To apply for stepchild adoption, an application for stepchild adoption must be sent to the Family Law Administration. The application form is available upon request.

The following documents must be included in the application:

• Birth or baptism certificate of the applicant
• Documentation of any name change of the applicant
• The applicant’s identification number certificate (P-number)
• Birth or baptism certificate of the child
• Documentation of any name change of the child
• The child’s identification number certificate (P-number)
• Documentation of custody over the child (if the child is younger than 18 years)
• Documents relating to any child maintenance
• Marriage certificate of the applicant (if married)
• Possible previous adoption permission of the child
• If the child holds foreign citizenship, a copy of the residence permit of the child should also be included.

Foreign documents must be submitted as original copies or as certified copies. Certified translations must also be attached, however translations are not necessary if the documents are in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Icelandic, English, or German.

It is required that all foreign birth certificates be legalised according to the standard legalisation procedures of family law documents. Consult the National Boards of Appeals (Ankestyrelsen) guidelines regarding the certification of family law documents from abroad.

Guidelines on the certification of family law documents from abroad can be found here (in Danish).

When an application for stepchild adoption is received, the Family Law Administration will gather the necessary information needed to assess the application - including the opinion of the child and the birth parents.

The applicant, the spouse of the applicant, or the partner of the applicant and the child are usually invited to a meeting at the Family Law Administration for guidance and to discuss the matter.

It should be noted that the Family Law Administration also invites children from around the age of 7 for a discussion so they can express their views on the adoption.

If the child is older than 18 years, the child must consent to the adoption. And if the child is older than 18 years, the Family Law Administration requests a statement from both birth parents describing their views on the adoption application.

If the child is younger than 18 years and the birth parents of the child have joint custody, both of the birth parents of the child must consent to the adoption.

If one parent has sole custody, that parent must consent to the adoption, while the non-custodial birth parent must provide a statement to the Family Law Administration describing their opinion regarding the adoption application.

In cases of stepchild adoption of a foreign national child who (still) resides abroad or who has been brought to the Faroe Islands for adoption, the Family Law Administration involves the authorities in the child's home country in the matter.

However, if the child has a permanent residence in the Faroe Islands, there is usually no need to involve foreign national authorities in the matter of stepchild adoption.

In the case of adoption of a foreign child under 12 years old, the child automatically acquires Danish citizenship. However, in the case of adoption of a child older than 12 years, the child does not automatically acquire Danish citizenship. Nonetheless, it is possible to apply for Danish citizenship.

It is a fundamental requirement that adoption is deemed to be in the best interest of the child.

Furthermore, there are several applicable requirements:

Joint requirements:

• The stepparent must have lived together with the child's father or mother for a minimum of 2 ½ years.
• The stepparent must be at least 25 years old. In special circumstances, adoption may proceed if the stepparent is at least 18 years old.
• Stepparent must be at least 14 years older than the stepchild.

If the child is younger than 18 years old:

• The stepparent must have lived together with the child for at least 2½ years.
• It must be possible for the child to reside with the stepparent for at least 3 years before turning 18.
• The stepparent and the child’s mother or father must be married or cohabiting partners in a stable marriage-like relationship.

If the child is 18 years old or older:

• The stepparent must have lived together with the child for at least 3 years before the child turned 18.
• The stepparent and the child’s mother or father must be married or cohabiting partners in a stable marriage-like relationship.

Decisions made by the Family Law Administration can be appealed to the National Appeals Institution (Føroya Kærustovnur) within 4 weeks of the date you were informed of the decision.

Send the appeal to:

Føroya Kærustovnur
undir Hornabakka
PO box 45
110 Tórshavn

or by e-mail to fks@fks.fo 

If you would like to learn more about stepchild adoption, you can see further information on the National Social Appeals Board (Ankestyrelsen) website here.