Published 01-07-2018

New rules for family reunification of spouses come into effect

Today 1 July 2018 new rules for family reunification of spouses come into effect. They apply to application submitted on 1 July 2018 or after.

The new rules result in a number of changes to the requirements for the applicant and the spouse in Denmark. The new requirements are described on the application pages at newtodenmark.dk, which have been updated in relation to the new rules.

You can read detailed descriptions of the requirements at newtodenmark.dk. The main changes to the new rules are the following:

• A new integration requirement the applicant and the sponsor in Denmark will need to meet collectively. Read more about the integration requirement
• A new visitation requirement the applicant will need to meet. Read more about the visitation requirement
• Changes to the transferred requirements for permanent residence permit, which the sponsor in Denmark will normally need to meet, unless he/she is a refugee, or a Danish or Nordic citizen. Read more about the transferred requirements
• Changes to the housing requirement, the sponsor in Denmark will normally need to meet, with the addition of a housing requirement list. Read more about the housing requirement list
• Changes to the collateral requirement the sponsor in Denmark will normally need to meet.  Read more about the collateral requirement [link]
• A new requirement that the applicant normally needs to pass a Danish test at the A2 level within 9 months. The applicant must still also pass a Danish test at the A1 level within 6 months. Read more about the Danish tests

The fee for submitting an application for family reunification is DKK 6,700 for applications submitted on 1 July 2018 or after.

Please note, that if the sponsor in Denmark has a residence permit as a refugee and still risks persecution in his/her home country, a number of the requirements for family reunification of spouses will be waived. This also applies to the new rules. Read more about the requirements for family reunification of spouses when the sponsor in Denmark is a refugee

The application forms that are to be used when applying for family reunification of spouses have also been updated in accordance with the new rules. See form FA1 that should be used when the sponsor in Denmark is not a refugee. See form FA10 that should be used when the sponsor in Denmark is a refugee.

Futher information

Previous news at newtodenmark.dk from 6 June 2018 about the new rules

Bill as proposed (in Danish only)

Proposed changes to the bill as proposed (in Danish only)

Legislation as passed (in Danish only)