Quota Refugee Resettlement

A quota refugee is s refugee who is residing outside of Denmark and is resettled in Denmark following an agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or a similar international organisation.

Residence permits for quota refugees granted in accordance with Aliens Act section 8

When assessing whether you qualify for resettlement, the Immigration Service assesses whether you could have been granted a residence permit if you had entered Denmark as an asylum seeker.

The Immigration Service also considers your chances of settling in Denmark and benefiting from a residence permit (potential for integration).

Part of the resettlement quota is reserved for urgent cases concerning refugees who are at risk of immediate expulsion to their country of origin or abuse in their country of residence (urgent cases) and to refugees who are critically ill and in need of immediate treatment (Twenty or More cases). In such cases, the integration potential criterion is not used.

Most quota refugees are offered resettlement in Denmark during quota trips to the countries where the refugees temporarily reside. During the trips, members of the Danish delegation interview the individual refugees in order to determine who will be offered resettlement in Denmark.

You must also consent to a medical examination performed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Finally, you must sign a declaration accepting the conditions for resettlement in Denmark, including the importance of working and learning Danish.

If you are chosen for resettlement in Denmark as a quota refugee during a quota trip, you will go through a 'pre-departure course', which is held in your country of residence.

The course is an introduction to the Danish language and society and is intended to make the transition to living in Denmark as smooth as possible.

Residence permits for quota refugees granted in accordance with Aliens Act section 8 are issued for a maximum of two years at a time. After arriving in Denmark, the residence permit is extended to up to five years from the date of entry.

The Immigration Service is responsible for making the final decision and issuing residence permits in individual cases.