Extension test for religious workers

The extension test is an oral test consisting of two parts: a language test testing your Danish language skills and a knowledge test testing your knowledge about Denmark and Danish society. The two parts of the test are taken one after the other, and you must pass both tests in order to pass the extension test. The test as a whole takes approximately 30 minutes.

The test contains 60 questions which you must answer: 30 questions designed to test your Danish language skills, and 30 questions about Danish society. In order to pass the extension test, you must have at least 21 correct answers in the language test and at least 21 correct answers in the knowledge test.

In the language test you must understand and answer simple questions as well as understand everyday terms and a number of Danish standard expressions. The extension test consists of four partial examinations at A1 level. 

The extension test in Danish society is at B1-/B2 level and contains questions about Danish norms, values, and fundamental rights, e.g. the principles of democracy, an individual's freedom and integrity, gender equality, and freedom of expression and religion. There are also questions about practical, concrete issues such as the ban on female genital mutilation, the ban on forced marriages, parents' responsibility for their children, education, health, work, taxes, etc.

You must take the extension test at Vestegnens Sprog- og Kompetencecenter in Glostrup (outside Copenhagen) or at Sprogcenter Vejle in Vejle.

Make sure to turn up in good time when you are to take to test. You must remember to bring a picture ID and the letter from the Danish Immigration Service announcing that you have been granted a residence permit. You cannot bring any aids to the test such as telephone, computer, books or notes.

The extension test is an oral test that is carried out via a computer. You will not need to operate the computer or use a keyboard or mouse. During the test, you will be sitting in front of a computer wearing headphones while the computer plays the questions. Most questions are accompanied by a picture. You will answer the questions orally via a microphone attached to the headphones. Your answers will be recorded and sent to two censors for assessment.

The entire extension test takes approximately 30 minutes. The test runs without breaks, first the language test, then the knowledge test. You cannot stand up or speak to the other persons taking the test. It is not possible to interrupt the test in order to take a break or go to the toilet. Likewise, it is not possible to repeat a question in case you did not hear it the first time, so you must be very focused. After each question, you will hear a tone. This means you now have five seconds to answer the question. When the test is over, you must remain seated until the staff tells you that you may stand up.

It is a good idea to start preparing for the test as early as possible after you have been granted a residence permit. It is your responsibility to learn Danish. You can do this with the help of your religious order/denomination in Denmark, by following courses in your home country, by buying language courses, or by following online language courses.

The preparation package

The Ministry of Immigration and Integration has developed a preparation packet that you can use to prepare for the test. It is a good idea to study the preparation packet very carefully. The preparation packet consists of: 

• The educational film ‘Life In Denmark'

• 100 images from the film with information about Denmark and Danish society

• A recorded glossary in Danish

• Two examples of the language test 

• Test instructions

The educational film 'Life in Denmark': The film concerns Denmark and Danish society. The film is approximately 90 minutes long and consists of 17 chapters. It has been recorded in Danish and 18 other languages. This means that it is possible to prepare for the knowledge test about Denmark and Danish society in your language, but remember that all questions in the test about the film are in Danish and must be answered in Danish. As such, it is also a good idea to watch the film in Danish. You should also be aware that ‘Life in Denmark’ contains some outdated information, as the film has not been updated since it was made 10 years ago. No questions are asked about the outdated information.

Watch the movie 'Life in Denmark'

It is a good idea to watch the film many times, first in your own language, then in Danish. It is also a good idea to talk to your acquaintances in Denmark about the information in the film, as the questions in the knowledge test are based on the information in the film.

100 images from the educational film 'Life in Denmark': Each image is accompanied by important information about Denmark and Danish society. The information will be read aloud in Danish and the language you chose when inserting the dvd. All words used in the knowledge test are included. As such, you can use the 100 images and the information to practice the Danish words you must know in order to pass the knowledge test.

A recorded glossary in Danish: The glossary allows you to hear all the words used in the language test. You can use the word list as a checklist to make sure you understand all the words.

