We are a team of immigration specialists who offer full support during the entire immigration procedure to Denmark. Every situation is unique and individuals who decide to immigrate to Denmark may do so for various reasons, among which employment or study purposes. Understanding the basis for obtaining residence is the first important step, as there are different rules depending on the individual’s country of origin.
Moving to Denmark is a multi-step process and there are a number of issues to take into consideration beyond obtaining the right residence permit. Opening a bank account, obtaining the personal registration number as well as registering for a health insurance card are all mandatory steps after arriving in the country for all those who are interested in relocating here.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Entry visa requirement (from EU) (YES/NO) |
No |
|
Entry visa requirement (outside EU) (YES/NO) |
Yes, with some exceptions |
| Types of visas available
|
Short-stay visa Long-term visa, according to the purpose of the stay Asylum |
| Time frame for obtaining work visa (approx.) |
1 month |
| Validity of temporary residence permit | 1-4 years, depengding on the type of residence permit which is renewable |
| Time frame for obtaining permanent residence |
10 months |
| Investor Visa Availability |
Yes, under the Start-up Denmark scheme for foreign entrepreneurs. Conditions apply. |
| Sponsorship requirement | No, however, approval from the Danish Business Authority is mandatory for the Start-up permit. |
| Time frame for obtaining citizenship | 9 years, reduced for nordic citizens (2 years) and for spouses of Danish citizens (6 to 8 years). |
| Citizenship/Residency by investment scheme availability | Residency permit for investors and citizenship through naturalization |
| Tax benefits for expats | A special tax regime is available for highly-paid expatriates in the country and researchers. The Danish Expat Scheme offers a lower tax on employment income and it can be used for up to 7 years. |
| Validity of short-term visa | 90 days |
|
Benefits for Nordic countries |
Free to reside, study, and work without the need for a special permit or visa. |
|
Requirements for non-EU/EEA citizens |
Must apply for a residence and work permit in their country of origin. |
| Requirements for EU and EEA citizens | Can remain in the country for up to three months without a permit or visa up to six months for work purposes. |
| Biometrics required (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Post-arrival steps |
– obtain CPR and NemID number, – obtain a tax personal number for income-related activities, – find accommodation, – open bank account, – learn Danish language, etc. |
| Permanent residency |
Typically after holding a temporary one for a specified period, depending on country of origin. |
| Conditions for revoked permits |
– divorce, – separation, – death of a spouse, – criminal offenses, – fraud, – threat to national security, – failing to extend the permit, etc. |
| Obtaining Danish citizenship |
– by birth, – by descent, – under special conditions for Nordic citizens, – by naturalization. |
| Residency requirements for citizenship |
– 5 consecutive years (EU citizens); – Uninterrupted period of at least two years (Nordic citizens); – The procedure of obtaining citizenship for non-EU citizens is more difficult and requires guidance from our immigration expert in Denmark. |
| Immigration for marriage (YES/NO) |
YES, under the family reunification visa. |
| Immigrating with pets |
– maximum 5 allowed, – must be microchipped, – must have valid EU passport or certificates. |
| Dual citizenship allowed (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Advantages of immigrating to Denmark |
– high quality of life, – low crime rates, – universal healthcare, – job opportunities, etc. |
| How can our immigration specialists help |
– work permits, – family reunifications, – citizenship, – residency, – visas, – documentations, etc. |
Our immigration lawyers in Denmark offer compete services to private clients who are interested in moving to the country. We are able to provide adequate legal counsel in all areas related to immigration, irrespective of the motive for relocation. Some of our services relate to:
– Work permits: assistance for applying for the work and residence permit or applications for researchers and/or those who have special qualifications (athletes, artists, etc.)
– Investment permits: if you want to open a business in Demark you will need to do so under certain conditions; our team is able to assist you;
– Family reunification: if you want to live with your spouse or partner, as well as a family member who is already residing in Denmark our immigration lawyer in Denmark can help you apply for the residence permit as an accompanying family member.
– Permanent residence/citizenship: we can assist you if you are eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit (after having a temporary one for 8 years in most cases) or if you are eligible for Danish citizenship.
