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IMMIGRATION LAW IN DENMARK

IMMIGRATION LAW IN DENMARK

VISA REQUIREMENTS:

Countries Requiring Visas:

All persons entering Denmark except the following require visas:

• citizens of Nordic countries and citizens of European Union countries;
• citizens of  Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda (provided they are holding a British Dependant Territories Passport), Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), Israel, Japan, Korea (Republic), Liechtenstein, Macao (Special Administrative Region), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Uruguay, United States of America, Vatican City and Venezuela;
• UN Laissez-passer holders.

Types of Visa, and Validity:

Short-stay Visa or Schengen Visa:

This is a uniform type of visa which is issued for tourist, business and private visits for stays of up to 90 days. This allows a person to enter one country and travel freely throughout the Schengen zone. The following types of visa come under it:

·        Short Term Visa: This is issued for tourist or business visits for less than 90 days.

·        Airport Transit Visa: This allows a person to pass through the international zone of an airport of a Schengen member state without having access to the national territory of the Schengen member state. This visa is required by citizens of the following countries to transit through a Danish airport: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (the Democratic Republic), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka. These nationals however do not require an Airport Transit Visa if they are residents in a European Union member state, an EEA country, United States of America or Canada having permission to return at least 90 days after transiting Denmark.

·       Transit Visa: This is valid for 24 hours and it enables the applicants to pass through the territory of one or more Schengen member states on their way to another country outside the Schengen area.

Visa Charges:

The Visa fee for short-stay visas to all Schengen states, including Denmark have been raised to 60EUR from January 1, 2007, as per the decision of the European Council.

However, the previous fee of 35 EUR will still be applicable for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russian Federation, Serbia and Ukraine for the time being, as the European Union Commission is holding visa facilitation negotiations with these countries.

The following are exempted from visa fees irrespective of their nationality:

·        spouses of European Union citizens;

·       children under 6 years of age;

·        school pupils, students and accompanying teachers on study or educational trips;

·       researchers and scholarship holders from third countries traveling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research.

This information was last updated on 01.01.2007.

Documents Required for Visa Application:

The following documents are required while applying for a Schengen Visa:

·       Passport or official travel documents valid for at least 3 months;

·      Completed application form;

·        One passport-size photo;

·        Proof of sufficient funds to cover stay and to cover return to country of origin / transit to onwards country, plus funds to cover any possible medical expenses;

·        Valid travel and medical insurance;

·        Proof of purpose of stay such as a letter of invitation from a host in Denmark, a return ticket or hotel booking;

·       Proof of accommodation for tourist or business visits;

·        Letter from employer or from solicitor or bank manager if self-employed. If a student, letter from school or college confirming attendance;

·      A Residence or work permit valid for at least 3 months beyond the visa expiration date and 6 months for travel document holders, for residents of United Kingdom who are returning to United Kingdom after visiting Denmark;

·     Stamped, self-addressed registered envelope for postal applications;

·       Fee payable by postal order only, or cash if in person;

·        Return ticket to country of residence for some nationalities.

You can download a Visa Application Form from: www.nyidanmark.dk

DANISH PERMANENT RESIDENCY

A foreigner is eligible for making an application for Danish permanent residency if he / she fulfils the following conditions:

• has held a temporary residence permit for 7 years;
• has completed an integration programme as provided under the Aliens Act or a similar programme;
• has passed a Danish language test;
• has not been convicted for more than 2 years for egregious criminal offences;
• does not have overdue public debts.

A child who has been issued an initial residence permit must attain 18 years of age before applying for Danish permanent residency. If the child’s parent is a foreign national, the parent must hold a permanent residence permit or the child must have had legal residence in Denmark for 7 years.

In certain cases, permanent residency can be granted to a foreigner after 3 or 5 years’ legal residence in Denmark provided he / she fulfils the following conditions in addition to the above mentioned requirements:

• he / she has held permanent employment or been self-employed during the past 3 years;
• has not received public assistance under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act or the Integration Act in the past 3 years;
• holds a significant connection to the Danish society.

DANISH CITIZENSHIP

A person may acquire Danish citizenship through one of the following methods:

1.      By Birth: The following persons acquire Danish citizenship by birth:

·        a legitimate child whose either parent is a Danish citizen;

·        an illegitimate child whose mother is a Danish citizen;

·        a child born in the territory of Denmark to unknown parents.

2.      By Descent: A person whose one parent is a Danish citizen can acquire Danish citizenship by descent, irrespective of his / her place of birth.

3.      By Naturalization: A person may acquire Danish citizenship by naturalization upon fulfillment of the following conditions:

• he / she has been a Denmark resident for a continuous period of 7 years;
• he / she produces documents to prove that they no longer hold their former citizenship.

