Questions and answers

If you are a foreign national in Denmark, and do not have a valid residence card, you need a re-entry permit if you would like to return to Denmark after being abroad.

If you have a valid residence card, you do not need a re-entry permit if you would like to return to Denmark after being abroad. Your residence permit needs to be valid at the time of re-entry.

Children of foreign nationals living permanently in Denmark who have not yet received a residence card, can apply for a residence card. Read more about applying for a new residence card

If you have submitted an application for a residence permit on new grounds you may qualify for a re-entry permit. Re-entry permits are granted on a case-by-case basis. If you are granted a re-entry permit, it will be valid for a length of time that corresponds to your travel needs. Normally, a re-entry permit will only be granted if you have a special reason for needing to travel, and you will only be abroad for a limited amount of time.

If you have applied to extend your residence permit, you can normally be issued a re-entry permit. You cannot be issued a re-entry permit if there is reason to believe that you will not be approved for an extension, or if you expect to receive a residence card in connection with your residence-permit extension before the date of departure.

You can also be issued a re-entry permit if you have applied for a new residence card and you are awaiting an answer from the Danish Immigration Service.

If you were granted a residence permit on the grounds of work or study, you need to apply for a re-entry permit from the Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). Read more about re-entry permits (work or study)

If you have submitted an application for a permanent residence permit with the Danish Immigration Service, you must apply for a re-entry permit with the Danish Immigration Service. This also applies when you have applied for a permanent residence permit and you have a residence permit on the basis of work or studies, or you are an accompanying family member of an employee or a student. If you have a right of residence according to EU rules, you must apply for a re-entry permit from SIRI.

Your re-entry permit will be valid for a period that is at least equivalent to your travel needs, but never for more than 90 days.

However, your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the expiry date of the re-entry permit.

You normally need to get a re-entry permit before you leave Denmark. Normally, you can apply for a re-entry permit up to 30 days before you travel. You can get a re-entry permit by appearing in person at the Immigration Service’s Citizen Service. If you are under the age of 18, you must appear with a custody holder. 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

Please remember to bring a valid passport. Your passport must be valid for three months beyond the date of your return. Your re-entry permit will be affixed to a page in your passport.

When you appear in person at the Immigration Service's Citizen Service requesting a re-entry permit, you will need to fill in an application. You can also download the form from this website and fill in the form in advance.

You can fill in the application form in Word format on your computer before printing it out. The application form is also available as a PDF file that can be printed out and filled in by hand.

Download printable version of TBT/US

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