Denmark · Spouse visas
Denmark Spouse of a citizen
Savings needed: DKK 62k+ ≈ $9,230
Family reunification with a Danish citizen (spouse or cohabiting partner)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Denmark. Applicants need savings of DKK 62k+ ≈ $9,230. You can stay 2 yrs, renewable. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- DKK 62k+ ≈ $9,230
- Government fees
- DKK 8,490 ≈ $1,270
- Processing
- Up to 300 days
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee DKK 8,490 ≈ $1,270; savings to show DKK 62k+ ≈ $9,230; decision: up to 300 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesDKK 8,490 ≈ $1,270
- DKK 8,490 (≈ $1,270)Application fee for family reunification with a spouse.
Shown, not spentDKK 62k+ ≈ $9,230
- DKK 61,709.34 (≈ $9,230)Financial guarantee posted by the spouse in Denmark (2026 level); it can be reduced if the applicant passes two Danish tests.
RenewalRenewable
The permit, typically valid for two years, can be extended.
Permanent residenceAfter 8 years of residence
Permanent residence after 8 years of uninterrupted legal residence, or 4 years if you meet all 4 supplementary requirements (including Danish language test 3). Work, study and family permits count.
CitizenshipTime here counts
For spouses of Danish citizens the required period of continuous residence is 6 to 8 years depending on the length of the marriage.
ProcessingUp to 300 days
The expected maximum processing time is 10 months.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
From outside Denmark you submit the application at a Danish embassy, consulate or outsourcing office in the country where you live.
Presence rulesStay rule
A Danish permit lapses if you give up your Danish address or live outside Denmark for more than six successive months.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
- Only from age 24
What you'll need
Who can apply9
- Applicant and spouse or partner are both at least 24 years old, with an application allowed from 23 years and 6 months.
- The marriage is valid under Danish law, or the couple are permanent cohabitants who have lived at the same address for at least 18 months.
- Both entered the relationship voluntarily and it is not a marriage of convenience.
- The spouse or partner in Denmark is a Danish citizen.
- The spouse in Denmark has an independent residence of at least 20 square metres per person or at most two persons per room, outside an area on the housing requirement list.
- The spouse in Denmark has received no social benefits under the Active Social Policy Act or Integration Act in the past three years.
- The spouse in Denmark has no domestic violence or assault conviction involving a former partner in the past 10 years.
- The couple together meet 4 of 6 integration conditions, one of which is the Danish test Prøve i Dansk 3 or 5 years of work in Danish for the spouse in Denmark.
- The applicant has visited Denmark legally at least once.
What you must show2
- The spouse in Denmark posts a financial guarantee of DKK 61,709.34 (≈ $9,230) (2026 level), as a demand guarantee or in an escrow account.
- The application fee is DKK 8,490 (≈ $1,270).
Documents1
- The application form includes the spouse's signed statement of responsibility to support the applicant and both partners' statement to take part in Danish learning and integration.
Steps1
- The Immigration Service takes up to 10 months to process the application.
After you arrive2
- The applicant must pass a Danish A1 test within 6 months and an A2 test within 9 months of getting the permit, or the permit can be revoked.
- The permit is typically valid for two years and can be extended while the requirements are met.
When you become tax resident
How Denmark decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Foreign-source income
Personal income after labour market contribution; full tax liability on worldwide (including foreign-source) income.
All tax rules for Denmark Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Accommodation
The spouse in Denmark has an independent residence of at least 20 square metres per person or at most two persons per room, outside an area on the housing requirement list
- Money to show
This route asks for savings of DKK 62k+ ≈ $9,230.