IMMIGRATION LAW IN DENMARK

VISA REQUIREMENTS:

Countries Requiring Visas:

All persons entering Denmark except the following require visas:

• citizens of Nordic countries and citizens of European Union countries;
• citizens of  Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda (provided they are holding a British Dependant Territories Passport), Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), Israel, Japan, Korea (Republic), Liechtenstein, Macao (Special Administrative Region), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Uruguay, United States of America, Vatican City and Venezuela;
• UN Laissez-passer holders.

Types of Visa, and Validity:

Short-stay Visa or Schengen Visa:

This is a uniform type of visa which is issued for tourist, business and private visits for stays of up to 90 days. This allows a person to enter one country and travel freely throughout the Schengen zone. The following types of visa come under it:

·        Short Term Visa: This is issued for tourist or business visits for less than 90 days.

·        Airport Transit Visa: This allows a person to pass through the international zone of an airport of a Schengen member state without having access to the national territory of the Schengen member state. This visa is required by citizens of the following countries to transit through a Danish airport: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (the Democratic Republic), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka. These nationals however do not require an Airport Transit Visa if they are residents in a European Union member state, an EEA country, United States of America or Canada having permission to return at least 90 days after transiting Denmark.  

·        Transit Visa: This is valid for 24 hours and it enables the applicants to pass through the territory of one or more Schengen member states on their way to another country outside the Schengen area.

Visa Charges:

The Visa fee for short-stay visas to all Schengen states, including Denmark have been raised to 60EUR from January 1, 2007, as per the decision of the European Council.

However, the previous fee of 35 EUR will still be applicable for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russian Federation, Serbia and Ukraine for the time being, as the European Union Commission is holding visa facilitation negotiations with these countries.

The following are exempted from visa fees irrespective of their nationality:

·        spouses of European Union citizens;

·        children under 6 years of age;

·        school pupils, students and accompanying teachers on study or educational trips;

·        researchers and scholarship holders from third countries traveling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research.

This information was last updated on 01.01.2007.

Documents Required for Visa Application:

The following documents are required while applying for a Schengen Visa:

·        Passport or official travel documents valid for at least 3 months;

·        Completed application form;

·        One passport-size photo;

·        Proof of sufficient funds to cover stay and to cover return to country of origin / transit to onwards country, plus funds to cover any possible medical expenses;

·        Valid travel and medical insurance;

·        Proof of purpose of stay such as a letter of invitation from a host in Denmark, a return ticket or hotel booking;

·        Proof of accommodation for tourist or business visits;

·        Letter from employer or from solicitor or bank manager if self-employed. If a student, letter from school or college confirming attendance;

·        A Residence or work permit valid for at least 3 months beyond the visa expiration date and 6 months for travel document holders, for residents of United Kingdom who are returning to United Kingdom after visiting Denmark;

·        Stamped, self-addressed registered envelope for postal applications;

·       Fee payable by postal order only, or cash if in person;

·        Return ticket to country of residence for some nationalities.

You can download a Visa Application Form from: www.nyidanmark.dk

DANISH PERMANENT RESIDENCY

A foreigner is eligible for making an application for Danish permanent residency if he / she fulfils the following conditions:

• has held a temporary residence permit for 7 years;
• has completed an integration programme as provided under the Aliens Act or a similar programme;
• has passed a Danish language test;
• has not been convicted for more than 2 years for egregious criminal offences;
• does not have overdue public debts.

A child who has been issued an initial residence permit must attain 18 years of age before applying for Danish permanent residency. If the child’s parent is a foreign national, the parent must hold a permanent residence permit or the child must have had legal residence in Denmark for 7 years.

In certain cases, permanent residency can be granted to a foreigner after 3 or 5 years’ legal residence in Denmark provided he / she fulfils the following conditions in addition to the above mentioned requirements:

• he / she has held permanent employment or been self-employed during the past 3 years;
• has not received public assistance under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act or the Integration Act in the past 3 years;
• holds a significant connection to the Danish society.

DANISH CITIZENSHIP

A person may acquire Danish citizenship through one of the following methods:

1.     By Birth: The following persons acquire Danish citizenship by birth:

·        a legitimate child whose either parent is a Danish citizen;

·        an illegitimate child whose mother is a Danish citizen;

·        a child born in the territory of Denmark to unknown parents.

2.      By Descent: A person whose one parent is a Danish citizen can acquire Danish citizenship by descent, irrespective of his / her place of birth.

3.      By Naturalization: A person may acquire Danish citizenship by naturalization upon fulfillment of the following conditions:

• he / she has been a Denmark resident for a continuous period of 7 years;
• he / she produces documents to prove that they no longer hold their former citizenship.