Biometric features

You must have your biometric features and your signature recorded when submitting your application, if you submit it in person at a Danish diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate general) or at a visa application centre which receives applications on behalf of a Danish diplomatic mission, or in the Citizen Service of the Danish Immigration Service or in one of the branch offices of the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). If you refuse to have your biometric features and your signature recorded, your application will be rejected by the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, that is, your application will not be processed.

If you submit your application in person at a foreign diplomatic mission with which Denmark has a representation agreement, you must submit one facial photo and show valid ID. If you are later granted a residence permit, you must have your biometric features recorded within a certain period of time after entering Denmark. If you refuse to submit facial photos to the foreign diplomatic mission in connection with submitting your application, your application will be rejected by the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, that is, your application will not be processed.

You must always bring your passport or other travel documents when submitting an application for a residence permit. If you submit your application at a visa application centre which receives applications on behalf of a Danish diplomatic mission, you must hand in your passport (or other travel documents), so the visa application centre can have them verified at the Danish diplomatic mission. Furthermore, you should bring copies of all pages of your passport. If you do not, the visa application centre will charge a fee for copying your passport.

If you submit an application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration you must have your biometric features recorded in one of the branch offices of the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration. You must book an appointment before you appear in person. Read more about booking an appointment for one of the branch offices

If you submit an application to the Danish Immigration Service you must have your biometric features recorded at the Immigration Service's Citizen Service which has branch offices in cities around the country. You have to book an appointment before you appear in person. Read more about the Citizen Service of the Danish Immigration Service

Asylum seekers will have their biometric features recorded in connection with submitting their application for asylum at Center Sandholm. Quota refugees will have their biometric features recorded at the Immigration Service's Citizen Service after entering Denmark. 

If you are going to submit an application abroad, you have to search information on where you may have your biometric features recorded on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Where to apply”. Please note that for many locations you must present yourself in person at a Visa Application Centre (VFS) and that you must book an appointment before you show up. 

Please also note that Denmark does not have diplomatic missions in all countries and that representation agreements have been signed with other countries. In such cases, you must seek relevant information from the representing mission, cf. above link.

Residence in Denmark under EU regulations

If you are a citizen of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland and applying for a residence document under EU regulations, you are not required to submit your biometric data.

If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen who apply for residence in Denmark after EU regulations as a family member to a citizen from an EU/EEA country, you must have your biometric features recorded. Normally you will have your biometric features recorded in one of SIRIs branch offices when you appear to submit your application. Remember to book an appointment in order to submit your application. If you apply online or through our contact form, you must afterwards book an appointment to have your biometric features recorded.

Read more about booking an appointment in one of SIRIs branch offices

Read more about residence in Denmark under EU regulations

Instead of submitting your application in person you can submit it through the online form, by the contact forms at newtodenmark.dk, by post or through a third-person (such as, a lawyer). In these cases, you must appear in person to have your biometric features recorded or to submit your facial photo normally no later than 14 days from the day you submitted your application. When you appear in person, the authorities will also control your identity.

If you are residing in Denmark or in a country with a Danish diplomatic mission or a visa application centre, you must appear in person at the Danish diplomatic mission or visa application centre, at the Citizen Service of the Danish Immigration Service or in one of the branch offices of the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration to have your biometric features and signature recorded. You must normally do this no later than 14 days from the day you submitted your application. If you fail to have your biometric features recorded before the deadline, your application will be rejected by the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, that is, your application will not be processed.

If you are residing in a country in which Denmark has a representation agreement with a foreign diplomatic mission you must appear in person at the diplomatic mission to submit a facial photo and show valid ID normally no later than 14 days from the day you submitted your application. 

If you are later granted a residence permit, you must have your biometric features recorded within a certain period of time after entering Denmark. If you fail to submit a facial photo to the foreign diplomatic mission before the deadline, your application will be rejected by the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, that is, your application will not be processed.

The deadline for having your biometric features recorded at the Danish Immigration Service is currently extended to 4 weeks due to a great amount of applications. The extended deadline applies even if another deadline is stated in the application forms or receipts from the Immigration Service. However, the deadline for having your biometric features recorded is 14 days, if you have applied for a residence permit as a person in Denmark displaced from Ukraine, or as a family member to a person in Denmark displaced from Ukraine.

You must always bring your passport or other travel documents when having your biometric features recorded or when submitting your facial photo. If you submit your application at a visa application center which receives applications on behalf of a Danish diplomatic mission, you should bring copies of all pages of your passport. If you do not, the visa application  center will charge a fee for copying your passport.

