Self-employment – extension (original permit issued before 1. January 2015)

You want to extend your residence permit, and you still run the same business. Your first permit was issued according to rules prior to 1. January 2015.

Normal processing time
3 months

Processing fee

What do you want to print?

Can I extend my residence permit?

You can extend your residence permit if you still run the same business.

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.

If your present permit is based on the Start-up Denmark scheme and you wish to extend it, please use the Start-up Denmark application page.

What do you want to print?

What are the conditions for extending a permit?

It is a condition that your business is persistently active, and that you play an active part in the running of it.

There still has to be a significant Danish commercial interest in the operation of your company in Denmark

In this respect, you have to document commercial progress and activities, such as cooperation or sale agreements, project plans etc.

What do you want to print?

What are my rights if I am granted a permit?

What are you allowed to do with a Danish residence permit based on self-employment? – and what are you not allowed to do?

You can only work in the company that you have been granted a permit to work in. 

If you start a new business or are offered a paid job, you must apply for a new permit.

Application on the basis of a new business has to be submitted via the Start-up Denmark scheme.

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

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

Moreover, a permit allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within the past 180 days. 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 dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing.

You can read more about the rules of lapse here.

You can apply for dispensation here.

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.

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

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.

When living 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.

You might already have done what is necessary, but if you still have any questions, 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 
  • Housing
  • Danish lessons
  • Car registration and driver’s license

What do you want to print?

How long can I stay in Denmark?

First, you can get permits for 2 one year periods, Subsequently, you can receive a 2 year permit. After 4 years you can get permits of 3 year periods.

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 and continue working even though your permit expires.

If you start a new business or get a paid job, you must submit a new application based on the new situation.

You must not open a new business or start working in a paid job before you have obtained a new residence and work permit.

Application on the basis of a new business has to be submitted via the Start-up Denmark scheme.

A residence permit can only be valid until 3 months before the expiry date of your passport.

If your passport has a shorter validity than the otherwise possible period of stay, your residence permit will be shortened. This means that the validity of your residence permit will be shorter than it could be. When you have renewed your passport, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit - however, this can only be done 3 months before your permit expires at the earliest. 

Read more about the passport requirements here.

What do you want to print?

Can my family’s residence permits be extended?

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

The extension of their permit will be for the same period as your extension.

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 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 a residence permit based on self-employment according to the regulations prior to 1. Jauary 2015 is processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

Before submitting your application, you must create an SB-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, AR2.

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.

If you are a commuter and will not be residing in Denmark and for this reason will only apply for a work permit, you do not need to create a case order ID or pay a fee. Instead you kan go directly to step 3. Read more about commuting here

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 either 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 SD2.

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.

You must submit the necessary documents with the application.

The printable application form in Word format can be completed on screen before you print. The application form in pdf format must be printed first and then completed by hand.

 

Download the printable form AR2 (Word format) 

Download the printable form AR2 (Pdf format)

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. 

If you are a commuter and does not reside in Denmark and for this reason will only apply for a work permit, you do not need to have your biometrics recorded.

Read more about commuters here.

You have submitted your application succesfully if you have:

  • created a case order ID
  • paid the fee
  • 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?

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