Apply for a residence permit in Denmark as a religious worker

You want to apply for a residence permit in Denmark as a member of the clergy, missionary or to serve a religious order or denomination in some other capacity, such as a nun or monk.

The expected maximum processing time is
6 months

The fee is
DKK 12,205,-

What do you want to print?

Who can be granted a residence permit as a religious worker?

As a foreign national, you may apply for a residence permit in Denmark to work as a member of the clergy, missionary or to serve a religious order or denomination in some other capacity, such as a nun or monk.

If you are a citizen of a Nordic country, you do not need a residence permit and are free to reside, study and work in Denmark. If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or of Switzerland seeking residence in Denmark based on the EU rules on freedom of movement, you may be subject to special regulations. Read more about citizens of EU/EEA and Nordic countries
 

What do you want to print?

What are the requirements?

In order to qualify for a residence permit as a religious worker, you and the denomination/religious order you are affiliated with in Denmark need to meet certain requirements.  
 

Requirements the applicant needs to meet

You can be granted a residence permit as a member of the clergy if you can document that you are to work for an officially acknowledged or sanctioned denomination in Denmark.

You can be granted a residence permit as a missionary if you can document that you are to work as a missionary and preach a specific religion or belief affiliated with an officially acknowledged or sanctioned denomination in Denmark.

You may be granted a residence permit to serve a religious order in some other capacity if you can document that you are to work for a religious order. Generally, this refers to monks, nuns or other members of an order who traditionally have religious functions within the order. The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (Folkekirken) or another officially acknowledged or sanctioned denomination in Denmark needs to provide confirmation to the Immigration Service that the order is established under, or works within, the religious denomination.
 

You need to document that you are affiliated with the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (Folkekirken) or another officially acknowledged or sanctioned religious denomination in Denmark. Documentation can be in the form of a written agreement or declaration by the denomination stating that you are a religious worker within the denomination or religious order. 

You need to document that you have a background, training or education relevant to being a religious worker.

You need to sign a declaration stating that you will abide by Danish laws, including those protecting freedom of expression, freedom of religion, gender equality, sexual orientation, an individual’s right not to be discriminated against, and women’s rights. The declaration is included in the application form. 

You need to sign a sworn declaration stating that you will not engage in any activity that poses a threat to public safety, law and order, health, decency or the rights and duties of others. The declaration is included in the application form. 

You need to sign a declaration stating that neither you nor any accompanying family members will receive any public assistance during your stay in Denmark. The declaration is included in the application form. Public assistance is any benefit that has the character of public assistance for maintenance. E.g. cash benefits, old age pension, early retirement pensions, unemployment benefits, early retirement pay, unemployment benefits in the event of illness or birth, child assistance, housing assistance, State education grant etc.

Requirements the denomination needs to meet

The number of foreign nationals granted a residence permit as a religious worker for a specific denomination needs to be proportionate to the size of its congregation. The denomination will be asked to indicate the size of its congregation (number of members), as well as the number of religious workers affiliated with it. 

About teaching

Normally, you cannot be granted a residence permit if you are to work solely as a teacher (including at religious schools), and if you are to teach subjects that are not characterised by preaching a religious message. Likewise, you cannot be granted a residence permit in order to receive religious instruction or to be educated or trained as a religious worker.

If you are to study theology or a related field, you may be eligible for a residence permit as a student.

What do you want to print?

Religious preachers with entry ban

A publicly available national sanction list of religious preachers who have been banned from entering Denmark and other countries has been established. The list was created in order to protect the public order in Denmark. Read more about the national sanction list and see the list  

What do you want to print?

Which type of residence permit will you be granted?

As a religious worker, you can be granted a residence permit for seven months. Permits can be extended for one year at a time, for a maximum of three years in total.

If you are authorised to perform weddings, your residence permit can be extended for two years initially, and then for a period of three years and five months. Subsequent extensions will be granted for four years at a time, with no upper limit on the number of extensions.

If you are granted the right to perform weddings after your initial three-year residency as a religious worker your residence permit cannot be extended. Instead, you must reapply for a residence permit according to the current rules.

If you do not pass the extension test and/or take a course in Danish family law, individual rights and democracy within six months of being granted a residence permit as a religious worker, you cannot be granted an extension. Read more about extension of residence permit

If you are granted a residence permit as a religious worker, you will also be granted permission to work in the position and at the place of work indicated by your residence permit. 

What do you want to print?

The information below explains what you and your denomination/religious order need to do when you apply for a residence permit as a religious worker.

We recommend that you make sure you know the requirements for obtaining a residence permit before paying the application fee. Read more about the requirements in the ‘Need to know’ tab.

 

You and a representative from your denomination/religious order in Denmark each need to fill in part of the application form. You also need to enclose documentation, so it is a good idea to gather it all before you start.  

You may need:

Your denomination/religious order may need:

Set aside

20 to 30 minutes

to fill in the application form

2 persons

You and a representative from your denomination/religious order in Denmark each need to fill in part of the application form.

The application form includes detailed instructions for how to fill it in and which types of documentation you need to enclose.

If you want to resume filling in an application form online select ‘Start online application’. Once you are logged in, select ‘Continue a previously saved application’.

If you would like to make changes to an application after you have submitted it, you need to contact the Immigration Service. You do not need to submit a new application. Contact the Immigration Service

Start RF1 online application

We encourage you to use the digital application form. It adapts according to your answers and is automatically send to the Immigration Service, when you have submitted it

You can also print out and submit the application form. You can fill in the application form in Word format on your computer before printing it out. The application form is also available as a PDF file that can be printed out and filled in by hand.

Download a printable version of RF1 in Word format

Download a printable version of RF1 in pdf format

Applying from outside Denmark

You can submit your application at a Danish mission (embassy or consulate), or an outsourcing office in the country where you live.

See the list of Danish missions or outsourcing offices where you can hand in your application

If there is no Danish mission or outsourcing offices in the country where you live, the list refers to missions Denmark shares a representation agreement with, e.g. Norway or Sweden. If there is no representation agreement, the list refers to the nearest Danish mission or outsourcing office in the region.

The Immigration Service recommends that you visit the website of the Danish mission before you submit your application. Individual offices might have additional requirements, such as extra passport photos or copies of your application.

Applying in Denmark

If you are in Denmark legally, you can normally submit your application in Denmark. This would be the case if you:

  • hold a valid visa
  • are not required to hold a visa, or
  • hold a valid Danish residence permit

You can submit your application to the Immigration Service at Citizen Service by sending it.You can send it via our contact form or by regular mail. See our contact information

Read more about the rules for submitting your application in Denmark

 

When you submit your application, you will normally need to have your fingerprints recorded and a picture of your face taken. These are also known as your biometric features. Your biometric features are required in order for you to get a new residence card.

Read more about residence cards with fingerprints and facial pictures

What do you want to print?

Responsible Agency

Contact us
Send link

Last updated 18-12-2023 - Published by: The Danish Immigration Service