No public assistance
In order to qualify for a permanent residence permit, you may not have received public assistance under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act (lov om aktiv socialpolitik) or the Integration Act (integrationsloven) for the past 3 years (36 months) prior to submitting your application for a permanent residence permit, and until being given a decision about your application.
This applies to all types of Active Social Policy Act and Integration Act benefits regardless of whether they were one-off payments or a recurring benefit payment.
Introduction Benefits ('introduktionsydelse'), Start Help ('starthjælp'), Social Security ('kontanthjælp') and rehabilitation ('revalidering') are examples of public assistance granted under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act and the Integration Act.
Student grants ('SU') and 'dagpenge' paid during periods of unemployment, sick leave or parental leave are not granted under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act and the Integration Act.
Another example of a payment which will not prevent you from being granted a permanent residence permit is housing aid ('boligstøtte'). There are also other types of public assistance which are not granted under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act or the Integration Act.
If you are in doubt about which act a payment is granted under, please contact your local authority ('kommune').
When you apply for a permanent residence permit, you will be asked to sign a statement that you have not received public assistance. The statement is included in the application form.
Denmark's obligation to protect women's rights can require it in some cases to waive the requirement that applicants may not have received the abovementioned types of public assistance. This would be the case for women who are on maternity leave from a job and are to return to the work market after the maternity leave.