How to apply

If you are an employee

If you are applying for a residence and work permit as an employee (including applicants under the Positive List, the Pay Limit scheme, the Corporate scheme, researchers, athletes and trainees) or as a religious worker, both you and your employer in Denmark (e.g. the company, research institute, sports club or religious denomination) must supply information for the processing of your application.

It is your employer in Denmark who begins the application process by completing his/her part of the application form and attaching the required documents. He/she sends or gives the form and attached documents to you. You then complete your part of the form, attach the required documents, and submit the entire application.

There are different application forms for different types of applicants. Each application form contains a detailed description of how you and your employer in Denmark should complete the form, and which documents you must attach.

You and your employer in Denmark can chose one of the following application forms, depending on whether you are a(n):

Employee (including applicants under the positive list, pay limit scheme, corporate scheme, athletes and trainees)
> Application form AR1 (English version)
> Application form AR1 (Danish version)
> Application form AR1 online (Danish/English version). Please note: In order to use the AR1 online form, the employer must have a digital signature. Furthermore, the employer must start the application process by filling in the employer part of the form. Read more about digital signature.

Researcher
> Application form ST2 (Danish/English version)

Religious worker
> Application form RF1 (Danish/English version)

Application for Corporate approval
> Application form AR4 for the company (Danish version)

Furthermore, your employer in Denmark can obtain a printed version of the application form from the Service Centre of the Immigration Service, or from the local police.

If you are a self-employed person

If you are applying for a residence and work permit as a self-employed person, the application form is to be completed by you alone. The application form contains a detailed description of how you should complete the form, and which documents you must attach.

Self-employed person
> Application form AR2 (English version)
> Application form AR2 (Danish version)

Furthermore, you can obtain a printed version of the application form from the Danish diplomatic mission in your country of residence, from the Service Centre of the Immigration Service, or from the local police.

If you are a jobseeker

If your are applying for a residence and work permit under the greencard scheme, the application form is to be completed by you alone. The application form contains a detailed description of how you should complete the form, and which documents you must attach.

Please note: If an application for a residence permit under the greencard scheme does not include all the necessary information or documentation, it may be rejected. This means that the Immigration Service will not process the application.

Applicant under the greencard scheme
> Application form GR1 (English version)
> Application form GR1 (Danish version)

Furthermore, you can obtain a printed version of the application form from the Danish diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate general) in your country of residence, from the Service Centre of the Immigration Service, or from the local police.

Family members

If you wish to bring your spouse/registered partner/cohabiting partner with you to Denmark, then he/she must submit his/her own application. If you have children under the age of 18 who you also wish to bring to Denmark, information about the children can be included in your spouse's/partner's application.

The application form contains a detailed description of how your spouse/partner should complete the form, and which documents he/she must attach.

Accompanying family members
> Application form FA8 (English version)
> Application form FA8 (Danish version)
> Application form FA8/FA9 online (Danish/English version)

Furthermore, your spouse/partner can obtain a printed version of the application form from the Danish diplomatic mission in his/her country of residence, from the Service Centre of the Immigration Service, or from the local police.  

Fee for submitting an application

From 1 January 2011 onwards, a fee will normally have to be paid in order for your application to be processed by the Immigration Service. The fee can either be paid by you (the applicant) or by another person, such as a person in Denmark. Read more about fees.

If you submit your application to a diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate general) you will normally also have to pay a fee. The fee can vary in price. The Immigration Service recommends that you check the fee on the website of the diplomatic mission before submitting your application.

Submitting your application

You can submit an application for a residence and work permit in several ways. You can submit it at the Danish diplomatic mission in your country of origin or the country where you have resided legally for the past three months. The individual diplomatic mission can make further demands such as extra passport photos or duplicate copies of the application. The Immigration Service recommends that you check the requirements on the website of the diplomatic mission before submitting your application. The diplomatic mission will then forward your application to the Immigration Service in Denmark, where it will be processed.

If there is no Danish mission in your country of origin (or country of residence), it is often possible to submit your application at the mission of another Schengen country. See the Danish Foreign Ministry's list of countries where Denmark is represented by another Schengen country.

If you are residing legally in Denmark (e.g. based on another residence permit, visa, visa-free stay, or under EU regulations), you can normally submit your application in Denmark. In some cases, asylum seekers can apply for an application for a residence and work permit. Read more about asylum seekers with special qualifications.

You can submit your application at the Service Centre of the Immigration Service. If you live outside Greater Copenhagen, you can also submit your application at the local police who will then forward it to the Immigration Service. If the Immigration Service accepts your application for processing, you may normally stay in Denmark while your application is being processed. 

If you submit your application while in Denmark, it will not be processed if you are an illegal resident of Denmark, if you have been expelled from Denmark, if you have been given a deadline to leave Denmark, or if you are also applying for another type of Danish residence permit and are awaiting a decision.

In these cases, your application will be rejected, and you will have to submit a new application from your country of origin.

You are not staying legally in Denmark if you apply for a new residence permit after your previous residence permit has expired.  

Processing your application

When the Immigration Service has received your application for a residence and work permit, it will process it along with the attached documentation and other information. In some cases, the Immigration Service will need to obtain additional information from branch organisations. In addition, the Immigration Service will check to see if you have been reported to the Schengen Information System (SIS).

If the Immigration Service receives information that does not correspond with the information you have provided, you will be asked to explain any discrepancies before the Immigration Service rules on the case.

Once the Immigration Service has received all necessary information and documentation relating to your application, it will make its ruling. The ruling will be either a residence and work permit, or a rejection of your application.

You can follow the processing of your case on My Page, where you can log in using NemID and view the status of your application. If you are to pay a fee for your application, you will be able to see if the Immigration Service has received your payment.

How do you receive the ruling?

If you submit your application from your country of origin (or country of residence), the Immigration Service will send the ruling to the diplomatic mission where you submitted your application. The diplomatic mission will then forward it to your home address, or ask you to pick it up in person.

If you submit your application in Denmark, the Immigration Service will send the decision to your address in Denmark, or to your attorney. The Immigration Service may also the police to inform you of the decision, or ask you to pick it up in person at the Service Centre. 

If the Immigration Service has turned down your application, and you do not hold another residence permit, you will be given a deadline to leave Denmark, i.e. you will be required to leave Denmark before a specified point in time. After this point, you will be considered an illegal resident in Denmark. If you are residing illegally in Denmark you risk being expelled and given an entry ban. To be expelled from Denmark means you will be banned from entering all EU and Schengen countries, including Denmark, for a minimum of two years. If you are expelled, you may be deported by the police.

Case processing times

The Immigration Service has defined service goals for maximum case processing times for most case types.

See service goals for maximum case processing times.

Appeal

The Immigration Service rules in cases concerning applications for a residence permit under the Danish Aliens Act. If the Immigration Service rejects your application, you can appeal to the Ministry of Integration.

The appeal process will be explained in detail when you receive the Immigration Service's ruling. Furthermore, the Ministry of Integration has published appeal guidelines.

Read the Ministry of Integration’s appeal guidelines.