If you want to immigrate to Denmark, you should know that with our help, the immigration process runs smoothly. We are there for all our clients during all of the important steps and once they arrive in the country, should they require any more details about housing, utilities, education, or other matters.
Our dedicated team of immigration lawyers in Denmark can help you apply for any of these permits as well as others such as those for study or PhD purposes.
EU/EEA, Swiss and Nordic citizens can reside in Denmark following a number of special regulations. We provide adequate assistance irrespective of nationality.
Assistance for obtaining the residence permit in Denmark
Denmark is a country that welcomes foreign nationals and encourages the employment of qualified foreign individuals. The decision to immigrate to Denmark is an important one for anyone interested in doing so and starts with obtaining the right type of residence permit, according to nationality, and the purpose of the prolonged stay.
Visas can be obtained for those foreign nationals who are under a visa requirement and wish to stay in the country for up to 90 days. For longer stays, a residence permit in Denmark will be required. The types of visas are issued for the following: tourist or private visits, business visits, cultural visits, a visa for the Faroe Islands or Greenland. One of our agents who specialize in Denmark immigration can provide more details on the types of visas as well as the procedure for obtaining Danish citizenship for those who have already been living in the country.
The following general rules apply in Denmark, based on the immigrant’s country of origin:
- Nordic citizens: citizens from the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland) do not need to obtain a special registration certificate when moving to Copenhagen or another city; they are free to reside, study and work in the country;
- EU and EEA citizens may remain in the country for up to three months without a registration certificate; those looking for employment may reside for up to six months without this document;
- Non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizens: they must apply for a residence and work permit in the country of origin; the application is submitted with the Danish Embassy or Consulate General and our immigration lawyer in Denmark can provide more details on the process.
For foreign nationals who come to the country before they have secured a job, Work in Denmark is a platform that offers information about vacancies and companies as well as upcoming job fairs.
Our team can offer complete details about applying for the residence permit in Denmark for working or studying in the country to foreign citizens who desire to immigrate to Denmark. We offer ongoing assistance so that applicants may properly fill in all of the forms and thus increase their chances of having their application approved by the Danish authorities.
Extending the Danish residence permit
Foreign nationals who are already in the country can choose to extend their residence permit, according to a new reason for their stay or to extend the existing one. For example, students can extend their higher education permit for a PhD permit, when they have been accepted and enrolled in a PhD programme. This way, moving to Copenhagen will not only be for the duration of their initial studies, but will continue.
In some cases, permit holders may need to extend a certain type of residence permit because it has been shortened because of the expiry date of the passport or simply because they need more time for that purpose, as may be the case for a PhD student who needs more time for his studies. In this case, it is important to note that the PhD study permit application needs to be applied for before the current permit expires. Failure to do so leaves the individual without the right to continue to stay in the country and an application submitted in Denmark after the said expiry date is likely to be rejected. On the other hand, those who apply for the extension in time are allowed to remain in the country while the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration processes the application. Applicants should also note that a submission that is done too early can also be rejected. Our Denmark immigration specialists can help you make sure that you submit your application extension in due time so that it is not rejected.
A special situation applies in those cases in which the circumstances under which the residence permit was obtained have changed and an extension is no longer possible. An example is when an individual obtained a residence permit on the grounds of family reunification and he or she is now divorced or the cohabitation between the two partners has ended. In this case, as well as when the spouse or partner with whom the applicant was reuniting in Denmark has passed away, the residence permit holder may have the permit revoked or the authorities will likely refuse its extension.
Losing the residence permit following a change in the family reunification status under which it was granted does not apply when this action will be particularly traumatic for the individual. Some of the issues that are taken into consideration when assessing this are the age of the former permit holder, the duration of the residence in the country, the attachment to other family members who also live in Denmark lawfully as well as whether or not the individual would be in danger if he/she were to return to his home country. Special cases apply when the holder of a residence permit for family reunification (for which the status has changed) is a victim of domestic violence, abuse or mistreatment. In this case, the Immigration Service is likely to choose not to revoke the permit, even if the family reunification situation had changed.
