The interests of the child
A child cannot be granted a residence permit on the grounds of family reunification if it is clearly at odds with the interests of the child.
When assessing a case, the Immigration Service will consider, among other things:
- Whether the child will develop serious social problems in Denmark
- Whether there is significant risk that the child will be removed by the authorities upon or shortly after arriving in Denmark
- Whether there is a risk that the child will suffer abuse
- The duration and nature of the child's proposed stay in Denmark, compared to the duration and nature of the child's stay in his/her country of origin
If there is information available which indicates that being granted a residence permit would be at odds with the interests of the child, the Immigration Service will ask the municipal authority for a statement before processing the case.
In cases where the child has previously held a Danish residence permit but where the parents have sent the child to his/her country of origins for an extended period of time for cultural re-education and where, as a result, the child's residence permit has lapsed, a new residence permit will only be granted if it is clearly in the interests of the child to return to Denmark.