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.
If you have been granted a residence permit on the grounds of family reunification, it will initially be valid for two years. At the end of that period, you can apply for a two-year extension. The subsequent extension is valid for three years.
The conditions for extension of your residence permit depend on whether you apply for a temporary extension or a permanent residence permit.
In order to be granted a permanent residence permit, you will normally need to have held a temporary residence permit for no less than seven years and to have passed the integration test. Besides, there are a series of further conditions.
About permanent residence permits
If you hold a temporary residence permit on the grounds of family reunification, you will normally need to have held this permit for seven years before being eligible for a permanent residence permit. Furthermore, you must meet the following conditions:
You must still meet the conditions for your original residence permit.
You must have completed an introduction programme as dictated by the Integration Act, or a similar programme.
You must have completed planned activities as dictated by the Activation Act (Lov om aktiv beskæftigelsesindsats).
You must have passed the integration test. In order to pass this test, you must have held a full-time job for two years and six months, and have passed the Danish language test Prøve i Dansk 2 (or alternatively, the Danish language test Prøve i Dansk 1 as well as an English language test corresponding to the level of the Danish language test Prøve i Dansk 2). This condition does not apply to all applicants, see below.
You must not have been sentenced to two or more years in prison for serious crimes, such as drug offences, trafficking, murder, assault or rape. If you have been convicted of a less serious crime, the date on which you will be eligible for a permanent residence permit will be postponed.
You must not have any overdue public debt.
You must have signed the integration contract and a declaration about integration and active participation in Danish society.
If you were originally granted a residence permit when your were a child under the age of 18, you must wait until turning 18 to apply for a permanent residence permit. Moreover, if your parents are foreign nationals, your parents must hold a permanent residence permit, or you must have resided legally in Denmark for no less than seven years. In addition, you must meet the following conditions:
- You must still meet the conditions for your original residence permit.
- You must have passed the integration test. In order to pass this test, you must have passed the Danish language test Prøve i Dansk 2 (or alternatively, the Danish language test Prøve i Dansk 1 as well as an English language test corresponding to the level of the Danish language test Prøve i Dansk 2). This condition does not apply to all applicants, see below.
- You must not have been sentenced to over two years in prison for serious crimes, such as drug offences, trafficking, murder, assault or rape. If you have been sentenced to a sentence for a lesser crime, the date which you will be eligible for a permanent residence permit will be postponed.
- You must not have any overdue public debt.
Who must pass the integration test?
Passing the integration test is required of those who have been granted, or have applied for, a residence permit from 1 July 2006 onwards, including those who have been granted, or have applied for, a residence permit before 1 July 2006, and who, as of 29 November 2006, had not yet completed an introduction programme as dictated by the Integration Act, or any similar programme. Furthermore, those who have been granted, or have applied for, a residence permit from 28 February 2002 onwards, must have passed a Danish language test.
If you belong to one of the following categories, you need not pass the integration test in order to be granted a permanent residence permit:
Persons who, at the time of application, were of retirement age or had taken early retirement.
Persons who were over the age of 50 when granted their initial residence permit on the grounds of family reunification, and who, for the past ten years prior to this date, were married to, or living in a permanent relationship with, the person residing in Denmark.
Persons who cannot pass the test for reasons beyond their control as a foreigner, for example, a physical or mental handicap, experiences of torture or violence, severe trauma or illness, or other reasons pertaining to the person’s qualifications, or other conditions.
Permanent residence permit after five years of legal residence
In certain situations, you can be granted a permanent residence permit after legally residing in Denmark for five years. In addition to the general conditions mentioned above, all the following conditions must also be met:
You must have held permanent employment or been self-employed without interuption for the past three years leading up to your application.
You may not have received public assistance under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act or the Integration Act at any point within the past three years.
You must be able to document a significant, tangible connection to Danish society.
Permanent residence permit after three years of legal residence
In rare situations, you can be granted a permanent residence permit after legally residing in Denmark for only three years. In addition to the general conditions mentioned above, all the following conditions must also be met:
Before being granted your present residence permit on the grounds of asylum, you must have previously held a Danish residence permit for a number of years based on, e.g., work, studies or as an au pair.
You must have held permanent employment or been self-employed without interuption for the entire three-year period.
You may not have received public assistance under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act or the Integration Act at any point during the past three years.
You must be able to document a significant, tangible connection to Danish society.
How to apply
There are several application forms for extension of a residence permit on the grounds of family reunification. Please note that you need to select the correct application form, depending on whether you are applying for a temporary extension of your residence permit or for a permanent residence permit, and whether you are over or under the age of 18. Furthermore, there are special forms you must use if you are over the age of 18 now, but were under the age of 18 when you were granted your original residence permit.
Each application form contains a detailed description of how you should complete the form, and which documents you must attach.
Please note that it takes considerably longer to process an application for a permanent residence permit than an extension. Therefore, if you do not meet the conditions for a permanent residence permit, you should only apply for an extension.
Application for extension of a temporary residence permit (adults)
> Application form FA3
Application for extension of a temporary residence permit (children under 18)
> Application form FA4
Application for extension of a temporary residence permit (adults who received their original residence permit when they were children under 18)
> Application form FA5
Application for a permanent residence permit (adults)
> Application form FA6 (available in Danish only)
Application for a permanent residence permit (adults who received their original residence permit when they were children under 18)
> Application form FA7 (available in Danish only)
Furthermore, you can obtain a printed version of the application form from the Service Centre of the Immigration Service, or from the local police.
You can submit your application for an extension no sooner than 2 months before, and no later than one month before it expires. If you apply too late this can result in prosecution by the police and/or a fine. You also risk that the start date of your residence permit will be calculated anew, or that your application for an extension will be viewed and processed as an entirely new application for a 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. 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.