Obtaining a permanent residence permit in Denmark means you can stay in the country without needing to renew your residence permit. However, to qualify, you must meet several requirements. This guide explains what you need to do to secure your right to stay in Denmark permanently.
Who can get a permanent residence permit?
To be eligible for permanent residence in Denmark, you must:
✔ Have legally resided in Denmark for at least 8 years (or 4 years in certain cases)
✔ Meet several basic requirements
✔ Fulfill at least 2 out of 4 additional requirements
If you meet all 4 additional requirements, you can apply for permanent residence after only 4 years instead of 8.
Basic requirements for permanent residence
To qualify for a permanent residence permit, you must meet the following conditions:
✅ You must be over 18 years old
✅ You must still meet the requirements of your current residence permit
✅ You must have legally resided in Denmark for at least 8 years (or 4 years if you meet all additional requirements)
✅ You must not have committed certain types of crimes
✅ You must not have outstanding public debt
✅ You must not have received public benefits within the last 4 years
✅ You must sign a declaration of residence and self-sufficiency
✅ You must be employed at the time of application decision
✅ You must not have actively obstructed the verification of your identity
✅ You must have passed the Danish Language Test 2 (Prøve i Dansk 2)
✅ You must have worked for at least 3 years and 6 months
Additional requirements
In addition to the basic requirements, you must meet at least 2 of these 4 conditions:
🔹 Passed Danish Language Test 3 (a higher level than Danish 2)
🔹 Worked for at least 4 years (instead of 3 years and 6 months)
🔹 Passed the citizenship test or actively participated in community work
🔹 Had an annual taxable income above a certain amount
If you fulfill all 4, you can apply for permanent residence after only 4 years.
What can lead to a rejection?
Your application may be rejected if:
❌ You have been convicted of a crime or are facing charges
❌ You have outstanding public debt without a payment agreement
❌ You have received public benefits within the last 4 years
❌ You have not resided in Denmark for the required period
❌ You have not passed the necessary Danish language tests
