Permanent Residence Based on Strong Ties to Denmark

If you have strong ties to Denmark, relaxed requirements apply when you are applying for a permanent residence permit in Denmark.

You have a temporary residence permit in Denmark based on Danish descent, former Danish citizenship or your ties to a Danish minority group.

If you: belong to the Danish minority in South Schleswig have an affiliation with the Danish minority in Argentina, or are a former Danish citizen and you were granted a residence permit based on Aliens’ Act section 9 c or 9 d, you need to have resided in Denmark for 1 year.

If: both your parents are natural-born Danish citizens, or in very special cases, one of your parents is a natural-born Danish citizen, and you were granted a residence permit based on Aliens’ Act section 9 c, you need to have resided in Denmark for 2 years.

You are considered to have strong ties to Denmark if you have a residence permit because you: belong to the Danish minority in South Schleswig, have an affiliation with the Danish minority in Argentina, are a former Danish Citizen, or are of Danish origin and both your parents (or, in very special cases, just one) are natural-born Danish Citizens.

You still need to meet the continuous requirements for your current residence permit.

You must be aware that normally it is a condition in order to get a permanent residence permit that you reside in Denmark, when the Immigration Service makes a decision in your case.

You need to be over the age of 18 in order to qualify for a permanent residence permit.

Mandatory prison sentence of at least 6 months  entails being barred from being granted a permanent residence permit in Denmark. This applies to all types of crime.

You can still be granted a permanent residence permit if you have been granted an extension to repay outstanding debt. However, the amount you owe may not exceed DKK 143,100.98 (2026 level).

You need to pass the Danish language test 2 (Prøve i Dansk 2), or a Danish exam of an equivalent or higher level.

If y ou belong to the Danish minority in South Schleswig, you can also meet the requirement regarding the Danish language test for example by documenting that you have passed 9th grade final exams at a Danish school in South Schleswig. If you are a former Danish Citizen, you can also meet the requirement regarding the Danish language test if you have attended a Danish school.

You may not have worked deliberately against the establishment of your identity in connection with your application for residence permit or extension of your residence permit.