Children between the ages of 15 and 18

Please note that the information on this page is a simplified and edited version of the rules. If you are in doubt about the rules, or you want further information about the rules, please contact the Danish Immigration Service.

Special rules apply to EU/EEA citizens residing in Denmark under the EU regulations on free movement. Read more about EU and Nordic Citizens.

Special rules also apply if the parent residing in Denmark has been granted a residence permit as a student or in order to work. Read more about students and work.

In order for a child to be granted a residence permit on the grounds of family reunification, it is normally a condition that the child is under the age of 15.

However, if special reasons apply - such as, considerations for the unity of the family - it is possible for a child between the ages of 15 and 18 to be granted family reunification in Denmark.

Such special reasons can be:

That the child has no family in his/her country of origin
That the child is applying for family reunification with the parent that the child has lived with up until now in his/her country of origin
That the parent living in the child's country of origin is unable to care for the child due to a serious illness or handicap
That the child is at risk of being removed by the authorities from the parent in his/her country of origin
That the child has lived with his/her parent in his/her country of origin, and that parent is granted a residence permit in Denmark on the grounds of family reunification with a spouse who is not the child's other parent
That the parent in Denmark suffers from a serious illness or handicap and that it would be indefensible from a humanitarian point of view to advise the parent to reside with the child in their country of origin because the parent could not receive the needed treatment or care
That the parent in Denmark holds full or joint custody, or has visitation rights and has regular contact with, children residing in Denmark
That the parent in Denmark holds a residence permit as a refugee or has protected status

Fundamental requirements

These requirements are essential and must be met in order for the child to be granted family reunification.

Requirements of the parent in Denmark

The parent in Denmark (or his/her spouse/partner) must either be a Danish or Nordic citizen, hold a recidence permit in Denmark as a refugee or with protected status, hold a permanent residence in Denmark, or hold a temporary residence permit in Denmark which can be made permanent
The parent in Denmark must hold full or partial custody of the child
The parent in Denmark or his/her spouse/partner may not have been convicted of abuse of a child under the age of 18 within a period of 10 years prior to the ruling. Read more about violence against children

Requirements of the child

The child must be under the age of 18 at the time the application is submitted
After the family reunification, the child must live together with his/her parent
The child must not have started his or her own family through marriage or cohabiting partnership
The family reunification must not be at odds with the interests of the child. Read more about the interests of the child

Additional requirements

In exceptional cases, additional requirements must be met. These requirements will normally be:

The parent living in Denmark can document that he/she has adequate accommodation at his/her disposal. Read more about the housing requirement
The parent living in Denmark can supprt him/herself. Read more about the support requirement

Application

Read more about how to apply for family reunification.