The support requirement

If special reasons apply, a child's residence permit can be made contingent upon the parent in Denmark documenting that he/she can support him/herself. Special reasons can be that the parent in Denmark has chosen not to have any contact with the child for an extended period of time.

This requirement will be met if the parent in Denmark has not received public assistance under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act (lov om aktiv socialpolitik) or the Integration Act (integrationsloven) until the child has been granted a permanent residence permit. For example, the parent may not receive Danish Start Help ('starthjælp') or social benefits ('kontanthjælp').

If the parent has received few, minor payments which are not directly related to support, or payments which compare to, or replace, a salary or pension, this will not keep the child from being granted a residence permit.

Unemployment benefits paid by the parent's unemployment insurance fund is not public assistance under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act or the Integration Act and will not keep the child from being granted a residence permit.

Dispensation

The housing requirement can be suspended if the parent in Denmark holds a residence permit as a refugee or has protected status and still risks persecution, has a child from a previous relationship who is also living in Denmark, and if the parent has custody of the child or has visitation rights and sees the child on a regular basis, or is seriously ill and cannot be advised to reside in another country.