Pro-forma marriages
A spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner will not be granted a residence permit on the grounds of family reunification if there are indications that the marriage or partnership was established with the main purpose of obtaining a residence permit.
The Immigration Service makes a thorough evaluation of all the relevant information in a case in order to ascertain whether a marriage or partnership can be categorised as pro forma. Among the information considered is:
- Whether the parties have ever lived together at a shared address.
- Whether the parties can communicate in the same language.
- Whether there is a large age difference between the parties.
- How well the parties knew each other before marrying.
- Previous marriages (if applicable).
- Whether the parties have children together.
The Immigration Service takes previous marital history into account when ruling in the case. For example, it would be considered relevant if the spouse/partner living in Denmark was previously married to a foreign national, and if this marriage ended shortly after the foreign national was granted a permanent residence permit.