Kingdom of Denmark · family · Leads to settlement
Family Reunification (Familiesammenfoering)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 5 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026
Residence permit for spouses and children of residents in Denmark — includes an attachment requirement and financial conditions.
- Processing time
- 3–10 months (family-reunification processing is often slower than work-permit processing).
- Government fees
- DKK 8,555 (spouse); verify on nyidanmark.dk.
- Typical duration
- Tied to the sponsor's residence status. Leads to permanent residence on the same conditions as work-permit holders.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 8 July 2026, the Family Reunification (Familiesammenfoering) for Kingdom of Denmark is an unsponsored Denmark immigration route. Sources: official Kingdom of Denmark government pages, reviewed 8 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/denmark/family-reunification-dk#answer
What is the Family Reunification (Familiesammenfoering) in Kingdom of Denmark?
Family Reunification (Familiesammenfoering) is an unsponsored Denmark route. Indicative government fees are DKK 8,555 (spouse); verify on nyidanmark.dk; indicative processing time is 3–10 months (family-reunification processing is often slower than work-permit processing); typical duration is Tied to the sponsor's residence status. Leads to permanent residence on the same conditions as work-permit holders. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Immigration Service (Udlaendingestyrelsen) on 18 April 2026.
Overview
Family reunification in Denmark allows residents (work-permit holders, permanent residents, and Danish citizens) to bring their spouse and children under 15 to Denmark. Denmark has some of the strictest family-reunification rules in Europe. Key requirements include: (1) the combined attachment to Denmark must be greater than to any other country (the "attachment requirement" — waived if the sponsor has been a Danish citizen or resident for 26+ years), (2) the sponsor must have adequate housing (own room for the couple), (3) the sponsor must not have received certain public benefits in the past 3 years, and (4) the sponsor must post a financial guarantee (DKK 100,000+). The spouse must be at least 24 years old (the "24-year rule"). These rules are politically driven and have been tightened multiple times.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Both the sponsor and the spouse must be at least 24 years old (the "24-year rule").SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) / New to Denmark ↗
- ✓The couple's combined attachment to Denmark must be greater than to any other country (the attachment requirement). This is waived if the sponsor has been a Danish citizen for 26+ years.
- ✓The sponsor must have adequate housing (minimum own room for the couple — verified by the municipality).
- ✓The sponsor must not have received certain social benefits (kontanthjaelp, etc.) in the past 3 years.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) / New to Denmark ↗
- ✓The sponsor must post a financial guarantee of DKK 100,000+ (refundable if conditions are met after 10 years).
Common blockers
- !Either spouse is under 24 — no exceptions to the 24-year rule.
- !Attachment to another country is stronger — assessed based on duration of residence, language, social ties, education, and employment history in Denmark vs. other countries.
- !Sponsor received prohibited social benefits in the past 3 years.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) / New to Denmark ↗
- !Unable to post the DKK 100,000+ financial guarantee.
Typical evidence
- ·Marriage certificate with apostille and certified translation.
- ·Evidence of the sponsor's Danish residence and employment history.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) / New to Denmark ↗
- ·Housing documentation (lease or ownership, meeting minimum standards).SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) / New to Denmark ↗
- ·Financial guarantee deposit receipt.
- ·Evidence of Danish-language and cultural knowledge (for the attachment assessment).
Application pathway
Assess attachment requirement
Before applying, honestly assess whether your combined attachment to Denmark is greater than to any other country. This is the most common refusal reason.
Post financial guarantee
Deposit DKK 100,000+ as a financial guarantee. This is refundable after 10 years if certain conditions are met.
Apply online
Apply through nyidanmark.dk. Processing takes 3–10 months — family cases are often slower than work-permit cases.
Spouse enters Denmark
On approval, the spouse enters Denmark and receives a residence permit with work rights.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Family Reunification (Familiesammenfoering), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Check the conditions for your own permission, including work, and keep evidence of the qualifying relationship. The principal applicant’s conditions may differ.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Denmark. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyApplicantApply for family reunification ↗
Use the official family page to choose the correct family category, create the case order and submit the application.
Danish Immigration Service · verified
Also explored by
Compare Kingdom of Denmark with
Related routes
Frequently asked questions
What is the "24-year rule" for family reunification in Denmark?+
Both the sponsor and the spouse must be at least 24 years old at the time of application. This rule was introduced to prevent forced marriages. There are no exceptions — couples where either partner is under 24 cannot apply for family reunification in Denmark.
What is the "attachment requirement"?+
The couple's combined attachment to Denmark must be greater than to any other single country. The Immigration Service assesses factors including: how long the sponsor has lived in Denmark, Danish-language ability, social ties, education and employment in Denmark, and the couple's ties to the spouse's home country. This requirement is waived if the sponsor has been a Danish citizen or resident for 26+ years. It is the most common reason for family-reunification refusals.
Can my spouse work in Denmark on a family-reunification permit?+
Yes. Spouses with a family-reunification residence permit have unrestricted work rights from day one — no separate work permit needed.
Do I have to deposit money for my spouse to join me in Denmark?+
Yes. To sponsor a spouse for family reunification, you must post a financial guarantee of DKK 100,000 or more, which is refundable after 10 years if certain conditions are met. Confirm the current figure and conditions on nyidanmark.dk before applying.
How long does family reunification in Denmark take compared with my own work permit?+
Family-reunification cases typically take 3–10 months to process and are often slower than work-permit processing, which is normally about 1 month for the Pay Limit and Positive List schemes. Plan for your family's permits to arrive later than your own. Check current average times on nyidanmark.dk.
Do I need suitable housing before my spouse can join me in Denmark?+
Yes. As the sponsor you must have adequate housing — at minimum an own room for the couple — and this is verified by the municipality as part of the application. Verify the full requirements on nyidanmark.dk.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in DenmarkHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Immigration Service (Udlaendingestyrelsen)
Last checked: 18 April 2026