Travel Subsidy
The travel subsidy, in Faroese ferðastuðul, is a financial support scheme for commuting in the Faroe Islands. It can be granted to residents who have to travel at least 20 kilometres between home and work. Other conditions also apply.
You may claim travel subsidy for six months at the time, and you can only claim for past expenses. It is not possible to claim in advance.
In order to qualify for travel subsidy you must:
- have income from employment
- live in the Faroe Islands
- have full tax liability in the Faroe Islands
- incur expenses related to travel between home and work
- the distance between your home and place of work must be at least 20 kilometres, round-trip.*
*)The minimum distance was shorter in the year 2010 and earlier.
If you have several employers, the following applies:
- If you have two employers at the same location, and you go home in between the jobs, you can claim travel subsidy for two daily trips. If you don't go home in between, you can't.
- If you have two employers at different locations, you can claim travel subsidy to and from each place.
If you have two households, you may also claim travel subsidy for the commute between your second home and work.
If you are an apprentice, you may claim travel subsidy for the commute between your home and place of work, and for the commute between your home and educational institution in the Faroes. The distance must be at least 20 kilometres, round-trip.
When claiming travel subsidy for the commute between home and the educational institution, you must enclose documentation that confirms that you have been attending classes there.
If you are a student in the Faroe Islands, you are not entitled to travel subsidy for the commute between your home and place of education. However, you may apply for a student travel card, skúlakort, from Strandfaraskip Landsins.
The amounts paid in travel subsidy are based on different calculations depending on whether you travel by land, by sea or by air.
If you travel by land, the amount is worked out according to the kilometres that you commute to and from work every day. If you travel by sea or air, the amount depends on whether you travel to Suðuroy or not, and whether you travel by subsea tunnels or not. Subsidy for sea or air travel can only be claimed for two trips every workday.
You can claim travel subsidy for a maximum of 220 days in a year.
Travel subsidy is paid every Friday.
The amount vary from year to year. See the different tables below.
As of 1 January 2016
Travel by road
The round-trip distance between the home and place of work must be at least 20 km.
| If the round-trip distance, according to Landsverk, is: |
| Over 20 km, but under 30 km the allowance is DKK 5.50 / day |
| Over 30 km, but under 50 km the allowance is DKK 14.50 / day |
| Over 50 km, but under 64 km the allowance is DKK 21.50 / day |
| Over 64 km, but under 102 km the allowance is DKK 28.00 / day |
| Over 102 km, but under 124 km the allowance is DKK 33.50 / day |
| Over 124 km, but under 146 km the allowance is DKK 39.00 / day |
| Over 146 km, but under 168 km the allowance is DKK 44.50 / day |
| Over 168 km, but under 190 km the allowance is DKK 50.00 / day |
| Over 190 km, but under 212 km the allowance is DKK 55.50 / day |
| Over 212 km the allowance is DKK 61.50 / day |
Travel by sea
Travel subsidy is granted for a maximum of two trips per working day.
Travel by sea | |
Travel between Syðuroy and Tórshavn | DKK 16.90/trip |
| All other routes by sea | DKK 8.45/trip |
| Subsea tunnels | DKK 8.45/trip |
Air travel | |
All routes by air | DKK 16.90/trip |
Examples of calculating travel subsidy
By road: 80 kilometres, round trip, for 220 days: 220 x 28.00 = DKK 6,160 in total.
By road and subsea tunnel: (220 x 28.00) + (220 x 8.45) = DKK 9,878 in total.
As of 1 January 2011 and until 31 December 2015
Travel by road
The round-trip distance between the home and place of work must be at least 21 km.
| If the round-trip distance, according to Landsverk, is: |
| Over 20 km, but under 30 km the allowance is DKK 5.50 / day |
| Over 30 km, but under 50 km the allowance is DKK 13.00 / day |
| Over 50 km, but under 64 km the allowance is DKK 19.50 / day |
| Over 64 km, but under 102 km the allowance is DKK 25.50 / day |
| Over 102 km, but under 124 km the allowance is DKK 30.50 / day |
| Over 124 km, but under 146 km the allowance is DKK 35.50 / day |
| Over 146 km, but under 168 km the allowance is DKK 40.50 / day |
| Over 168 km, but under 190 km the allowance is DKK 45.50 / day |
| Over 190 km, but under 212 km the allowance is DKK 50.50 / day |
| Over 212 km the allowance is DKK 55.50 / day |
Travel by sea
In the case of travel by sea or air, travel subsidy is granted for a maximum of two trips per working day
| Travel by sea | |
Travel between Syðuroy and Tórshavn | DKK 16.90/trip |
| All other routes by sea | DKK 8.45/trip |
| Subsea tunnels | DKK 8.45/trip |
Air travel | |
All routes by air | DKK 16.90/trip |
In order to claim travel subsidy, you must submit an application to TAKS. There are two ways to do this.
- The simplest way is to use our online website Ferdastudul.taks.fo (in faroese), where the forms are ready to be completed and submitted digitally.
- Or download the application form for travel subsidy, available on this website, and return it to TAKS electronically via Mínboks or by post to TAKS, Postboks 2151, 110 Tórshavn.
There is no deadline for submission. You can always apply.
Please note, you may claim travel subsidy for six months at the time, and you can only claim for past expenses. It is not possible to claim in advance.