Greencard - extension

You want to extend your residence permit based on the Greencard Scheme. The Greencard Scheme has been repealed, but if you hold a valid Greencard permit, it is still possible for you to get an extension. 

Normal processing time
3 months

Processing fee
DKK 6,290,-

What do you want to print?

Can I extend my residence permit?

You can extend your greencard if you meet the conditions mentioned in your current permit.

The conditions vary depending on when you were granted your first permit. Therefore, it is important that you read your permit letter thoroughly.

It is very important that you apply for an extension before your current permit expires.

If you do not apply for an extension before your permit expires, you no longer have the right to stay in Denmark – and an application submitted in Denmark will usually be rejected.

If you submit your application for an extension in time, you can stay in Denmark while SIRI is assessing you application for an extension – even if your permit expires.

You can apply for an extension of your residence permit no earlier than 3 months before your permit expires.

What do you want to print?

What are the conditions for extending a permit?

Your residence permit can be extended if you, within the past year from the date of submitting the application, have earned a minimum amount corresponding to the average starting salary of newly qualified bachelors in the public and private labour market.

Only salary earned within the past year prior to the submission date of your application for an extension can counted towards the minimum amount.

Employer paid pension and disbursed holiday allowance is included in the calculation of your salary. Holiday allowance earned but not paid to you is not included.

The salary requirement is determined by the year in which you were granted your first permit. 

For example, if you were granted your first permit in 2010, you must provide documentation of having earned at least DKK 300,358 within the past year (the average starting salary in 2010) each time you apply for an extension of your permit. Therefore, the amount you must document will not change.

It is possible for you to divide the required earned salary between several jobs.

Please note that a residence permit based on the Greencard Scheme does not give you the right to run your own business in Denmark.

Here you can see the amount relevant to you:

Year

Average starting salary

2010

DKK 300,385

2011

DKK 301,084

2012

DKK 306,110

2013

DKK 309,278

2014

DKK 313,283

2015

DKK 317,670

2016

DKK 323,323

2017

DKK 329,300

2018

 DKK 336,054

2019

 DKK 343,093

2020

                DKK 350,122

 2021

DKK 358,668

2022

DKK 369,439

2023

DKK 399,643

Your salary must have been earned on ordinary terms. Among other things, this means that:

  • the salary must be reported to the Danish Customs and Tax Administration (SKAT)
  • your employer must be established in Denmark, and
  • wage subsidies, sickness benefits and unemployment benefits disbursed in cases of childbirth, parental leave etc. cannot count as part of your salary.

Please note that a residence permit based on the Greencard Scheme does not give you the right to run your own business in Denmark. This also means that revenue or salary deriving from running you own business cannot be counted as salary earned on ordinary terms.

The Greencard scheme was changed with effect from 1 January 2015.

Therefore, a special transitional scheme applies if you were granted a residence permit before 1 January 2015.

The first application for an extension that you submit after 1 January 2015 will be processed according to the previous extension rules. These rules have no requirement on your salary, but instead there is a minimum requirement of 10 hours work per week. 

However, all your subsequent applications for extension will be processed according to the present rules with a requirement on your salary.

Your most recent permit letter states what conditions you must meet.

Example 1:

You have been granted a residence permit before 4 September 2013 with an expiry date on 4 September 2016. You apply for an extension in August 2016.

You must meet the previous extension rules because it is your first application for an extension after 1 January 2015. This means that you must have been working at least 10 hours per week during the past 12 months. On 10 November 2016 the validity of your permit is extended with one year until 10 November 2017. When re-applying for an extension in 2017, you must meet the present extension rules.

Example 2:

You submitted your first application on 21 December 2014 and were granted a residence permit on 15 January 2015 valid until 15 January 2018. You apply for an extension in January 2018.

Because you were granted your residence permit after 1 January 2015, you must meet the present rules with a requirement on your salary.

Example 3:

You submitted your application on 5 January 2015 and were granted a residence permit on 1 April 2015 valid until 1 April 2017. You apply for an extension in February 2017.

You must meet the present extension rules with a requirement on your salary. 

What do you want to print?

What are my rights if I am granted a permit?

What am I allowed to do with a Danish residence permit based on the Greencard Scheme? – and what are you not allowed to  do?

You are allowed to work in Denmark, and you are allowed to work for different employers.

It is your own responsibility to ensure that you meet the conditions of your residence permit. If you do not meet the conditions, it can have consequences on your residence permit and your possibility for extension.

A residence permit based on the Greencard Scheme does not give you the right to run your own business in Denmark.

A residence and work permit does not allow you to work in other Schengen countries.

You can read more about working conditions in Denmark and 'The Danish labour market model' here.

A residence and work permit allows you to stay in Denmark during the period your permit is valid for.

In addition, a permit allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180 days period. However, the permit does not allow you to work in other Schengen countries.

