Published 24-05-2017 - Last updated: 15-11-2017

New scheme for accompanying family members to expatriate Danes

On 18 May 2017 the Danish Parliament passed a bill that grants accompanying family members to returning expatriate Danes with certain job qualifications the possibility to get a residence permit in Denmark. The new rules come into effect on 25 May 2017.  

The new scheme means that Danish Citizens who have established themselves abroad and wishes to return to Denmark in order to work can bring their spouses and minor children along, even though they do not meet the conditions for family reunification due to the attachment requirement.

In order to use the new scheme, it is a condition that the expatriate Dane has established him- or herself abroad and has signed a job contract or has been offered a job in Denmark which could – if the expatriate Dane was a foreign national – be the basis for a residence permit granted under the Pay Limit scheme or the Positive List.

In addition, the new rules entails a transitional scheme for spouses, who have received a refusal for family reunification with the expatriate Dane with reference to the attachment requirement.

The new rules come into effect on 25 May 2017 and will be repealed again on 1 July 2018.

Read more about the scheme here 

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