How to apply for a residence permit

Before you apply 

If you want to work, seek family reunification, or stay in Denmark longer than 90 days (e.g. for study purposes), you should apply for a residence permit.

You apply for a residence permit through either the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

To read more about the different kinds of residence permits, which one to apply for, and how to apply, go to the Danish Immigration Service and The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI)’s website.

Documentation 

Once you have submitted your application and paid the fee to either the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), you will receive a case order ID. Make sure to hand in the case order ID along with the required documentation and your biometrics.

The fee to either the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration does not include the services provided by the Danish mission.

When you apply for a residence or work permit for Denmark, you will have to supply documentation and biometrics for your application. If you live outside Denmark, and will have to supply documentation and biometrics abroad, you will have to pay a fee to the Danish mission handling your application. You can read more about payment for services provided by the Danish Foreign Service here.

Fee

You pay the embassy fee through the webshop.

Please note that the Embassy fee for residence permit applications such as work permit, study permit or family reunification should be paid in the Webshop (DKK 1725).

The fee for re-entry permits and fee for applications submitted in Denmark and where the decision is handed out at a Danish mission, should also be paid in the Webshop (DKK 1725). 

If you choose to hand in your application for a residence permit at a location where Norway represents Denmark, please be aware that the Norwegian fee is higher than the Danish fee. You can find the Norwegian fees listed here. Furthermore, please note that payment of the Norwegian fee should not be done at the webshop.

Handing in your documentation and biometrics 

After you have applied via the Danish Immigration Service or Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) and paid the embassy fee online, you should hand in your documentation, case order ID, passport and biometrics by scheduling an appointment at the Visa Application Centre VFS global. For more information on biometric features, please click here.

If you have applied online, you only have to submit a print of the confirmation that the application was submitted online (containing information about the case order ID) as well as your passport, photo and receipt of payment of the embassy fee.

Please note that you must hand in your original passport with your application. Your passport must be valid for three months longer than your intended stay. Your passport will be returned to you after it has been processed at VFS.

Please refer to the page Where to Apply when determining where to hand in your documentation.

Please note that besides the fee to the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) and the embassy fee, there is an additional service fee if you hand in your application at a Visa Application Centre (VFS).

The Danish mission may ask for further documentation on behalf of the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) as well as request a personal interview at the Danish mission or at the Visa Application Centre (VFS) after you have handed in your application, documentation, and biometrics.

Please note that your supporting documents will be kept at the mission during the case processing time. 

Handling time 

Processing time at the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) varies according to the type of residence permit applied for:

Danish Immigration Service processing times

The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) processing times

Decision 

Once the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has reached a decision in your case, the Danish mission or Visa Application Centre (VFS) will contact you on their behalf.

Application for a re-entry permit

If you have lost your residence card or passport with a re-entry permit during your stay outside Denmark or if you need a re-entry permit for other reasons, you must follow below steps. 

Visit also this website for more information regarding re-entry permits. 

For information regarding where to hand in your application for a re-entry permit, visit this website. 

Please bring the following documentation when you hand in your application in person:

• Your passport valid at least three months after the expected entry date into Denmark.
• Re-entry permit application form, which can be found here. 
• Documentation of loss, e.g police report if card is stolen/lost.
• Documentation for your return to Denmark, i.e. flight ticket or flight ticket reservation.
• Receipt for payment of the Embassy fee of DKK 1700. 
• If the applicant is a minor, she/he needs to be present in person together with the guardian(s). 

Note that there is an additional service fee to be paid at the VAC/VFS.

You will be informed when the Danish authorities have processed your application.