Questions and answers

Any foreign national in Denmark can submit an application for asylum. You can apply for asylum regardless of whether you entered Denmark illegally or have a residence permit or visa.

You can only apply for asylum if you are in Denmark.

If you are in a country other than Denmark, you cannot apply for asylum in Denmark. This includes requests made in person at a Danish diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) or by writing to the Immigration Service, the police or the Ministry of Immigration and Integration.

Asylum can be granted according to one of the following three sections in the Aliens Act.

Requirements for obtaining convention status

You can be granted a residence permit as a refugee if the UN Refugee Convention applies to your situation. This would be the case if:

  • You have a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, and
  • You are outside the country of your nationality

If the conditions above apply to your situation, you will be granted a residence permit under the terms of Aliens Act section 7 (1).

Requirements for obtaining protected status

You can be approved as a refugee with protected status if returning to your home country would mean you face capital punishment, torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.

If the conditions above apply in your situation, you will be granted a residence permit under the terms of Aliens Act section 7 (2).

Requirements for obtaining temporary protected status

You can be approved as a refugee with temporary protected status if you face capital punishment, torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment if you return to your home country, and if these risks stem from severe instability and indiscriminate violence against civilians in your home country.

If the conditions above apply in your situation, you will be granted a residence permit under the terms of the Aliens Act section 7 (3).

How you can apply for asylum depends on whether you have a residence permit in Denmark. 

If you do not have a residence permit, you can apply for asylum by showing up in person at a police station in Denmark or at the police in Centre Sandholm. 

If you already have a residence permit (on other grounds than asylum) in Denmark, you can apply for asylum by showing up in person at the police in the district where you live. 

Denmark is divided into 12 police districts (ex the police in Greenland and the police in the Faroe Islands). See more at the police’ website 

If you live in the police district of Nordsjælland which means one of the following municipalities: Allerød, Egedal, Fredensborg, Frederikssund, Furesø, Gentofte, Gribskov, Halsnæs, Helsingør, Hillerød, Hørsholm, Lyngby-Taarbæk, Rudersdal, you must be registered at the police in Centre Sandholm. 

If you live in another police district than Nordsjælland we recommend that you contact your local police station before you show up in person, because not all police stations are capable of doing an asylum registration. 

Temporary residence permit

You will be granted a residence permit for a limited period of time with the purpose of temporary residence in Denmark. Your right to reside in Denmark exterminates when you are no longer in need of protection.

You will initially be granted a residence permit for a limited period of time, and the length of this period will depend on the provision under which you are granted asylum.

If you are granted convention status, you will be granted a residence permit that can be extended for up to two years at a time.

If you are granted protected status, you will be granted a residence permit for up to a year. Once you have held a residence permit for a year, your residence permit can be extended for up to two years at a time.

If you are granted temporary protected status, you will be granted a residence permit for up to a year at a time. Once you have held a residence permit for three years, your residence permit can be extended for up to two years at a time.

Read more about extension of residence permit

Temporary protected status

If you are granted temporary protected status, special rules apply for when your family can apply for family reunification. Read more about applying for family reunification with individuals granted temporary protected status