Danish permanent residence permit is a document with which you can stay in the country for an unlimited period of time without additional requirements. Permanent residents have most of the rights of local citizens - they have access to official work, opening and running a business, participation in grant and scholarship programs, reunification with family members. You get the opportunity to travel without a visa to Schengen countries, use the services of a developed health care and education system, apply for social benefits and state support.

It is possible to get a Danish residence permit after 8 years of stay in the country with a temporary residence permit. This period is halved if you demonstrate high rates of integration into society and earn from 45 000 EUR per year. Permanent residence is also faster for people of Danish origin and those who have graduated from a local school. The status is granted indefinitely and is not revoked, even if you have no reason to live in the state (as in the case of residence permit). Subsequently, you can apply for local citizenship by naturalization.

You can learn all the important nuances of immigration for permanent residence in Denmark from lawyers of international law. Sign up for a free consultation with an Immigrantinlaw specialist right now to expedite your desired move.

Why does everyone go to Denmark?

Moving to Denmark for permanent residence has its pros and cons. It is worth to immigrate for these advantages:

• High standard of living of the population.
  The Kingdom of Denmark is the leader of the global rating of Legatum Prosperity Index. It is one of the most developed countries of the planet with high salaries, decent social guarantees, modern medicine, and excellent purchasing power of the population. Even people with minimal income can afford a comfortable living, including the use of state support.
• Competitive salaries.
  The average Danish citizen has an income of about 6500 EUR per month (before taxes). This is one of the highest figures not only in Europe but also in the whole world. The minimum income is determined by collective agreements in the relevant industry, which guarantees fair pay for each specialist. Even without special qualifications and knowledge of the Danish language, migrants have every chance of finding good employment.
• Stable economic indicators.
  Denmark ranks third in the European Union in terms of GDP per capita and is one of the world's 20 richest countries. The Kingdom is a member of the main international unions: EU, NATO, WTO, OECD. The industrial sphere is well developed here, there is low unemployment and inflation. Stable economy, highly qualified workforce and versatile programs to support entrepreneurs are the main incentives for foreign businessmen and investors to move to Denmark for permanent residence.
• A well-developed social system.
  Denmark ranks first in the world in terms of Social Capital, according to the Legatum Prosperity Index. Residents can actively participate in the life of the country, with the rule of democracy and law being the main priority of the state. Permanent residents also benefit from various types of assistance, including unemployment or low-income benefits, payment for health insurance and integration courses, housing and utility subsidies.
• Favorable general living conditions.
  Even small towns in Denmark are well equipped for living - there are good roads, well-developed infrastructure, high accessibility to banks, hospitals, stores and pharmacies. The kingdom ranks only 128th out of 147 countries in the world crime index, according to Numbeo. Residents are welcoming to everyone around them, including migrants, and local laws prevent any form of discrimination. The way of life here is calm, measured and prosperous.

The disadvantages of immigration to Denmark include high taxes, high cost of renting and buying real estate, and long naturalization. Not everyone manages to learn the national language, which is difficult to master. And the peculiar mentality of the indigenous population and the mostly cold climate with an abundance of cloudy days throughout the year can create additional discomfort.

Main ways of immigration to Denmark

To move to Denmark, you need to obtain a national visa, followed by a temporary residence permit. To subsequently apply for permanent residence, it is necessary to stay in the country with a residence permit of the immigration type. It is issued for reasons that imply a long stay in the kingdom:

• Employment in a local company.
  You can move to Denmark by taking up a position with a private or public employer. The Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) is responsible for employment of foreigners. They check whether your profession is in short supply and whether there are any local people who would like to take up the job. The residence permit is usually granted to those who earn at least 70,000 EUR per year, but there are exceptions depending on the demand for your profession.
• Self-employment.
  A residence permit is granted to self-employed foreigners who plan to perform professional tasks in Denmark with proper experience and education. You can immigrate as a scientific researcher, religious worker, missionary, artist, athlete and more. It is important that you already have certain tasks in the kingdom, for example, you have been invited by a research institute or a sports team.
• Starting an innovative company.
  Business immigration to Denmark is available to those who register a promising startup here with the approval of the relevant authorities. A maximum of 75 such residence permits are granted per year. You need to draw up and protect your plan of activity before the National Business Administration, to prove the availability of funds for its implementation (or get sponsorship). You also need to have from twenty thousand euros per year for self-sufficiency (if you move alone), and be among the leaders of the future startup.
• Getting an education.
  A common way to move to Denmark is to enroll in a local college, university, academy or other institution of higher education on a full-time basis. You must be fluent in the language of instruction, have the means to support yourself (at least 1,000 euros per month), and have parental consent to open a residence permit (if the child is a minor). Your university must be accredited by the Ministry of Education and Science.
• Reunification with relatives.
  It is possible to move to Denmark with family members who are local citizens or residents. A residence permit is usually granted to first-line relatives - children and parents. The receiving party must provide living conditions for the invitees and be responsible for their financial support. The authorities may also approve reunification with other family members after an individualized assessment of your ties and the circumstances of the move.
• Conclusion of marriage.
  Actual partners and legal spouses of Danish residents can move in together. Each party must be over 24 years of age. The immigrant must have a conversational command of Danish or English and be economically active (continuously employed for at least 3 years out of the previous 5 years). The receiving party must provide the husband/wife with a place to live and commit to his/her financial maintenance.
• Humanitarian reasons.
  Less common programs for emigration from other countries to Denmark include obtaining refugee status or subsidiary protection. This is possible if the applicant proves that he/she cannot stay in his/her home country because of a threat to life or health. Each case is examined by the authorities on an individual basis. Such requests are often denied, for example in 2024 only about half of the applicants managed to obtain refugee status.

