Nordic Passport Union

The Nordic Passport Union is an agreement of the Nordic countries to facilitate the border crossing between the States concerned.

The Passport Union was adopted in 1954 as part of a labor market agreement between Denmark (excluding Faroe Islands and Greenland), Sweden, Finland and Norway. On December 1, 1955 Iceland joined the Union on 1 January 1966, the Faroe Islands. The aim was to allow workers easier switch back and forth between countries and thereby reduce staff shortages and unemployment. Due to the labor market agreements, the passport union and in 1955 completed a social agreements the foreign workers the restart was facilitated in many areas. So they got in contrast to citizens from non- Nordic countries easier for a residence and even their social security was assured. In 1981 they were allowed to participate from receiving their permits at local elections. Meanwhile, a residence permit for citizens of Nordic countries is no longer necessary. Only one registration with the authorities is required.

On 1 May 1958, the abolition of border controls finally came into force, the process had begun to eliminate the passports in 1952. From the beginning, involved in this measure Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. Iceland followed on 24 September 1965, as the Faroe Islands on January 1, 1966 under the accession to the Union pass. Greenland and the Norwegian islands of Svalbard and Jan Mayen were not part of this initiative.

With the accession of the EU members Denmark, Sweden and Finland to the Schengen Agreement, problems occurred. Since Norway and Iceland were not members of the EU, border controls at the EU external border to Norway with Sweden and Finland as well as in the Danish, Swedish and Finnish airports and seaports would again have to be introduced before traveling to Norway or Iceland. Therefore, Norway and Iceland, signed on 18 May 1999, an agreement to participate in the Schengen system. The provisions of the Convention on the accession of Denmark to the Schengen Agreement did not apply to the Faroe Islands and Greenland. However, the two " equal nations " in the Kingdom of Denmark abstain due to a cooperation agreement also on border controls.