Denmark is a Nordic country in the northern part of Europe. A wealthy nation with amazing sights and a thriving economy. Spread over an area of 42,943 km2 and a population of around 5.9 million people, the country is famous for Legos, bicycles, tulips, and being the happiest country on the planet!
A 2017 official statistic revealed that more than 26000 Lebanese live in different parts of Denmark, primarily in Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Syddanmark, Aarhus, and Copenhagen. A majority of the Lebanese population have acquired permanent residence while some have become citizens through naturalization.
Relocating permanently to Denmark is a lengthy process and may take 4 to 10 years for a person to become a citizen of the country, provided all requirements are satisfied.
Initiating the residence permit process
The process starts at the official Danish website’s immigration services portal, officially known as the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). In addition, Lebanese citizens need to submit an in-person application at the Danish Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.
Note that Denmark offers temporary residence for work, education, family reunification, and startup purposes. There is a different category for heavy investors and the process is taken between governments in those cases.
A step-by-step guide to apply on the website
In a few steps, a Lebanese citizen can create an application for a temporary residence permit on the website, the steps are explained below:
Logging into the website
As mentioned earlier, the purpose of temporary residence will determine which form one shall fill out. Students who wish to study in Denmark should follow this link. Education is further categorized on the basis of the level, field, and years of education desired.
If applying for work purposes, the applicant shall follow this link and follow the instructions and if requiring residence for a family reunion this link may be followed.
Creating case ID
A case order ID is a unique ID provided to every applicant. Choosing a type of residence permit (education, work, etc.) is important as it will determine the duration and conditions of the permit. Ensuring that every section of the required information is properly filled and detailed as advised. Once the applicant has submitted the information and chosen a category, he/she will be provided with the case order ID.
Fee payment
The fee is paid online on the portal through a debit/credit card; the applicant must print the receipt and submit the same along with the application at the embassy. The fee structure for residence permits is given below:
- For work €590/applicant (approx.)
- For education €250/applicant (approx.)
- For family reunification €390 (approx.)
Compiling documents
Every document demanded must be produced, with no exceptions. If some document is missing, then a replacement document with proper verification and certifications must be submitted instead. The applicant shall ensure that all required documents are handy before applying. A list of required documents, in general, is provided later in this article.
Filling the form
Applicants must ensure that they have selected the right application form before filling it out. Each category has a different form as well as required information. Applicants shall take their time to fill the form out in a quiet place to ensure that all information is correct and complete.
Biometrics
The applicant’s facial scan and fingerprints are scanned at the Danish Embassy in Beirut. Visits are restricted to appointments.
Required documents
The documents listed below are general requirements and must be made handy before submitting the application in person for any temporary residence permit category.
- Original valid passport (minimum 3 months more validity than the planned stay)
- Recent passport-sized photos taken as per Schengen guidelines
- Duly filled application form
- Receipt of fee payment
- Proof of accommodation (hotel reservations, apartment lease, etc.)
- Proof of stable income to support self and dependents
- Employment contract (in case of work permit)
- Proof of family relationship (in case of family reunion permit)
- Letter of acceptance from the university (in case of education purposes)
A temporary residence permit may take up to 3 months to process from the time of submitting the application and is valid for a minimum of one year and a maximum of 2 years depending on the purpose. The temporary permit can be extended if the conditions continue to exist, i.e. employment is extended, enrollment continues, etc.
Permanent residence permit
Though the temporary residence permit will allow the bearer to stay in Denmark for as long as the conditions and purpose continue to exist, obtaining a permanent residence (PR) is a landmark in itself. To qualify for a PR, the applicant must have lived in Denmark for a minimum of eight years.
As with the temporary residence permit, a PR is also applied at the SIRI. The conditions to apply for PR are listed below:
- Applicant must be above 18 years of age
- Conditions and purpose of temporary residence must continue to exist
- Applicant must have lived at least 8 years on a residence permit in Denmark
- The applicant is not involved in any crime against society or state or any other criminal activities
- The applicant shall not have any public/social debts such as:
- Social services benefits
- Advance taken on the child support program
- Daycare payments for children
- Housing benefits
- Taxes or levies
- Applicant must pass Danish Language Test 2
- Must not have submitted any falsified documents
Exemptions to the minimum 8-year stay prior to PR application exist in the following cases:
Where the Applicant
- Has passed the Danish Language Test 3
- Is employed for 4 years or more
- Has passed the active citizenship test
- Has an annual income above the prevailing average income (over €40,000 approx.)
The official fee for the application is €1,400 approximately and the duration required for processing is approximately 10 months from the time of application.
