Published 07-10-2021

Reopening of cases that have been rejected due to the immigration test

It is possible to reopen certain cases where applicants have been denied family reunification with a spouse or an extension of their residence permits as religious workers because of their immigration test.

It is a requirement for the extension of a residence permit as a religious worker, missionary, etc. that the foreign national passes the so-called immigration test (from March 2021 the test has changed its name to “the extension test”). 

At one point, during a period of 18 months in 2010-2012, a passed immigration test was also a requirement for obtaining family reunification with a spouse (November 15 2010 to May 15 2012).

The immigration test is partly made up of a language test and a knowledge test. It has later appeared that part of the language test and the level of language in the knowledge test has been higher than what was required. 

This means that cases in which foreign nationals have been denied family reunification with a spouse or extension of their residence permits as religious workers etc. only because they did not pass the immigration test, can be reopened. 

As such, the Immigration Service has identified some cases where there are grounds for reopening the case. The Immigration Service has contacted the applicants in question and given them guidance on how they may now have their cases reopened.

If a foreign national believes that they, too, are entitled to have their case reopened but have not been contacted by the Immigration Service, they can hand in an application for reopening. During the new assessment, a decision will be made on whether or not the other requirements for a residence permit are met.

A request for reopening must be submitted in written form by using our contact form