If you submit your application through an online form, in addition to bringing your passport, you must also bring the receipt showing that your application has been submitted digitally. This is needed in order to correctly match your application and your biometric features/facial photo.

If you submit your printable application form via the contact forms on newtodenmark.dk, by post or through a third-person, in addition to bringing your passport, you must also bring a copy of the first three pages of your completed application form.

Applicants in Denmark who submit an application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration  must have their biometric features recorded in one of the branch offices of the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration. You must book an appointment before appearing in person. Read more about booking an appointment in one of the branch offices

Applicants in Denmark who submit an application to the Danish Immigration Service must have their biometric features recorded at the Immigration Service's Citizen Service which has branch offices in cities around the country. Read more about the Citizen Service of the Danish Immigration Service

If you are going to submit an application abroad, you have to search information on where you may have your biometric features recorded on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Where to apply”. Please note that for many locations you must present yourself in person at a Visa Application Centre (VFS) and that you must book an appointment before you show up. 

Please also note that Denmark does not have diplomatic missions in all countries and that representation agreements have been signed with other countries. In such cases, you must seek relevant information from the representing mission, cf. above link.

You have to have your biometric features recorded if you are a UK citizen or family to a UK citizen, and want to apply for a new residency document or a cross-border worker document following the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. When you have submitted your application, you will receive a letter on when and where you will have your biometric features recorded.

Children under the age of 18 who are to live, or are living, with the custody holder are not required to hold a residence card.

However, a child can be issued a residence card upon application. When applying for a residence permit for the child, it should be stated in the application that the child requests a residence card. In this case, the child must have his/her biometric features recorded in connection with submitting the application. This child's facial image will be recorded. If the child is 6 years or older, the child's fingerprints and signature will also be recorded.

If the child lives, or is to live, with the custody holder in Denmark, and the child does not request a residence card, the application must include a passport photo of the child, and the child's biometric features will not need to be recorded. If the child requests a residence card at a later point, a separate application for a residence card must be submitted.

Children under the age of 18 who are not living with the custody holder but are instead living with foster parents or close relatives, or hold a residence permit on the grounds of a school stay, must hold a residence card, and biometric features must be recorded in connection with the application being submitted.

If you fail to have your biometric features recorded or to submit a facial photo in connection with submitting your application, your application will be rejected, that is, it will not be processed.

However, your application will not be rejected if you are physically unable to have your fingerprints recorded.

If you submitted your application through an online application form, by the contact forms at newtodenmark.dk, by post or through a third-person (such as, a lawyer), your application will be rejected if you are residing in Denmark or a country with a Danish diplomatic mission, and you fail to have your biometric features recorded within 14 days of submitting your application.

If you submitted your application through an online application form, by the contact forms at newtodenmark.dk, by post or through a third-person (such as, a lawyer), your application will be rejected if you are residing in a country in which Denmark has a representation agreement with a foreign diplomatic mission, and you fail to submit a facial photo in person within 14 days of submitting your application.

EU/EEA citizens

You do not need to have your biometric features recorded if you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country and apply for residence in Denmark after EU regulations.

Residence in Greenland

You do not need to have your biometric features recorded if you apply for a residence permit in Greenland. In connection with your application, you must instead submit an information card with your full name, date of birth, personal ID or Alien Identification number (if applicable) and your signature, along with a facial photo.

Commuters

You do not need to have your biometric features recorded if you are a non-EU/EEA citizen applying for a work permit, but not a residence permit. In connection with your application, you must instead have your facial photo and electronic signature taken. This allows the Danish immigration authorities to verify your identity. You should, therefore, follow the instructions above on how to submit the application.

Sideline employment

You do not need to have your biometric features recorded if you are applying for a work permit, but not a residence permit, based on sideline employment. In connection with your application, you must instead have your facial photo and electronic signature taken. This allows the Danish immigration authorities to verify your identity. You should, therefore, follow the instructions above on how to submit the application.

Physical conditions

If you are physically unable to have your fingerprints recorded, you will not be required to do so.

Biometric features (fingerprints and facial images) are stored by the Immigration authorities. If you are granted a residence permit, your fingerprints and facial image will be stored for 10 years. If you are not granted a residence permit, your fingerprints and facial image will be stored for 20 years. If you become a Danish citizen, your fingerprints and facial image will be deleted.