Arrival
There are several practical issues and formalities that have to be considered and dealt with when planning to move to the Faroe Islands.
The Faroe Islands have good connections to mainland Europe by air and by sea.
There are several daily flights to the Faroe Islands from Copenhagen (Denmark) and regular flights from several other destinations in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, UK, and Southern Europe.
There is a direct ferry link to Hirtshals (Denmark) and Seyðisfjørður (Iceland) throughout the year. The ferry Norrøna has one weekly departure to Denmark in the low and mid season and two weekly departures in the high season. It has one weekly departure to Iceland all year.
The Faroe Islands have good connections to mainland Europe by air and by sea.
By air
There are several daily flights to the Faroe Islands from Copenhagen (Denmark), and regular flights from several other destinations in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Southern Europe.
Read more: Atlantic Airways SAS Widerøe
By sea
There is a direct ferry link to Hirtshals (Denmark) and Seyðisfjørður (Iceland) throughout the year. The ferry has one weekly departure to Denmark in the low and mid season and two weekly departures in the high season. It has one weekly departure to Iceland all year.
Read more: Smyril Line
ID number
All individuals registered in the Faroe Islands will be given a personal Faroese ID number, p-tal.
The ID number is the key to a range of actions in the Faroese society, such as receiving health services, opening a bank account and paying taxes.
Nordic citizens
Nordic citizens who are staying in the Faroe Islands for less than 6 months do not have to register in the Faroe Islands. Nordic citizens staying for less than 6 months will be given a preliminary ID-number from their employer.
Nordic citizens who intend to stay for more than 6 months must notify their new address in the Faroe Islands to their local municipality within 5 days after arrival.
Non Nordic citizens
All Non Nordic citizens residing in the Faroe Islands must register at their local municipality within 5 days after arrival.
Non Nordic citizens must have a valid residence permit in order to register in the Faroe Islands.
Removal goods can be sent to the Faroe Islands as freight by sea or by air.
Removal companies
Several Faroese freight companies offer a door to door transport of personal belongings to the Faroe Islands.
The company will pick up your removal goods at your home address and transport them in steel containers or removal boxes by road and sea to your new address in the Faroe Islands. Some companies also offer to pack and unpack your goods.
Removal companies can be found here.
Insurance
It is important to insure removal goods. Removal companies normally have limited responsibility and most travel insurances do not cover removal goods.
A removal insurance can be obtained through the removal company or from an insurance company.
Customs
Personal belongings imported to the Faroe Islands are exempt from tax and duty, on the condition that the owner is indeed moving his domicile to the Faroe Islands and giving up his foreign domicile.
As proof of moving, the Faroese customs authorities - TAKS - require a certificate of change of address from the municipality the owner is moving to in the Faroe Islands.
An Importation of Personal Property Declaration issued by TAKS must be completed and submitted when importing personal belongings.
Belongings imported as removal goods exempt from tax and duty must have been owned and used by the person moving or his household for at least 6 months before moving to the Faroe Islands. The items must continue to be used by the person moving or his household in the Faroe Islands.
Food items, tobacco products, and alcoholic beverages cannot be imported as removal goods exempt from tax and duty.
The entitlement to import removal goods exempt from tax and duty lapses one year after moving.
Read more: Customs and Tax Office
Bringing a dog or a cat to the Faroe Islands requires an import permit from the Faroese Food and Veterinary Authority.
In order to receive an import permit the pet must have a health certificate from a veterinarian which confirms that the dog or cat is healthy and has received all required treatments against parasites. The health certificate must not be older than 2 days at the time of departure for the Faroe Islands.
The dog or cat must be microchipped with an ID (ISO-standard 11784) and vaccinated against a number of diseases at least 4 weeks before arriving in the Faroe Islands.
A fee will be charged for the import permit and inspection carried out by the Faroese Food and Veterinary Authority.
Only people with permanent residence in the Faroe Islands, or people moving to the Faroe Islands, may import dogs to the Faroe Islands.
As a general rule, it is prohibited to import exotic and dangerous animals to the Faroe Islands. Fighting dogs and other dogs with aggressive behaviour are not permitted..
Further instructions for import of dogs and cats to the Faroe Islands and application forms can be found here.
When moving to the Faroe Islands for a longer period, you may have to register your car and exchange your driver`s licence.
Import of vehicle
A vehicle registered abroad can be used without registering in the Faroe Islands if the owner is planning to stay for less than one year.
When moving to the Faroe Islands, one motorised vehicle can be imported as removal goods exempt from tax and duty. The vehicle must be intended solely for the owner’s personal use. If the ownership of the vehicle is transferred to another owner within the first year after it has been registered with a Faroese registration number, it will be subject to tax and duty according to the general import rules.
A vehicle imported as removal goods must be registered with the Faroese Vehicle Administration, Akstovan, within the first two weeks after arriving in the Faroe Islands. Before being registered the car will be inspected by the Faroese Vehicle Administration.
The owner of the car must pay a registration fee and take out an insurance before the vehicle gets a license plate.
An insurance covering damages to the property of others is mandatory. Insurance covering loss or damage to your own car is optional.
There are two insurance companies in the Faroe Islands:
Betri Trygging (in Faroese)
Trygd (in Faroese)
All motor vehicles registered in the Faroe Islands must pay a tax based on weight and type of usage and fuel twice a year.
Read more:
Tax and Customs Office
Faroese Vehicle Administration (in Faroese)
Driving licence
Driving licences issued in Norway, Iceland, and EU countries are valid in the Faroe Islands. Persons with a driving licence issued in one of these countries do not have to exchange their licence for a Faroese driving licence but may do so if they wish without passing a new driving test.
Persons with a driving licence issued in other counries can drive a vehicle in the Faroe Islands for 180 days without exchanging their licence. After this they have to pass a driving test before exchanging their licence for a Faroese driving licence.
Read more:
Faroese Vehicle Administration (in Faroese)