The expected maximum processing time is
6 months

Who can be granted an extension of a residence permit?

If you were granted a temporary residence permit in Denmark based on your strong ties to Denmark, you can be granted an extension of your residence permit extension, if you are:

  • A former Danish citizen (indfødsret) ¬– Aliens Act section 9 d
  • Of Danish descent – Aliens Act section 9 c (1)
  • A member of the Danish minority in South Schleswig – Aliens Act section 9 c (1), or
  • Affiliated with the Danish minority in Argentina – Aliens Act section 9 c (1)

If you are granted a residence permit based on your strong ties to Denmark, you become eligible for a permanent residence permit after 1 or 2 years, provided you meet certain requirements. Read more about applying for a permanent residence permit as an individual with strong ties to Denmark

 

What are the requirements?

If you have been granted a residence permit as a former Danish citizen, you still need to be a resident in Denmark.

If you were required to have a valid passport when you were granted your residence permit, you still need to meet this requirement. The letter you received from the Immigration Service when you were granted your residence permit lists the requirements you needed to meet.
 

When do you need to apply for an extension of your residence permit?

It is very important to submit your application for an extension of residence permit before your current residence permit expires. You may not submit your application more than three months before your residence permit is due to expire.

If you submit your application in time, you may remain in Denmark legally while your application is being reviewed. You may also remain in Denmark if the Immigration Service does not reach a decision before your current residence permit expires.

If you do not apply in time

If you do not submit your application in time, it will likely be rejected on the grounds that you would be in Denmark illegally. The application will be rejected regardless of how briefly you are in Denmark illegally.

If your application for an extension is rejected because you missed the deadline, you will need to leave Denmark and apply for a new residence permit in your home country. Your application will be considered a new application for a residence permit, and will be reviewed based on the current rules for first-time applicants. These rules may not be the same as the ones you had to meet when you were granted your residence permit.

If you are staying in Denmark illegally, you risk being punished for illegal residence. You also risk being deported and banned from entering Denmark or any other EU or Schengen country for up to two years.

If Denmark’s international obligations demand it, an application is allowed to be submitted even though it is submitted to late. This means that you have a legal residence while we process your application for extension. However you can risk being punished for illegal residence in the period from your residence permit expired and until you submitted your application for extension.

How long can your residence permit be extended?

Your residence permit can normally be extended for: 

  • 4 years at a time, if you are a former Danish citizen
  • 1 year initially, here after 4 years at a time, if you are of Danish decent because of your parents
  • 1 year with no possibility of futher extension, if you are of Danish decent because of your grand parents
  • 4 years at a time, if you are a member of the Danish minority in South Schleswig
  • 4 years at a time, if you are affiliated with the Danish minority in South Schleswig

Furthermore, your residence permit can be extended only up to 3 months prior to your passport’s expiry date. In other words, if your passport expires in 12 months, your residence permit can be extended for only 9 months.

National passports are renewed by the embassy or consulate of the country that issued them. Convention and alien’s passports are renewed by the Immigration Service.

The Immigration Service does not extend temporary residence permits for less than 6 months.

 

The information below explains what you need to do when you apply to extend your residence permit if you are a former Danish citizen etc.

You need to complete the application. You also need to enclose documentation, so it is a good idea to gather it all before you start. 

You may need:

Set aside

10 to 15 minutes

to fill in the application form

1 person

You, the applicant, need to fill in the application form.

The application form includes detailed instructions for how to fill it in and which types of documentation you can attach.

You need MitID when filling in the application form. Read more about MitID

If you want to resume filling in an application form online select ‘Start online application’. Once you are logged in, select ‘Continue a previously saved application’.

If you would like to make changes to an online application after you have submitted it, you need to contact the Immigration Service. You do not need to submit a new application. Contact the Immigration Service

Start SG4 online application

 

You are required to use the online self-service form SG4 when applying for an extension of your residence permit as a former Danish citizen etc., unless you are exempt from this requirement. Read more about mandatory online self-service

When you submit an application to the Immigration Service, we will process your personal information. You can read more about your rights and how we process your information in the application form or on this page: Personal data – How we process your data

 

When you submit your application, you will normally need to provide us with your fingerprints and a picture of your face (biometric features) within 14 days. Your biometric features are required in order for you to get a new residence card.

You can have your biometric features recorded at the Immigration Service’s Citizen Service. You must book an appointment before you show up at the Citizen Service. Read more about where the Immigration Service’s Citizen Service has branch offices and how you book an appointment

Read more about residence cards with fingerprints and facial pictures

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