Commonwealth of Australia vs Faroe Islands (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark)
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Commonwealth of Australia
Australia operates a points-based SkillSelect system for permanent and provisional skilled visas alongside employer-sponsored subclasses (482 TSS, 186 ENS, 494 Regional), Working Holiday Maker subclasses, and student and global talent visas.
- Official portal
- Department of Home Affairs (Australia)
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Australian dollar
Faroe Islands (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark)
Faroe Islands Visa Atlas coverage is based on the official Faroese Immigration Office, Government of the Faroe Islands and SIRI application pages. The current packet covers Faroe-specific visitor visa handling, EU Scheme work permits, third-country work permits, Fast Track work handling, family reunification, accompanying family, study or PhD residence and permanent residence; applicants should check the Faroe Islands pages rather than assuming ordinary Denmark or Schengen rules apply automatically.
- Official portal
- Faroese Immigration Office
- Languages
- Faroese, Danish
- Currency
- Danish krone
How Commonwealth of Australia and Faroe Islands (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark) differ
| Dimension | Commonwealth of Australia | Faroe Islands (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark) |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 9 | 9 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 6 | 2 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 7 | 1 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | Arrival on 482 → 186 ENS after 2 years (Specialist Skills Pathway) or 3-4 years (Core Skills) → PR → citizenship after 4 years from arrival (minimum 12 months as PR). | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) | Third-Country Work Permit |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | Home Affairs publishes a typical decision window of 6–12 months for the subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, counted from the date you lodge. Because 189 is points-tested and invitation-only, much of the real waiting often happens earlier – in the SkillSelect pool, waiting for an invitation to apply. | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | The Australia subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa costs roughly A$5,400 in Home Affairs fees for a single primary applicant, before skills-assessment and English-test costs. | — |
| Official languages | English | Faroese, Danish |
| Currency | Australian dollar | Danish krone |
| Primary regulator | MARA | Útlendingastovan |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 1 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Commonwealth of Australia
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- The Australia subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa costs roughly A$5,400 in Home Affairs fees for a single primary applicant, before skills-assessment and English-test costs.
- Processing time
- Home Affairs publishes a typical decision window of 6–12 months for the subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, counted from the date you lodge. Because 189 is points-tested and invitation-only, much of the real waiting often happens earlier – in the SkillSelect pool, waiting for an invitation to apply.
- Sponsor required
- No
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Faroe Islands (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark)
Third-Country Work Permit
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Routes unique to Commonwealth of Australia
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
skilled-migration
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
skilled-migration
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
skilled-migration
Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462)
youth-mobility
National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent)
work-unsponsored
Routes unique to Faroe Islands (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark)
Visa routes side by side
Commonwealth of Australia (9)
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Up to 4 years.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · 5 years provisional, with pathway to permanent residence.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 12 months per grant; up to 3 visas with qualifying specified work.
National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
Australian Student visa (subclass 500)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Programme length plus small buffer.
Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Initial provisional to permanent residence.
Faroe Islands (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark) (9)
Visa to the Faroe Islands
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Short-stay visit permission as granted for the Faroe Islands visa.
EU Scheme - Pre-Approved Employer
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Work and residence permission as granted for the approved job and employer category.
EU Scheme - Employer Not Pre-Approved
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Work and residence permission as granted for the approved job and employer category.
Third-Country Work Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Work and residence permission as granted for the approved job or sports-agreement basis.
Fast Track in the Faroe Islands
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Work and residence permission as granted under the Fast Track route.
Family Reunification
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Residence permission as granted for the approved family basis.
Study or PhD Residence Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Study residence permission as granted for the approved programme or PhD basis.
Accompanying Family Member
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Residence permission linked to the principal permit, as granted.
Permanent Residence Permit
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence if approved under the current Faroe Islands rules.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Commonwealth of Australia or Faroe Islands (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark)?+
Commonwealth of Australia’s Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is the dominant skilled route; Faroe Islands (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark)’s Third-Country Work Permit is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Commonwealth of Australia or Faroe Islands (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark) have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Commonwealth of Australia has more: 6 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 2 for Faroe Islands (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark). No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.