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, Scotland, France, and Spain.
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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.
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All Non Nordic citizens residing in the Faroe Islands and Nordic citizens staying for more than 6 months must register at their local municipality.
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 who are staying in the Faroe Islands for less than 6 months do not have to register in the Faroe Islands.
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.
Nordic citizens staying for less than 6 months will be given a preliminary ID-number from their employer.
Non Nordic citizens must notify their new address in the Faroe Islands to 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.
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Removal goods can be sent to the Faroe Islands as freight by sea or by air. For a large quantity of removal goods, transport by sea is normally considerably cheaper than transport by air. Transport by air may be cheaper when moving to the Faroe Islands from a remote country.
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.
It is important to insure removal goods. Removal companies normally have limited responsibility and most household contents insurances and travel insurances do not cover removal goods.
A removal insurance can be obtained through the removal company.
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.
A 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.
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Dogs and cats can only be brought to the Faroe Islands if the owner is living in or moving to the Faroe Islands. Pets are not permitted for stays shorter than 3 months or to transit through the Faroe Islands to another country.
As a general rule, it is prohibited to import exotic and dangerous animals to the Faroe Islands. Fighting dogs and other dogs with aggressive behavior are not permitted.
Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against a number of diseases and treated against parasites.
Dogs and cats must have an id-number in the form of a tattoo or a microchip.
Dogs and cats must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate stating that the dog or cat is healthy, has all the required vaccinations and has been treated against parasites. The veterinary certificate must not be issued earlier than 48 hours before the beginning of the journey to the Faroe Islands and must be signed by an authorized veterinarian and a veterinary inspector of the country of origin.
Application for a veterinary certificate for importing dogs or cats to the Faroe Islands can be found here:
Veterinary Certificate for dogs
Veterinary Certificate for cats
The Faroese Food and Veterinary Authority supervises the importation of animals to the Faroe Islands. The agency can refuse import of an animal if the disease situation in the country of origin is insecure, or if the veterinary certificate is lacking or incomplete.
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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. The vehicle may not be used by anyone residing in the Faroe Islands or for any commercial carriage.
A person moving to the Faroe Islands is allowed to import one motor vehicle as removal goods exempt from tax and duty.
The vehicle must be intended solely for the owner’s personal use. If the vehicle changes owner within 1 year after the day of import, 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 must 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.
The insurance must cover damages to the property of others. Insurance covering loss or damage to your own car is optional.
There are two insurance companies in the Faroe Islands:
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.
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Faroese Vehicle Administration (in Faroese)
Driving licences issued in Norway, Iceland, EU countries or one of the countries with which EU has an agreement 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 one but may do so if they wish without passing a new driving test.
Persons with a driving licence issued in a country outside the EU and the Nordic region must exchange their driving licence for a Faroese driving licence within 14 days after arriving in the Faroe Islands if they intend to stay for more than 90 days. Before exchanging their licence, they must pass a new driving test.
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Faroese Vehicle Administration (in Faroese)