Practical advice A-Z

Banks 

Banks are generally open from Monday to Friday, between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Banks are closed at weekends. 
 

Currency

DKK

• 1 krone is divided into 100 øre
• 1 euro is approximately 7.5 kroner
• 1 US dollar is approximately 6.5 kroner
• 1 UK pound sterling is approximately 10 kroner
   

Check currency converter
 

Driving

The Faroe Islands, like most European countries, has right-hand traffic. The legal driving age is 18 and you are expected to have your driver’s license with you when driving.
A foreign driver’s license is valid for a maximum of one year starting the date you register at the local tax office. After one year you need to obtain a Faroese driving license. 

About driving in the Faroe Islands, take a look here.
 

Electricity

Electricity is standard European 400/230 volts and 50 cycles (Hz), European plug.
 

Emergencies and SOS calls

In case of emergency, dial 112 to contact the police, fire brigade or medical services. Emergency calls made from payphones are free of charge.
 

For adventure

What's on: take a look here.
 

ID-number

All citizens in the Faroe Islands have a unique registration number called a p-number (in Faroese »p-tal«).

The p-number is essential when contacting Faroese authorities and especially in relation to matters relating to taxes or social security. If you are employed in the Faroe Islands you will need a p-number to receive your salary.

If you are a Nordic citizen and intend to stay or work in the Faroes Islands for more than 180 days, you must register at your local municipality. If you are not a Nordic citizen, you must register at your local municipality if you intend to stay or work in the Faroe Islands for more than 90 days.

If you are not a Nordic citizen, you must also obtain a residence permit in order to register at the municipality. You can apply for your residence permit via the police, and the Faroese Immigration Office (Útlendingastovan) can help you fill out the application forms.

If your stay in the Faroe Islands totals less than 180 days a year, and you choose not to register at the municipality, you must obtain a provisional p-number from the Faroese Tax Agency (TAKS).

The Faroese Police

The Faroese Immigration Office

TAKS – The Faroese Tax Agency
 

Local transportation

Traveling by bus in Tórshavn is free. 

Travel by bus and ferry between villages, towns and islands to and from school are free for students, also foreign students.

The school will apply for the student travel card for you. The one-time cost for the card is DKK 50.
 

Medications

Prescriptions from Faroese doctors can be filled at the local pharmacy (apotek). In Tórshavn the pharmacy is located at the shopping mall called SMS. 

Over-the-counter medicines may also be available at supermarkets or petrol stations in towns and villages outside Tórshavn. 
 

Mobile phones

Mobile phone providers are Nema and Faroese Telecom.

If you don’t want to buy a mobile phone in the Faroe Islands it is often possible to use a phone from your home country with a faroese SIM card. Make sure that the phone is not locked to your previous operator. Another option is to subscribe to a new mobile phone contract.  

The country code is +298 ant internet TLD is .fo.
 

Posta services at your local grocer´s

You can now buy stamps, envelopes, postcards etc. in your local supermarket or grocery store, and send your letter in the postal box outside.

Posta Home around the country on weekdays

Posta Home service can be reserved weekdays 8:00 - 17:00 by calling +298 81 81 81. The service will be provided the following day.

With Posta Home you can:

• send parcels
• send insured and registered letters, for regular letters please refer to the postbox
• pay bills
• withdraw money from a Posta Money account

The fee for using Posta Home service is the same in the post-office. A fee of DKK 150,- is placed on orders that are made outside the regular hours of the Posta Home delivery van. Businesses and public institutions can take out a business subscription or call +298 61 61 61 for domestic transport.
 

Posta self

Posta Self gives you the opportunity to take care of your postal errands outside the normal operating hours.

Find Posta Self at these locations:

• At Posta on Óðinshædd and by the municipal office in Tórshavn
• At Posta in Saltangará
• At Posta in Klaksvík

Posta Self allows you to:

• Measure and weigh letters and parcels
• Buy stamps and envelopes
• Send letters and parcels
• Track your shipment
• Pay with your debit card and receive a receipt

You find post prices and more information about customs etc. here.
 

Public holidays

New Year's Day, 1 January

​​Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

Easter Sunday

Easter Monday

Flag day, 25 April.

General/Great Prayer Day (Dýri biðidagur), 4th Friday after Easter.

Ascension Day

Whit Sunday

Whit Monday

Constitution Day, 5 June (half-day holiday).

St.Olav's Eve, 28 July (half-day holiday for selected workers unions).

St.Olav's Day, 29 July (full holiday for selected workers unions).

Christmas Eve, 24 December.

Christmas Day, 25 December.

Boxing Day, 26 December.

New Year's Eve, 31 December (half-day holiday).

Shopping hours

Shopping hours are generally between 9 am and 5.30 pm on weekdays and 9 am and 2 pm on saturdays. You'll find supermarkets that are upen until 10 and 11 pm, also during weekends.

The shopping mall SMS has these opening hours:
Monday - thursday: 10.00 - 18.00
Friday: 10.00 - 19.00
Saturday: 10.00 - 18.00
Sunday: Closed.
 

Time zone 

Faroe Islands is in the Western European Time Zone . Western European Standard Time ( WET ) is the same time as Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT ). 

Time Changes - summer and winter time

Tipping

A service charge is included in the price in restaurants and taxis, but it is normal practice to leave a small tip (around 10 per cent) if you feel you have received good service at restaurants.