Extension of a residence permit as a refugee or an ordinary quota refugee

On this page, you can read more about the rules for extension of a residence permit as a refugee or an ordinary quota refugee with a residence permit in accordance with section 7 or 8 (1) or (2).

If you have a residence permit as a humanitarian quota refugee in accordance with the Aliens Act section 8 (3), you can read more about extension of a residence permit under Apply for extension of a residence permit as a humanitarian quota refugee

If you are in doubt about which provision in the Aliens Act you have been granted a residence permit in accordance with, you can see it in the letter which the Danish Immigration Service sent you when you were granted your latest extension.

From 1 July 2019 your residence permit has automatically been changed from being granted with the possibility for a permanent residence to being granted with a view to temporary residence. The change does not have an influence on when your residence permit expires and does not change your possibilities of obtaining a permanent residence permit. 

When you are a refugee or an ordinary quota refugee with a residence permit in accordance with the Aliens Act section 7 or 8 (1) or (2), you do not have to apply for extension of your residence permit. When your residence permit expires, the Danish Immigration Service will automatically decide whether your residence permit can be extended. 

The Immigration Service will contact you a few months before your residence permit expires and inform you about which information we need for processing the case. If you do not hear from us at least one month before your residence permit expires, we recommend you to contact us. 

Humanitarian quota refugees with a residence permit in accordance with the Aliens Act section 8 (3) have to apply for an extension by themselves. Read more about extension of a residence permit as a humanitarian quota refugee

Your residence permit will be extended, if the conditions that led to your residence permit are still present.

Changed conditions

The Danish Immigration Service may deny extending your residence permit if the conditions that led to your residence permit are no longer present.

If you have convention status (Aliens Act section 7 (1), this can be the case, for example, if fundamental, stable and lasting changes have occurred in your home country.

If you have protected status (Aliens Act section (2)) or temporary protected status (Aliens Act section 7 (3)), this may, for example, be the case if the general conditions in your home country have  changed in such a way that you no longer risk persecution, although the conditions are still serious and must be described as fragile and unpredictable - the change must not, however, be of a temporary nature.

Travelling to your home country

If you hold refugee status and travel to your home country, your residence permit can be revoked, regardless of how long you have held a temporary residence permit.

If you, as a refugee, travel to your home country, this could lead to your residence permit not being extended, regardless of how long you have held a temporary residence permit – if it is assumed that you no longer need protection.

Denmark’s international obligations

In accordance with Denmark's international obligations, the Immigration Service may, in certain situations, decide that you can keep your residence permit, even though the conditions that led to your residence permit are no longer present.

This could e.g. be the situation if you:

• have a serious illness or a serious disability,
• have children living at home under the age of 18, who have an individual attachment to Denmark,
• have contact with children from a previous relationship, or
• has a spouse, cohabiting partner or minor child living in Denmark who is at risk of persecution in his/her home country.