Extension of a residence permit
The condition for extending a residence permit is, first and foremost, that you still meet the conditions for your original residence permit.
A residence permit on the grounds of family reunification is normally granted, subject to specific conditions. For example, if you have been granted a residence permit on the grounds of marriage/registered partnership/cohabiting partnership with a person residing in Denmark, one condition for your residence permit is that you are living together with your spouse/partner. The conditions for your residence permit are listed in the letter you received together with your original residence permit.
If the residence permit was issued to a child who has been reunified with a parent holding a Danish residence permit, the child's possibilities for extension will be dependent on the parent's ersidence permit. A child's residence permit can be extended until the child's 18th birthday. However, it cannot be extended beyond the parent's residence permit.
You can submit your application for an extension no sooner than 2 months before your residence permit expires. It is crucial that you submit your application for an extension before your current residence permit expires.
If you submit your application after the date your residence permit expires, you should expect your application to be rejected because you are residing illegally in Denmark. If your application is rejected, the Immigration Service will not process your application, and you will have to leave Denmark and apply for a new residence permit in your country of origin. Such an application will be regarded and processed as an entirely new application for a residence permit, i.e. it will be processed in accordance with the rules that apply to first-time applicants. In other words, you will lose the right to an extension of your previous residence permit.
If you are residing illegally in Denmark you risk being reported to the police as well as being expelled and given an entry ban. To be expelled from Denmark means you will be banned from entering all EU and Schengen countries, including Denmark, for a minimum of two years. If you are expelled, you may be deported by the police.
Application forms
When applying for an extension of your temporary residence permit, you need to use different application forms depending on whether you are over or under the age of 18, or whether you are over the age of 18 now, but were under the age of 18 when you were granted your original residence permit.
Extension of a temporary residence permit (adults)
> Application form FA3 (English version)
> Application form FA3 online (Danish/English version). Please note: In order to use the FA3 online form, both the applicant and the applicant's spouse must have a digital signature/NemID. Read more about NemID
Extension of a temporary residence permit (children under 18)
> Application form FA4 (English version)
> Application form FA4 online (Danish/English version). Please note: In order to use the FA4 online form, the applicant's (child's) parent must have a digital signature/NemID. Read more about NemID
Extension of a temporary residence permit (adults who received their original residence permit when they were children under 18)
> Application form FA5 (English version)
You can obtain a printed version of the application forms at the Danish Immigration Service's Citizen Service or at a police station capable of recording biometric features.
You can submit your application at the Danish Immigration Service's Citizen Service. If you live outside the Greater Copenhagen area you can also submit your application at a police station capable of recording biometric features. See list of the police stations capable of recording biometric features at politi.dk. You can also send the application to the Danish Immigration Service. Read about the recording of biometric features in connection with applications sent to the Immigration Service.
Re-entry permit
You are allowed to remain in Denmark while your application for an extension is being processed. If you wish to leave Denmark while awaiting the ruling, you can apply for a re-entry permit valid for the entire Schengen region. A re-entry permit allows you to re-enter Denmark even if your residence permit is not valid.
Re-entry permit
> Application form (Danish/English version)
Permanent residence permit
If you have held a temporary residence permit for over five years, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. In order to be granted a permanent residence permit, you must normally meet a number of requirements.
Read more about permanent residence permit.
Important information about your passport
When you apply for an extension of your residence permit, make sure that your passport is valid. The Immigration Service can revoke or refuse to extend your temporary residence permit if you do not hold a valid passport or other travel documents.
Please note that your residence permit can only be extended up to three months before your passport expires. In other words, if your passport expires in 12 months, your residence permit can only be extended by nine months. The Immigration Service will not extend a temporary residence permit for less than six months.
If you hold a national passport (i.e. a passport from your country of origin), the diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate general) of your country of origin will renew it.
The Immigration Service is responsible for renewing Alien's passports and Convention passports.
Case processing times
The Immigration Service has defined service goals for maximum case processing times for most case types.
See service goals for maximum case processing times.
Appeal
The Immigration Service decides in cases concerning applications for a residence permit under the Danish Aliens Act. If the Immigration Service rejects your application, you can appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board.
The appeal process will be explained in detail when you receive the Immigration Service's decision.
Read more about appeals