Re-entry permit

If you have not yet received a residence card, and if you will be leaving Denmark and returning again, you must get a re-entry permit. Your permit letter cannot be used as proof of your legal residence, when leaving and re-entering Denmark. You may also need to get a re-entry permit, if you have submitted an application for a residence permit.

Processing fee
No fee

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Who can apply for a re-entry permit?

If you have submitted an application for a residence permit for the first time, you can get a re-entry permit, after there has been a specific assessment of your case. This permit is only valid within the period that corresponds to the duration of the specific trip. Normally, you will only get a re-entry permit in the case of special needs, or in the case of a residence outside of Denmark that has a duration of a shorter period. 

If you have submitted an application for an extension of your residence permit, you will normally be able get a re-entry permit. However, you cannot get a re-entry permit if there are informations within the case, which clearly indicates that your residence permit cannot be extended, or if you can expect to receive your residence card based on an extended residence permit, before the trip begins.

You may also be granted a re-entry permit, if you have a pending application for a new residence card. 

If you have submitted an application for a permanent residence permit at the Danish Immigration Service, you must also apply for a re-entry permit at the Danish Immigration Service. This also applies when you have applied for a permanent residence permit, while having a residence permit based on working or studying, or based on you being an accompanying family member to an employee, or a student. If you have right to residence under the EU regulations, you must apply for a re-entry permit at SIRI.

The proof of your re-entry permit is a visa sticker, which is put on the inside of your passport.

If your trip takes place while you still have a valid entry visa in your passport, you do not need a re-entry permit. However, you may need to get a re-entry permit if you are exempt from the visa requirement, and if you are waiting for a reply on your application for an extension of a residence permit.

You can read more about being exempt from the visa requirement here 

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What are the conditions?

It is a condition that your stay in Denmark is legal.

You are allowed to be in the following situations:

  • You have submitted an application for a residence permit while you have been staying in Denmark on a visa, or a visa-free stay.

  • You have been granted a residence permit, but you have not been granted a residence card yet.

  • You have submitted an application for an extension of your permit, before your current permit expired.

  • You have submitted an application for a new residence card.

You can read more about legal residence here

If you want a re-entry permit after having submitted an application for an extension of your residence permit, you can generally only be granted one if you are registered in the Central Person Register (CPR). 

In general, you can only be granted a re-entry permit for a specific trip.

SIRI will usually request documentation of this specific trip, e.g. flight tickets.

You can only apply for a re-entry permit if you hold a valid passport. This also applies if you are a child.

A re-entry permit can only be valid until 3 months before your passport expires.

If you do not hold a passport but you do have another form of travel documentation, the travel documentation must also be valid at least 3 months beyond the period that you are applying for a re-entry permit for. 

As a minimum, the re-entry permit is valid for the period that corresponds to the specific trip you are going on. However, it cannot be valid for more than 90 days.

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What are my rights if I am granted a re-entry permit?

A re-entry permit allows you to enter the Schengen area, e.g. if you have a stopover on the way to your home country.

Furthermore, the re-entry permit allows you to return to Denmark within the validity period.

A re-entry permit allows you to return to Denmark and keep your right to procedural stay, if you have submitted an application in Denmark, but have not received the final decision yet.

This means that you can continue to stay legally in Denmark until you have received an answer on your application.

You can read more about procedural stay her

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Where can I apply for a re-entry permit?

You can submit your application for a re-entry permit at one of SIRI’s branch offices.

Remember that you must always book an appointment, before you show up and submit your application.

Below the tab ‘How to apply’, you will find an instruction on how to submit an application for a re-entry permit to SIRI.

If you have submitted an application for a residence permit to the Danish Immigration Service, e.g. an application for a permanent residence permit, or if the Danish Immigration Service has already granted you a residence permit, you must also apply for a re-entry permit at the same place. 

In general, you must have a re-entry permit before you leave Denmark.

In certain cases, you can apply for a re-entry permit at a Danish diplomatic mission abroad, e.g. if you have lost your residence card during your stay outside of Denmark. 

Here, you can see where you can submit your application, on the webside of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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 What more do I need to know before I apply?

An application concerning a re-entry permit will be processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), if you already have a residence permit, or if you are applying for a residence permit in order to work, study, do an internship, be an au pair, or as an accompanying family member. 

If you are in Denmark when you submit your application, you must have legal residence.

If you are an asylum seeker, or if you apply for a family reunification, an application for a re-entry permit is processed by the Danish Immigration Service. This also applies if you have applied for a permanent residence permit, based on your work or study permit, or as an accompanying family member to an employee or a student. 

You can find the relevant application form, TBT/SIRI, on the tab “How to apply” on the right.

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

No fee is charged, when applying for a re-entry permit.

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When you show up at one of SIRI’s branch offices in Denmark, you are generally able to be granted a re-entry permit. However, this is only possible if you fulfill the requirements and if you have brought the necessary documentation with you.

Remember that you must always book an appointment before showing up at one of SIRI’s branch offices.

If you are in a country outside of Denmark, you must submit the application at the nearest Danish diplomatic mission.

Here, you can see where you can submit your application, on the webside of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

You must remember to bring the required documentation with you, when show up at one of SIRI's branch offices. You can use this check list.

Remember that you must book an appointment before appearing in one of SIRI's branch offices

You must bring:

It is a good idea to already have filled out an application form prior to your appointment with SIRI.

You must use the application form, TBT/SIRI, which is available in both a word and a pdf format.

The printable application form that is in Word format can be filled out on screen before you print it. The application form in that is in pdf format must be printed first and then be filled out by hand afterwards.

Download the printable form TBT/SIRI (Word format)

Download the printable form TBT/SIRI (pdf format)

If you show up at one of SIRI's branch offices in Denmark to apply, you will usually receive an answer immediately.

If you have applied from abroad, the application must first be processed by SIRI. You will be contacted when the decision is ready.

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Last updated 06-09-2023 - Published by: SIRI