You must not give up your Danish address or stay abroad for longer than 6 successive months. A violation will result in the lapse of your permit. This means that you will lose your right to stay in Denmark.

If you need to stay abroad for a longer period of time, e.g. if you are stationed abroad for a period of time by your employer, you can apply for a dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing. 

You must be able to support yourself and your family during your stay. You are not allowed to receive benefits under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act.

If you or your family members receive such benefits during your stay, your permit can be revoked – and you will lose the right to stay in Denmark.

If an authority, e.g. a municipality, disburses benefits to foreign nationals, SIRI will be notified.

You can see the list of benefits that you are not allowed to receive here.

With a residence permit in Denmark, you are entitled to free Danish lessons. However, you must have turned 18 years and have your Danish address registered in the Danish National Register.

If you have a residence permit in Denmark based on work, study, etc. you have to pay a deposit before you can start receiving lessons. Be aware that you can lose your deposit if you do not pass the different modules within a specific timeframe.

Your municipality of residence is obliged to offer you Danish lessons and refer you to a language centre. If you have not been offered Danish lessons within a month after registering your address in Denmark, you can contact your municipality.

You will (typically) be taught together with other foreign nationals who have arrived in Denmark recently.

If you are going to stay and work in Denmark, there are a number of things to acquaint yourself with. Depending on your personal situation, you might need other important information and options.

The portal lifeindenmark.dk provides you with information, links and in many cases also options concerning the most important subjects such as:

  • MitID
  • The CPR register
  • Health card
  • Tax matters
  • Holiday entitlements
  • School and daycare
  • Housing
  • Danish lessons
  • Car registration and driver’s license 

What do you want to print?

How long can I stay in Denmark?

Your permit can be extended for up to 3 years.

It is very important that you apply for an extension before your permit expires.

If you submit your application for an extension in time, you can stay in Denmark while SIRI is assessing you application for an extension – even though your permit expires.

What do you want to print?

Can my family be granted a Danish residence permit?

An extension of your residence and work permit based on a Danish greencard allows any accompanying family members to extend their residence permits as well.

Read more about extension of a permit as an accompanying family member here.

If you do not already have your family with you in Denmark, we can inform you that your family can accompany you to Denmark if you:

  • live in Denmark
  • have found employment, and
  • have received a salary

A permit can be granted to your spouse, registered or cohabiting partner as well as children under the age of 18 living at home.

Read more about first-time permits for accompanying family members here.

What do you want to print?

What more do I need to know before I apply?

An application for an extension of a residence permit based on the Greencard Scheme is processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

Before submitting your application, you must create a case order ID for your application and pay a fee to cover SIRI’s case processing expenses. You can do this on the “How to apply” tab to the right. Here you also find the relevant application form, GR2.

SIRI will contact you if we need further information to process your case.

What do you want to print?

Below you will find a step-by-step guide to submitting an application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

It is important that you have carefully read the conditions for being granted a residence permit before you begin step 1. You can do this on the tab “Need to know” on the left.

It is a good idea to gather the necessary documentation before you start to complete the application form. You can use the checklist below.

If you submit documentation not written in English, German, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish, you must also submit a certified translation in Danish or English.

You must submit:

Expect to use

30 minutes

completing the application

1 person

You complete the application form by yourself.

In this step you have access to the relevant application form GR2.

Make sure that you have completed all the preceeding steps before you begin.

All our application forms contain careful instructions on how to complete the form and what kind of documents you must submit along with the form.

Make sure you have all documents ready in digital form, in order to attach them as you complete the application form.

 

Use the form GR2

Please note that it is mandatory to use this application form. Under special circumstances, you can be exempted from the requirement to use an online application form. You can read more here.

Please note that it is mandatory to fill in your passport number in this application form. If you are not in possession of a valid passport, you can contact us for guidance. You can find our contact information here.

When you apply for an extension of your residence permit, you must have your biometric features recorded.

This means that you must have a facial photo taken and your fingerprints recorded. The facial photo and your fingerprints will be stored on a microchip embedded in the residence card, which will be issued to you if you are granted a permit.

SIRI can, as a rule, only start processing your application once you have had your biometric features recorded. This must happen  no later than 14 days after you submitted your application.

If you do not agree to have your biometric features recorded, your application will be rejected. This means that your application will not be processed.

Read more about biometrics here.

You can have your biometric features recorded in one of SIRI’s branch offices.

If you plan to have your biometrics recorded in one of SIRI’s branch offices, you must remember to book an appointment.

You have submitted your application succesfully if you have:

  • submitted the application
  • had your biometric features recorded

You can see the normal case processing time to the right on this page. When we make a decision in your case, you will receive an answer.

SIRI will contact you or your employer if we need further information to process your case.

Read more about what you can expect while you are waiting for an answer.

What do you want to print?

Responsible agency

Contact SIRI
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Last updated 10-07-2024 - Published by: SIRI

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