Biometric features – Storing of fingerprints and facial photos

Fingerprints and facial photos are recorded in connection with:

• Applications for asylum (section 7 (1-3) of the Aliens Act).
• Applications for extension of residence permits for refugees and others, (sections 7 and  8 of the Aliens Act), including applications for permanent residence permits.
• Applications for extension of humanitarian residence permits (Section 9b (1) of the Aliens Act), including applications for permanent residence permits.
• Applications for residence permits in the areas of family reunification, work and study (section 9, section 9 a, section 9 c-9 f, section 9 i-9 n and section 9 p of the Aliens Act).
• Applications for extension of residence permits in the areas of family reunification, work and study (section 9, section 9 a, section 9 c-9 f, section 9 i-9 n and section 9 p of the Aliens Act) including applications for permanent residence permits.
• Visa applications (cf. the rules of the Visa Code).
• Applications for a replacement residence card.
• Applications for residence cards for minor children.

Use of biometric data

The biometric data will be registered in the register of the immigration authorities, for which the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, the Immigration Service, and the Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) are responsible.

They are stored for 20 years after the fingerprints and facial photos have been recorded, or 10 years in the case of visas (short term). If a foreign national is granted a residence permit in Denmark, the biometric data are only stored for 10 years after they have been recored. And if a foreign national is granted Danish citizenship, the biometric data will be deleted from the register of the immigration authorities.

Biometric data recorded in connection with the submission of an asylum application could, for instance, also be transmitted to foreign immigration authorities in connection with the processing of a case, including issuing a travel document. Furthermore, biometric data could be used for criminal investigations. Such biometric data are recorded by the police.

If the immigration authorities decide that a foreign national does not have the right to stay in Denmark, the biometric data will be transferred to the Schengen Information System (SIS), which is a central EU system where the Schengen countries share and exchange information. This system has been set up for, among other things, cooperation and exchange of information between immigration authorities and other Schengen countries. The information is stored in the SIS until the individual foreigner is registered to have departed Denmark or another Schengen country.

The biometric data may be processed throughout the storage period across the immigration authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Danish representations (embassies, general consulates, etc.), and the police for identification and identity checks within foreign affairs. 

Access to information on stored biometric data

An applicant has the right to access the information and biometric data registered on the applicant in the registers of the immigration authorities. This request may be addressed to the authorities listed below.
When contacting them, please provide Personal ID, case number or other precise information that may help the authorities find the biometric data that is processed. 

The Ministry of Immigration and Integration
Slotsholmsgade 10
1216 København K
Telephone: 6198 4000
E-mail: uim@uim.dk

The Danish Immigration Service
Farimagsvej 51A
4700 Næstved
Telephone: 3536 6600
Write to the Immigration Service

The Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI)
Carl Jacobsens Vej 39
2500 Valby
Telephone: 7214 2001 (work), 7214 2002 (study), 7214 2003 (other)
Write to SIRI

Danish National Police
Polititorvet 14
1780 København V
Telephone: 3314 8888

Right to object to the processing of biometric data

A foreigner who has biometric data recorded has the right to object to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, the Immigration Service, the Immigration Service, the Return Agency and the Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, which are responsible for the register of immigration authorities, to the processing of the foreign national's biometric data by the immigration authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the police.

If these authorities process incorrect or misleading personal data or similarly process personal data in breach of the law, the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, the Immigration Service, the Return Agency, and the Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, which keep the register of biometric data, must correct, block or delete the data in the register of the immigration authorities.

Right to appeal against the processing of biometric data by authorities

A foreign national who has biometric data recorded has the option of appealing against the processing of his or her fingerprints and facial photo to the Danish Data Protection Agency. The Data Protection Agency ensures that the Personal Data Act is complied with, including the processing of biometric data by the authorities. Contact details are provided below. For more information on rights, see Title III of the Data Protection Act.

The Danish Data Protection Agency
Carl Jacobsens Vej 35
2500 Valby
Telephone: 3319 3200
E-mail: dt@datatilsynet.dk

Read more about recording biometric data to issue residence cards