How to apply for a Faroe Islands tourist visa

Mar 25
4 min read

The Faroe Islands Tourist Visa is a short-stay visa that allows foreign nationals from countries with a visa requirement to visit the Faroe Islands for tourism or leisure for up to 90 days. It is issued by Danish diplomatic missions abroad, since the Faroe Islands are an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark and administer their visa process through Danish embassies and consulates. The Faroe Islands sit outside both the European Union and the Schengen Area and follow their own entry rules. A Schengen or Danish visa alone is not valid for entry. The visa is applied for as a standard Danish short-stay visa, but the sticker must specifically state "valid for the Faroe Islands."

Do You Need a Visa?

Nordic citizens: Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden do not need a visa and may stay indefinitely.
EU and Schengen citizens: Citizens of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland do not need a visa. You may enter with a passport or a national ID card. This applies to citizens only; a residence permit is not sufficient.
Everyone else: The Faroe Islands follow the same visa-exempt list as Denmark, which covers many countries beyond the EU and Schengen area, including the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and others. Check the full list here. If your country is not on that list, you need a visa specifically for the Faroe Islands. Most likely, an existing Danish or Schengen visa will not cover entry. The sticker must specifically state "valid for the Faroe Islands."

Requirements

Finances: Danish immigration authorities look for approximately DKK 350 per day (roughly €47) per person. If you are staying in a hotel, the expected amount is higher: approximately DKK 500 per day (roughly €67). If accommodation is prepaid, a lower amount may be accepted.
Intent to return: You must be able to demonstrate that you intend to leave before your visa expires.

Transit Through Denmark

Most travelers reach the Faroe Islands via Copenhagen Airport. Because the Faroe Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, travel between Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands is treated as domestic for immigration purposes, meaning there is no passport control between the two.

If you are arriving in Copenhagen from outside the Schengen Area, you will pass through Danish passport control on arrival, as Copenhagen is your point of entry into Schengen. From there, your onward flight to the Faroe Islands involves no further immigration checks. If your nationality requires a Schengen visa for this entry into Denmark, the same application covers both.

Documents You'll Need to Prepare

Visa application form: Completed online through the ApplyVisa portal before your appointment.
Passport: Valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure, issued within the last ten years, with at least two blank pages.
Passport photo: A recent color photograph (35x45mm).
Proof of accommodation: Hotel bookings, a rental confirmation, or a letter of invitation from a host covering your full stay.
Travel itinerary: Confirmed or provisional flight or ferry tickets showing your planned entry and departure.
Proof of financial means: Bank statements issued within the last month, or a sponsorship letter from a host, accompanied by their bank statements and proof of income.
Travel insurance: Minimum coverage of €30,000.
Proof of ties to your home country: Proof of employment, property ownership, family obligations, or enrollment in education.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Complete the application online

Go to applyvisa.um.dk and complete the application, selecting Denmark as your main destination. Pay the visa fee at this stage.

Step 2: Book an appointment

After completing the online application and paying the fee, print the signed cover letter generated by ApplyVisa. Submit your application at a Danish embassy, consulate, or VFS Global centre handling Danish visa applications. Note that Faroe Islands visa applications cannot be submitted through another Schengen country's mission; it must be a Danish mission or a VFS centre acting on Denmark's behalf. When submitting, inform the staff that your destination is the Faroe Islands.

Step 3: Attend your appointment

Bring your passport, all supporting documents, and your signed cover letter. Your fingerprints will be scanned and a facial photograph taken as part of biometric data collection. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprint collection. Fingerprints remain valid for 59 months for future Schengen and Faroe Islands applications.

Step 4: Wait for a decision

Processing takes up to 15 calendar days. If further investigation is needed, the maximum is 45 calendar days.

Step 5: Collect your passport

Upon approval, your passport will be returned with a visa sticker. Check that it explicitly states "valid for the Faroe Islands"; a sticker that says Denmark or Schengen only is not valid for entry, and you will be refused boarding.

Costs and Fees

The visa fee is €90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6 to 11, and free for children under 6. The Visa Application Centre charges an additional service fee that varies by country, typically €25 to €30, but higher in some locations. Both fees are non-refundable.