The Faroe Islands Red Cross works to provide support, help and guidance to refugees in the Faroe Islands.

How can the Red Cross help you?

Getting to the Faroe Islands
Please note, if you already have a residence permit in another country, it could affect your application for residence in the Faroe Islands. If you have questions about the residence permit, visa or similar, please contact the Immigration Office.

Transportation
When you first arrive in the Faroe Islands, the Red Cross can pick you up at the airport or ferry terminal, and drive you to your destination.

Reception House
If you do not have any private accommodation, then you can stay at the state-funded Reception House (Móttøkuhúsið). The Red Cross runs Móttøkuhúsið for newly arrived refugees. It is situated in Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands. In order to stay there, you have to apply for a residence permit, and you can stay there until you have received the permit. 

  • How long can you stay there?
    You will most likely stay at Móttøkuhúsið for 1 – 3 weeks. In order to stay at Móttøkuhúsið, you have to apply for a residence permit as soon as possible. The Immigration Office can help you with your application. Once you have received a residence permit, you will have four days to register at the municipality, apply for a p-number (personal identification number), and open a bank account. Ask a Red Cross member of staff if you need help to do these things. At Móttøkuhúsið you will get help to find a place to live after you move out, as well as help to apply for public financial support which you can receive until you get a job.
  • Health services
    You will be offered a health check upon arrival at Móttøkuhúsið. If you accept, a Red Cross member of staff will arrange a time and place for the health check.
  • Meals
    You will receive a daily allowance to purchase food for.
  • Things you might need
    Upon arrival, you will receive:
    – a hygiene package which contains hygiene products,
    – a duvet package, which you can take with you when you leave,
    – a gift card to the Red Cross second-hand clothes shop,
    – SIM card from Føroya Tele which has 24GB data and unlimited calls for the first six months you are in the Faroe Islands.
  • Activities
    There are a number of activities at Móttøkuhúsið, for example, language practice and hiking, that all Ukrainians in the Faroes are welcome to join – read more here.

Red Cross Buddy
The Red Cross can also offer you (and your family) to be matched with a Red Cross Buddy (also called volunteer friend). The volunteers can help with guidance and support, especially in the beginning when you are figuring everything out, but they can also be a friend with whom to socialize and hang out.

The idea behind the Red Cross Buddy system is that a volunteer Faroese family or individual can support you and your family to better understand the Faroese society, and practice the Faroese language. By doing so, you will hopefully sooner feel at home and thrive in the Faroe Islands.

Restoring Family Links
The Red Cross can help you find missing family links through our IFRC system ‘Restoring Family Links’.

Translation services
The Red Cross can help you find an interpreter.

Other support
The Red Cross is here to support you as much as we can. If you need help with something that is not listed above, then you are welcome to contact us on +298 283630 or email us on redcross@redcross.fo and we will do our best to help you.

Living in the Faroe Islands
You can read about work, school, daycare, sports and other aspects of living in the Faroe Islands on the website integration.fo.

About the Red Cross
The Red Cross is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with Red Cross and Red Crescent action in more than 192 countries, bringing together almost 14 million volunteers for the good of humanity.