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Temporary residence permit for the spouse or cohabiting partner of a Danish citizen, typically valid for two years, with a financial guarantee, language tests and an integration requirement. 1
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least DKK 61,709.34 (≈ $9,230) · Financial guarantee posted by the spouse in Denmark (2026 level); it can be reduced if the applicant passes two Danish tests. 1
- A fee of DKK 8,490 (≈ $1,270) · Application fee for family reunification with a spouse. 1
Requirements
- Applicant and spouse or partner are both at least 24 years old, with an application allowed from 23 years and 6 months. 1
- The marriage is valid under Danish law, or the couple are permanent cohabitants who have lived at the same address for at least 18 months. 1
- Both entered the relationship voluntarily and it is not a marriage of convenience. 1
- The spouse or partner in Denmark is a Danish citizen. 1
- The spouse in Denmark has an independent residence of at least 20 square metres per person or at most two persons per room, outside an area on the housing requirement list. 1
- The spouse in Denmark has received no social benefits under the Active Social Policy Act or Integration Act in the past three years. 1
- The spouse in Denmark has no domestic violence or assault conviction involving a former partner in the past 10 years. 1
- The couple together meet 4 of 6 integration conditions, one of which is the Danish test Prøve i Dansk 3 or 5 years of work in Danish for the spouse in Denmark. 1
- The applicant has visited Denmark legally at least once. 1
- The spouse in Denmark posts a financial guarantee of DKK 61,709.34 (≈ $9,230) (2026 level), as a demand guarantee or in an escrow account. 1
- The application fee is DKK 8,490 (≈ $1,270). 1
- The application form includes the spouse's signed statement of responsibility to support the applicant and both partners' statement to take part in Danish learning and integration. 1
- The Immigration Service takes up to 10 months to process the application. 1
- The applicant must pass a Danish A1 test within 6 months and an A2 test within 9 months of getting the permit, or the permit can be revoked. 1
- The permit is typically valid for two years and can be extended while the requirements are met. 1
Stay
- Temporary residence permit typically valid for two years and extendable.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
The holder can work in Denmark while the permit is valid.
Official sources
- Family reunification: spouse or cohabiting partner · Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) · checked 2026-10-10
- Permanent residence permit · Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) · checked 2026-10-10
- Conditions for foreign citizens' acquisition of Danish citizenship · Life in Denmark (borger.dk), Danish public sector portal · checked 2026-10-11
- Researcher · Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) · checked 2026-10-10
Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a citizen | Needs savings of DKK 62k+ ≈ $9,230 | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Spouse of a permanent resident | Needs savings of DKK 62k+ ≈ $9,230 | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Spouse of a citizen Portugal | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a resident Spain | Needs income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010 | – | Yes |
| Spouse of a resident Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen?
Savings of at least DKK 61,709.34 (≈ $9,230). Financial guarantee posted by the spouse in Denmark (2026 level); it can be reduced if the applicant passes two Danish tests. A fee of DKK 8,490 (≈ $1,270). Application fee for family reunification with a spouse.
How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen?
Temporary residence permit typically valid for two years and extendable.
How long does the Spouse of a citizen take to process?
The expected maximum processing time is 10 months.
Can I work on the Spouse of a citizen?
Yes. The holder can work in Denmark while the permit is valid.
Who can apply for the Spouse of a citizen?
Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in Denmark?
Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in Denmark, which the rules allow after 8 years of residence. Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward citizenship.
How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in Denmark?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. The standard rules apply: 8% labour market contribution on salary, bottom-bracket tax 12.01%, plus municipal tax averaging 25.049% and church tax averaging 0.639% for all taxpayers (0.867% for church members) in 2026; middle-bracket 7.5% above DKK 641,200, (≈ $95,900) top-bracket 7.5% above DKK 777,900, (≈ $116,000) additional top-bracket 5% above DKK 2,592,700 (≈ $388,000).
More in Denmark
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Family reunification: spouse or cohabiting partner · Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) · checked 2026-10-10
- Permanent residence permit · Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) · checked 2026-10-10
- Conditions for foreign citizens' acquisition of Danish citizenship · Life in Denmark (borger.dk), Danish public sector portal · checked 2026-10-11
- Researcher · Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.