Emigration from abroad to Denmark is also possible under other relocation programs, for example, to participate in volunteer work or internships. However, such residence permit does not entitle you to apply for a permanent residence permit, and the period of residence with it in the country does not count towards the total naturalization period. You can come here for a short-term reason, and upon arrival find another reason to stay in the kingdom, in particular, to get a long-term job, get married or open a business.

Requirements for obtaining a permanent residence in Denmark

To start moving to Denmark, you need to open a D visa. You apply for it at the diplomatic mission with a package of documents by appointment. The consul passes the request to the Immigration Service or SIRI, depending on the reason for the move. Next, your passport with visa is returned to you. You get to the kingdom and within five days you register there at the place of residence. A residence permit card will be sent to you at the specified address.

For the next 4-8 years, you must maintain a reason to live in Denmark by regularly renewing your temporary resident status. The residence permit is renewed by contacting the Immigration Service, usually online. Once the period of residence has been fulfilled and the conditions listed below have been met, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. You must apply for it with a residence permit that is still valid.

Conditions for applying for a permanent residence permit  

Permanent residence in Denmark is usually issued after 8 years of residence in the country with a residence permit. The term is halved if you have a Danish origin, close ties with the Danish diaspora abroad or previously owned a passport of the kingdom. Also, after 4 years, people aged 18 who have previously lived here and received an education can apply for a residence permit. In any case, you need to meet the following conditions:

• being of legal age (on behalf of children, the request is submitted by their parents);
• having a valid residence permit and maintaining a reason to extend it (for example, you are still working, studying or married to a Dane);
• have no criminal record, tax and other debts to the state;
• living on your own income without applying for social assistance for the previous 4 years;
• permanent official employment on the day of application and for at least 42 months prior to the date of application;
• knowledge of the national language at level B1, according to the CERF Common European Framework of Reference;
• submission of a full set of documents, confirmation of your identity (including biometric data), completion of a declaration of residence and self-sufficiency.

In addition to the basic conditions, you must fulfill at least 2 of the 4 additional requirements for an applicant for Danish residence permit:

• permanent full-time official employment for four years preceding the date of the request;
• successful completion of the Active Citizen exam (an integration test with questions about democracy and everyday life in the kingdom) or active citizenship during the previous 12 months (participation in a PTA, volunteer organization, work with children and students);
• in-depth knowledge of the Danish language (minimum level is B2, i.e., local Prøve i Dansk 3);
• receiving a salary of 45,000 EUR or more per year for the previous 24 months.

If you meet all the basic and additional requirements, you can count on accelerated processing of the residence permit in 4 years after moving to Denmark. There are exceptions to the general conditions, for example, people with disabilities may sometimes not be able to pass the language test and pensioners do not have to be employed.

You can get all the rights of a Danish resident with a passport from any of the European Union countries. In this case, you will not have to fulfill the conditions for opening a residence permit and find a reason to move to the kingdom. Check your chances of obtaining a second citizenship in the EU in just 4-12 months at a free legal consultation.

Documents for relocation

If you want to move to Denmark for permanent residence, you should prepare the following documents:

• a valid passport for traveling abroad with photocopies;
• receipts for payment of the administrative fee for each of the immigration steps;
• metric documents (birth, marriage or divorce certificates, if required);
• evidence of housing in the Kingdom (including rented housing);
• proof of financial security, such as tax returns;
• employment contract or similar proof of permanent full-time employment;
• a certificate of Danish language proficiency (for example, Prøve i Dansk) or a school-leaving certificate from a school in the Kingdom;
• proof of your current citizenship;
• proof of your reason for moving, for example, a certificate of enrollment at a university or a marriage certificate.

Foreign documents officially translated into Danish, Swedish, Norwegian or English are accepted.

The financial side of immigration

It is only possible to move to Denmark for permanent residence if you have a source of livelihood. The requirements for the immigrant's income depend on the reason for establishing residence; they are comparable to the minimum subsistence level, scholarship or pension in the country. Your income can be active or passive, the main thing is to prove its legality and regularity.