Two examples of the Danish language test: The Danish language test that you will be taking will not be the same as the two tests that are included in the preparation packet. However, the two examples do give you a realistic idea of the type of questions that you will be asked. 

Test instructions: An oral breakdown of how the extension test will unfold. The instructions are recorded in Danish and 18 other languages.

How to order

You can purchase the preparation packet for the extension test by contacting the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) at the email address: danskproever@siri.dk

You are advised send any confidential information to SIRI as Digital Post via e-boks.com, borger.dk, mit.dk or the Digital Post app. Here you must select "The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration" as recipient. Write "Att. danskuddannelser@siri.dk" in the subject field.

You can read more about how to order the preperation package here (only in danish)

It is your own responsibility to sign up for the extension test at www.indvandringsproven.dk - this will not happen automatically. You can take the test at Vestegnens Sprog- og Kompetencecenter in Glostrup (outside Copenhagen) or at Sprogcenter Vejle.

When you have signed up and paid you will receive confirmation, including the date and time for your test and information about where to go on the test date.

The sign up fee for the extension test is 3,000 DKK You can pay the fee online or in person.

There are many deadlines to remember if you are to take the extension test. You must meet all deadlines. If you do not, your application for an extension of your residence permit may be turned down, and you will have to leave Denmark. It is your own responsibility to meet all deadlines.

You can apply for an extension of your residence permit as a religious worker four months after your residence permit is valid by sending an application to the Immigration Service. From the date your residence permit is valid you have six months (calendar months) to pass the extension test. It is a good idea to start preparing for the extension test even before you submit your application for an extension, e.g. by ordering the preparation packet and by beginning to learn Danish.

When you have taken the extension test it can take up to two weeks before you are told whether or not you have passed the test.

This means that you need to take the test no later than five months and two weeks after your residence permit is valid in order to meet the deadline. It is a good idea to take the test before this point as this will mean you have time to retake the test in case you do not pass it the first time. Remember to sign up for the test in good time – you should be able to get a test date within two weeks from signing up. This means that you have to take the test no later than 5 and a half months after receiving your residence permit in order to meet the deadline of six months. Remember to sign up for the test in good time – you should be able to get a test date within two weeks of signing up.

You must pay a fee each time you take the extension test.

It is your own responsibility to plan your course of action and sign up for the test, so it is your decision whether you will leave time to retake the test in case you do not pass it the first time. When you have taken the extension test it can take up to two weeks before you are told whether or not you have passed the test. If you have passed the test you will be informed of the further process regarding your extension.

If you do not pass the test within the deadline you will be told before which date you must leave Denmark.

There is no possibility of dispensation from the extension test requirement in connection with an extension of a residence permit as a religious worker, however, cf. below.

In 1963, Türkiye and the EU entered into an association agreement as a way to extend certain rights to Turkish citizens working or otherwise economically active in some other way in an EU country. The European Court of Justice has issued several rulings that have determined how the agreement is interpreted.

Rulings by the European Court of Justice in the case of T. Sahin (issued on 17 September 2009, C-242/06) and the Commission v the Netherlands (issued on 29 April 2010, C-92/07) have taken up the question of whether charging fees to Turkish citizens is in accordance with the association agreement.

The decisions should be interpreted to mean that Turkish citizens applying for an extension of a residence permit as a religious worker cannot be charged the test fee.

Based on these decisions, the immigration authorities have concluded that Turkish citizens applying for an extension of a residence permit as a religious worker cannot be required to take the extension test or to pay the test fee.

Such individuals are not required to pass the extension test and pay the test fee, as is otherwise required for extensions of residence permits for religious workers.
If you are uncertain about whether you are exempt from taking the extension test, please contact the Immigration Service.

Any decision about whether you need to take the extension test will be made based on an evaluation of your individual application. Further information about the rules will be available from the Immigration Service. However, the decision about whether you could be exempt is made based on your specific situation.
This means that the Immigration Service cannot give a binding answer about whether you would need to take the extension test.