If you leave Denmark
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 your residence permit lapses, you lose your right to reside in Denmark. This means that if you have been outside Denmark for an extended period of time and wish to return to Denmark, you may be denied re-entry.
If your residence permit lapses and you wish to return to Denmark, you will need to apply for a new residence permit. Your new application will be processed according to current regulations. The grounds for issuing your original residence permit will not be considered.
How can my residence permit lapse?
Your residence permit will automatically lapse if you no longer have a residence in Denmark - that is, if you sell your home or terminate the rental contract of your home, and you are no longer registered at a Danish address in the Central Office of Civil Registration (CPR office) - and if you have left Denmark.
If you keep a residence in Denmark - that is, if you are registered at a Danish address - there are rules for how long you may leave the country without losing your residence permit.
- If you have resided legally in Denmark for less than two years, you may leave Denmark for a maximum of six months
- If you have resided legally in Denmark for more than two years with a view to permanent residence, you may leave Denmark for a maximum of 12 months
If you do not return to Denmark within the time limit, your residence permit will automatically lapse.
However, a residence permit for a child under 18 will lapse after three months, if the child has resided outside Denmark for more than three consecutive months in a way that has a negative effect on the child's schooling and integration.
Time spent outside of Denmark due to military conscription or other types of involuntary service is not counted.
Time spent in Greenland or the Faroe Islands is seen as time spent outside Denmark.
If you have refugee status (that is, if you have a residence permit on the grounds of asylum) in Denmark, your residence permit can only lapse if you have chosen to return to your own country of origin, or if you have been offered protection in a third-country.
Special rules apply if you hold a residence permit on the grounds of family reunification with a refugee, and you and the refugee choose to return to the refugee's country of origin or former country of residence in order to reside there. Read more about the period for reconsideration after repatriation.
Two types of dispensation
You can apply for dispensation to prevent your residency permit from lapsing. It is possible to apply both before and after you leave Denmark, but you must apply before your residence permit expires or lapses (i.e. before you have been outside Denmark for over six or 12 months, or have given up your residence, cf. above).
If you have been outside Denmark for over six or 12 months, or have given up your residence, and your permit has lapsed, you can apply to have the permit remain valid. However, it is a requirement that your residence permit has not expired while you were outside Denmark.
The Immigration Service recommends that you apply for dispensation before leaving Denmark.
Dispensation before your residence permit has lapsed
If you apply for dispensation, you request that the Immigration Service permit you to stay outside Denmark for longer than the six- or 12-month limit, or despite having given up your residence. You must apply before your residence permit lapses or expires.
In addition, it must be your intention to remain outside Denmark temporarily, and you must have a specific purpose for leaving Denmark, such as:
- work
- education
- foreign posting for a Danish authority, institution, organisation or company
- foreign posting for an international institution, organisation or company headquartered in Denmark
Duration
Decisions about dispensation are made on a case-by-case basis, and will depend on a number of factors, such as: why you are applying for dispensation, how long you have lived in Denmark, and your ties to Denmark. Normally, the dispensation period can be extended to a maximum of three years. You can apply for an extension of your dispensation period. Applications for extension must be made before the original dispensation period expires.
If you do not return to Denmark before the dispensation period ends, your residence permit will lapse. This means that if you wish to return to Denmark, you will need to apply for a new residence permit.
Family members with Danish residence permits
If you have been granted dispensation, it can also be applied to your spouse/registered partner/cohabiting partner as well as any children under the age of 18 who are living with you. The length of your family members' dispensation will be the same as yours.
If your spouse/partner remains in Denmark, and if he/she holds a temporary residence permit on the gounds of family reunification with you, his/her residence permit can be revoked as the requirement that you share the same address would no longer be met.
Dispensation after your residence permit has lapsed
You can apply that your residence permit not be considered as lapsed if you are outside Denmark and have exceeded the time limit, or if you have given up your residence. However, it is a requirement that your residence permit has not expired. The Immigration Service can decide that your residence permit should not be considered as lapsed if:
- it was your intention to return Denmark before the six or 12-month time limit, and
- you were prevented from returning to Denmark by unforeseen circumstances beyond your control. Such circumstances include: illness, imprisonment, war-like situations, natural disasters or problems leaving the country in which you were staying.
It is important that you apply as soon as possible.
Read more about how to apply.