Termination of your residence permit
Even though you have been granted a Danish residence permit, your permit can be
revoked or
denied extension, which removes your right to reside in Denmark. This can happen for a number of reasons.
If your situation changes
The Immigration Service may revoke or refuse to extend your residence permit if the grounds on which it was granted no longer apply. Examples of this could be:
- If you were granted a residence permit on the grounds of family reunification with a spouse, and you and your spouse/partner are no longer living together.
- If your spouse/partner was required to meet the housing requirement and he/she no longer has adequate housing at his/her disposal.
- If due to special circumstances, your spouse/partner was not required to meet the housing requirement, and those circumstances no longer apply.
- If due to special circumstances, your spouse/partner was not required to meet the collateral requirement, and those circumstances no longer apply.
You are obliged to inform the Immigration Service of any changes in your personal situation which could affect your right to reside in Denmark.
Fraud
The Immigration Service has the right to revoke or refuse to extend your residence permit if you are found to have obtained it by giving the authorities false information. This applies regardless of whether you hold a temporary or a permanent residence permit.
Missing passport
The Immigration Service has the right to revoke or refuse to extend your temporary residence permit if you no longer possess a valid passport or other legitimate form of travel documents.
If your passport or travel documents are invalid, the Immigration Service will not proceed with the case before you have had your existing passport renewed or have acquired a new passport. You will typically be given one month to do this.
The Schengen Information System
The Immigration Service has the right to revoke or refuse to extend your residence permit if you have been reported as an undesirable in the Schengen Information System (SIS). You must have been reported because of serious crimes which would warrant deportation if committed in Denmark.
This applies regardless of whether you hold a temporary or permanent residence permit.
Other circumstances
The Immigration Service has the right to revoke or refuse to extend your residence permit if you are considered a threat to national security, to public order, safety or health. Your residence permit can also be revoked if you are a war criminal, or have committed serious non-political crime outside Denmark. Finally, your residence permit can be revoked if, while outside Denmark, you have been convicted of a crime which would warrant deportation if committed in Denmark.
Your personal situation is taken into consideration
If your personal situation indicates that revoking your residence permit would be particularly traumatic, the Immigration Service may chose not to do so. The following factors will be taken into consideration:
Your connection with Danish society, including the duration of your residence in Denmark.
Your age, health, and other personal circumstances.
Your connection to other residents of Denmark.
Consequenses to close family members living in Denmark.
Your connection to your country of origin.
Whether returning to your country of origin would endanger you.
Victims of domestic violence
The Immigration Service can choose not to revoke or deny extension of your residence permit, if you have left your spouse or partner because you are the victim of domestic violence, mistreatment or any other form of abuse. This includes serious psychological abuse.
In order for the authorities to consider making an exception in your case you must prove that domestic violence is the reason you no longer live with your spouse/partner. Additionally, an assessment must be made of how you will be affected if your residence permit is revoked or your extension is denied.
Domestic violence can be documented by presenting a police report (if the abuse has been reported to the police), statements from social workers, or reports from a hospital emergency room, general practitioner or crisis centre.
You must also verify that domestic violence is the reason you no longer live with your spouse.
The Immigration Service will determine whether extenuating circumstances apply in your situation. Such extenuating circumstances include: whether you have children living in Denmark, or whether returning to your country of origin would jeopardise your social well-being - for example, if you risk exclusion because you left your spouse. The length of time you have lived in Denmark and how well integrated you are will also be considered.
Normally, victims of domestic violence who have lived in Denmark for two years or more before leaving their spouse are granted an exception. If you have lived in Denmark for less than two years, you will normally only be granted an exception if there are extenuating circumstances.
If you wish, the Immigration Service can help you file a report against your spouse/partner with the police.
Residence abroad can make your residence permit lapse
If you leave Denmark for an extended period of time, or if you no longer maintain a residence in Denmark, your residence permit can lapse.
If you keep a residence in Denmark (that is, if you are registered at a Danish address), there is a limit to how long you may be outside the country if you wish to keep your residence permit. If you do not return to Denmark within the time limit, your residence permit will automatically lapse.
Read more about how to keep your residence permit from lapsing if you leave Denmark.