already have a p-tal, which will be re-activated when you notify the municipality of your relocation.
Which documents do you need to apply for a P-number?
- Work and residence permit (if you are not a Danish or Nordic citizen)
- Passport or personal picture ID
- If applicable, documentation for name changes (marriage/divorce certificates etc.)
- If applicable, birth certificates for your children
- If applicable, a marriage certificate
If you are working in the Faroe Islands for less than three months (six months if you are from a Nordic country), you will only need a provisional p-tal.
You can request a temporary p-tal by completing the form below from the Faroese Tax Agency (TAKS). When TAKS has received your application, you will be sent a temporary p-tal, after which you can receive wages.
Make sure to apply in good time, and preferably at least 14 days before your wages are due. Your employer can also apply on your behalf.
Which documents do you need to apply for a temporary P-tal?
- Work and residence permit (if you are not a Danish or Nordic citizen)
- Passport or personal picture ID
- If applicable, a marriage certificate
Your temporary p-tal works like a civil registration number and will be your Faroese personal identification number. Once you have received a temporary p-tal, it will remain in the system, and you only need to reactivate if you return to the Faroe Islands to work after living abroad.
You can always get help and information at your citizen services centre. Tórshavn Citizen Services Centre (Snarskivan) is your point of entry to Tórshavn Municipality.
You can reach us by phone on 30 20 10 or by e-mailing torshavn@torshavn.fo. You can also meet us in person next to the Town Hall:
Snarskivan
Vaglið 11
100 Tórshavn
View on Google Street View (new window)
OPENING HOURS
Monday – Thursday 9 – 16
Friday 9 – 15
Closed on public holidays
SERVICES
- Civil Registration Number (p-tal)
- Registration and p-tal
- Signing up for childcare
- Weddings
- Residence certificate
- P-tal certificate
You can always ask for help and guidance at the Faroese Immigration Office in Tórshavn (Útlendingastovan). If you live outside of Tórshavn you can also contact your local municipality.
Útlendingastovan
Sigmundargøta 13
100 Tórshavn
You will communicate with many public authorities and banks in the Faroe Islands with the help of your digital key Samleikin, and you will receive your official post to your digital mailbox MínBoks. It is therefore important to activate Samleikin and MínBoks. Most of the online self-services are in Faroese, but you can always get help to fill out forms and online applications at your local citizen services centre or at your local library. You may also get help from a Faroese speaker.
Read the sections below to learn how to activate Samleikin and use your MínBoks.
Samleikin (Faroese for »the identity«) is a digital login and signature which you can use to securely and privately handle your communication with public authorities online, your online banking, and a number of private websites. Samleikin is available as an app for smartphones and tablets, or as an USB stick for computers. It works by demanding a two factor authentication in order to log on: first you tap in your p-tal (p-number) and push the button »Rita inn við Samleikanum«. You are then asked to verify that the two pictures are identical and to tap in your personal password.
Samleikin is free of charge, but you must be 15 or older and have a Faroese p-tal in order to obtain your digital key.
You can request Samleikin on the link below. If you don’t understand Faroese, you may need assistance from a Faroese speaker. You can also get help from the Samleikin User Service by calling 1881 or visiting the »Help« section at their website (see link below). The Service Desk is open workdays between 8-16.30.
MínBoks is your private and secure mailbox. You will receive your letters from public authorities such as your bank, the hospital, pension statements, the Faroese Tax Agency (TAKS), your municipality and more. Some authorities will still send physical letters to your home address.
It is your own responsibility to access your MínBoks regularly, so you don’t miss important letters from public authorities.
You can access your MínBoks at Vangin.fo by using your digital login Samleikin. You will first need to activate Samleikin in order to access MínBoks. If you don’t understand Faroese, you may need assistance from a Faroese speaker. You can also get help from the Samleikin User Service by calling 1881 or visiting the »Help« section at their website (see link below). The Service Desk is open workdays between 8-16.30.