Denmark Lists 4 Requirements Foreigners Must Meet to Get Permanent Residence in Just 4 Years
Denmark’s government has announced the four supplemental requirements that foreigners must complete in order to qualify for a permanent residence permit in as little as four years, halving the regular eight-year waiting period.
To be eligible for permanent residency, applicants must meet at least two of the four requirements outlined in the Danish Immigration Service’s guidelines.
Denmark explains how foreigners can gain permanent residency through four requirements.
Meanwhile, New Zealand names only 4 countries eligible for Special Visa that grants permanent residence
4 Requirements Foreigners Must Meet to Get Permanent Residence
Meeting all four enables the faster four-year program. The government specifies the following requirements:
- Pass the Danish Language Test 3 (Prøve i Dansk 3), or an equivalent or higher-level Danish language exam. Candidates who pass this bar also meet the basic language requirement of passing Prøve i Dansk 2 simultaneously.
- Holding regular, full-time employment or running a business in Denmark for at least four years and six months before the Immigration Service decided on the application. The four years of labor do not have to be consecutive.
- Passing the active citizen exam, a written test administered twice a year at language schools throughout Denmark, or demonstrating at least one year of active citizenship by serving on a board, organization, or similar body that promotes Denmark’s democratic values. The current form of the exam has been in use since 2016; hence, prior citizenship test scores are not valid.
- Earning a taxable annual income of at least DKK 346,155.57 (about ₦79.7 million at current exchange rates) on average for two years before the Immigration Service makes a decision. Salaries, self-employment earnings, labor-market pension contributions, and wages earned abroad that would have been taxable in Denmark are all acceptable sources of income.
What foreigners need to know about the Danish Permanent Residence
For the employment requirement, four years of full-time labor can be spread out over many jobs and interrupted intervals.
For example, someone who worked full-time for two years, took a six-month break, and then returned to full-time work for another two years would still be eligible.
On active citizenship, involvement does not have to remain with the same organization throughout the year, and membership is not required after the permit is given.
Applicants must submit supporting papers such as tax assessment notices and payslips to meet the income criterion. Self-employed people can file a balance sheet, which must be signed by an accountant if one was created.
In a related story, Reuters reported that Denmark had revealed how foreigners might apply for permanent residence after four years instead of eight.
According to the Danish Immigration Service, applicants must have had a valid residence visa for the entire term, including categories such as family reunion, asylum, study, or employment.
Permits provided under temporary protection regulations for displaced Ukrainians or individuals who supported Danish authorities in Afghanistan are not included in the eight-year calculation.
