The attachment requirement
The connection requirement will be waived if the spouse living in Denmark has had
Danish citizenship for more than 26 years.
The same applies if the spouse living in Denmark was born and raised in Denmark or arrived in Denmark as a young child and
has resided in Denmark legally for more than 26 years.
If the applicants are required to meet the connection requirement, family reunification can initially only be granted if their combined connection to Denmark is considerably greater than their combined connection to another country.
When assessing whether you and your spouse/partner meet the attachment requirement, the Immigration Service will take a number of factors into consideration, such as:
- how long the spouse living in Denmark has lived in Denmark
- whether one or both of you have family or other acquaintances in Denmark
- whether one or both of you have custody of or visiting rights to a child under the age of 18 living in Denmark
- whether one or both of you have completed an educational programme in Denmark, or have a solid connection to the Danish labour market
- how well you and your spouse/partner speak Danish
- how strong the spouses’ connection to another country is, and whether the spouse living in Denmark has made extended visits to the foreign spouse’s country, or whether he/she has lived there
- whether you have children or other family members in any other country
Your spouse/partner will normally be required to have resided permanently in Denmark for no less than 12 years, and to have made an effort to become integrated into Danish society.
The required duration of your spouse/partner's residence in Denmark can be reduced to less than 12 years if your spouse/partner has made a special effort to become integrated into Danish society through education or work. Read more about the Danish spouse's attachment to Denmark.
The foreign spouse is normally required to have visited Denmark at least once in order to be granted residence. Read more about the foreign spouse's attachment to Denmark.
Further information about the connection requirement can be found in the Ministry of Integration’s memorandum of 1 December 2005, concerning the connection requirement in family reunification (only in danish)
Dispensation
The attachment requirement can be suspended if special reasons apply. This could be the case, if your spouse/partner in Denmark:
- is a refugee or has protected status and still risks persecution in his/her country of origin. Read more about refugees
- has children under 18 living in the home who have formed an individual attachment to Denmark, or has children from a previous relationship and has custody of the child or has visitation rights and sees the child on a regular basis. Read more about children under 18
- is seriously ill. Read more about serious illness/disability
Special rules apply if your spouse/partner in Denmark works in a field which is currently experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals. The attachment requirement can be suspended if your spouse/partner’s job is included on the Positive List. Read more about the Positive List.
The same applies if your spouse/partner in Denmark works for the Danish government and holds a position of particular importance for Denmark’s security or foreign policy. This includes military personnel holding a position that could require them to serve abroad in peacemaking or peacekeeping operations.