At each stage of immigration to Denmark you pay administrative fees. For example, opening a residence permit costs 302-1605 EUR, depending on the basis. Renewal of a residence permit will cost a similar amount. To apply for a residence permit, you have to pay 952 EUR (if you reside with a work or student residence permit) or 673 EUR (in other situations).

The process of applying for a Danish residence permit

1. Submitting an online application.
   You create an account on the official Nyidanmark website and apply for permanent residence in the relevant section. You fill in the fields with your personal information, after which you receive a case identifier and pay the administrative fee. Next, attach copies of the required documents and fill out the application according to your current status in the country (work, family, study or humanitarian residence permit).
2. Records of biometric data.
   Within 4 weeks of submitting the online application, you will make an appointment with the Immigration Service in your place of residence. On the appointed day, you will need to be photographed and fingerprinted for the production of your permanent resident card.
3. Obtaining a permanent residence card.
   The maximum processing time of requests for permanent residence in Denmark is 8 months. You can track changes to your application by using the order ID. You will be notified when you can collect your permanent residence permit.

Life in Denmark after obtaining a permanent residence permit

It is worth moving to Denmark for the sake of new life prospects, which are received by permanent residents of the kingdom. The main ones are:

• official high-paid job with a decent social package;
• free commercial activity in the country and abroad;
• simplified visa opening to developed countries such as the USA and Canada;
• free travel in most European territories;
• access to the services of modern clinics and reliable banks;
• access to quality higher education for yourself and your children.

As a resident of Denmark, you are required to abide by local laws and not participate in activities against the state or its people. You will also need to fulfill social and tax obligations. To the pros of moving includes the prospect of obtaining local citizenship by naturalization. You can count on this after 9 years of permanent residence in the kingdom.

Individual selection of immigration program

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The main destinations for moving

The most popular cities in Denmark for relocation include:

• Copenhagen.
  The capital and largest city of Denmark, which is notable for its vibrant cultural life, developed labor market (the main sectors are IT, pharmaceuticals and green technologies), attractive business environment and is considered one of the main financial centers of Northern Europe. The average salary after taxes here is 3800 EUR with an approximate cost per person of about 1200 EUR per month. Disadvantage is expensive real estate: from 1200-1500 EUR per month for rent, from 5000-7500 EUR per 1 m² when buying.
• Aarhus.
  Denmark's second largest city, which is the country's main student and educational center. The service sector dominates the economy along with transportation (it is a major port settlement) and trade. According to immigrants who have moved here, many foreigners settle here to study at the famous Aarhus University with the prospect of parallel employment and participation in scientific research. The ratio of average salary and income in the city is 3600 EUR and 1000 EUR respectively.
• Odense.
  The kingdom's third largest city is rich in history and culture, and is considered a national center for robotics and drone technology. The presence of the University of Southern Denmark here provides jobs in education and research. It is the most important industrial and commercial center of the island of Funen with an average salary of 3000 EUR and estimated expenses from 1000 EUR per month.

Risks of illegal residence

Permanent residence in Denmark can be difficult for those who do not meet any of the conditions for visa and residency. For example, foreigners who have no permanent income or poor knowledge of the local language are refused. Illegal migrants have no rights in the kingdom, including the inability to work or run a business. When violations are detected, such people are usually deported and banned from re-entering all Schengen countries for several years. Immigrantinlaw lawyers will help you avoid mistakes in the immigration process - with their help you will easily and quickly move abroad.

Why does the help of specialists is important during the immigration?

Moving to Denmark should be done with the support of international law specialists. Immigration lawyers will find the most suitable immigration program for you, taking into account your plans, budget and personal situation. For example, you can obtain a second EU passport and stay in Denmark with your family without time restrictions. Lawyers will tell you how to obtain EU citizenship in a maximum of one year without foreign language skills, income demonstration or prior opening of a residence permit.

Immigrantinlaw international law specialists offer comprehensive assistance in moving to the EU territory. They will request and collect documents for you, properly prepare your dossier, take over communication with the authorities, prepare and accompany you for successful completion of all immigration procedures. Testimonials from those who already live in Europe confirm that professional support guarantees success during the relocation. To find out more useful information, you can make an appointment for a free consultation right now.

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About the author

Diana Weber

Lawyer of international law

Diane Weber is an international law specialist with 10 years of legal practice experience. Her portfolio includes successful stories of citizenship in different European Union countries under simplified procedures. Diana provides detailed advice and helps many people to achieve their immigration goals in a short period of time, including resolving visa issues, assisting in obtaining residence permits and citizenship in the EU countries. In her blog, Diana Weber enjoys providing readers with detailed information about the features of most popular programs for obtaining a second passport.