Another case in which an individual may be granted an extension of the residence permit even though the original grounds under which it was issued have changed is when the spouse of partner passes away and the foreign national has a residence permit for family reunification under that particular relationship. The Immigration Service can allow a person in this situation to retain the residence permit even if he or she was not living in Denmark for a very long time.
These particular family situations that concern the extension of the residence permit can be discussed in more detail with our immigration lawyer in Denmark.
We invite you to watch a video about our main Denmark immigration services:
Assistance with post-arrival steps for Denmark immigration
Applying for the right type of residence permit will allow the foreign national to enter the country. Once this occurs, there are other relevant steps that need to be taken care of:
- Biometrics: when submitting the application for a residence permit, all non-EU nationals are required to comply with the biometric recording requirements;
- CPR number: this is the personal registration number and it is used in connection with social security and tax issued;
- NemID: this is the number used for logging into the public authorities as well as online self-services; it is issued by the Citizens’ Service at the same time with the CPR number or later;
- Tax personal number and tax card: these are applied for with the Danish Tax Agency and they are relevant for all those who derive any type of income while in the country.
Our immigration lawyer in Denmark can provide adequate assistance during all of these steps, as well as detailed information about the Danish healthcare system, the insurance options and many other practical matters that are taken care of post-arrival (housing, opening a bank account, kindergarten or schools for children, information about foreign driving licenses and others).
Learning Danish is an important step after moving to Copenhagen or another city. It is the basis for integration and, later on, obtaining Danish citizenship in the country for those interested in doing so. There are many options for foreign nationals who want to immigrate to Denmark, as language schools offer day and evening courses.
A special note to the biometric requirements is that they include a facial photo as well as the fingerprints. These are to be recorded no later than 14 days after submitting the application. Our immigration lawyer in Denmark can provide more details as to where the recordings actually take place.
Obtaining Danish citizenship
An individual can apply for permanent residence in Denmark under the EU rules if he or she has been genuinely living in the country for at least five consecutive years. For non-EU citizens, the time limit is longer and this can be the goal for many foreign nationals moving to Copenhagen. However, it does not suffice to simply be registered at a Danish address or that one owns a property/home in the country. For the purpose of obtaining citizenship, the individual must show that he/she is completely relocated to Denmark. If the individual lives outside of Denmark temporarily he is not prohibited from obtaining citizenship, however, he must not reside abroad for more than six months per year or one year in extraordinary situations.
Apart from the condition to have lawfully lived uninterruptedly in the country, the applicant who wishes to obtain Danish citizenship is also asked to comply with other requirements regarding criminality, public debt, Danish skills, and self-sufficiency as well as the participation in the municipal constitution ceremony as the final step before being granted Danish citizenship.
Our team of Denmark immigration agents can give you more details about the citizenship requirements and can help you apply if you comply with the conditions.
Moving to Copenhagen – Life in Denmark
Denmark is a small Scandinavian country that has one of the highest living standards in the world, along with low corruption and crime rates that lead to a high level of life satisfaction. Some of the key facts about the country are the following:
- 42,943 square kilometers: this is the rough surface of the country;
- 7,314: the kilometers of coastline;
- 5.8 million: the number of people living in the country;
- 10,5%: of the people in Denmark are born in a foreign country.
For many foreign nationals who relocate to the country, obtaining Danish citizenship is an important goal in the process.
Immigrants in Denmark
More than 2,000 work permit applications were received in Denmark during the second quarter of 2020 and 3,092 were applied for during the first three months of the year. Other statistical data on immigration, as per the data issued by Statistics Denmark, shows us the following:
– 1,344 family reunification permits were applied for during the first and second quarter of 2020; by comparison, during the final quarter of 2019 the number of applications was 1,210;
– 1,781 people changed to Danish citizenship in 2019, out of which 635 were from EU countries and 468 from non-EU countries in Europe;
– the number of immigrants from western countries living in Denmark during the third quarter of 2020 was 254,308 and that of those from non-western countries 356,090.
If you want to immigrate to Denmark and know more about life in the country, as well as how we can help you come to this country and relocate here, you can always reach out to our immigration lawyer in Denmark for more answers.