Family reunification in Denmark: the 2026 rules
Family reunification under the Danish Aliens Act has strict requirements on age, self-support, a financial guarantee, housing and integration. Family members of EU/EEA citizens can use EU law instead. Read this before you start your assessment.
Updated 30 October 2026
Key figures
Age rule
24 years
Both spouses must normally be 24. You can apply when the younger is 23 years and 6 months.
Guarantee
DKK 61,709.34
The financial guarantee for spouse reunification in 2026.
Public benefits
3 years
The spouse in Denmark must not have received certain public benefits in the past 3 years.
Processing
Up to 10 months
The Danish Immigration Service's expected maximum processing time.
Two routes
Danish national law (udlændingeloven)
For spouses and partners of Danish citizens and of people who have held permanent residence in Denmark for more than 3 years. The Danish Immigration Service (Udlændingestyrelsen) decides. The family of work permit holders applies as accompanying family under separate rules.
EU law (free movement)
For family members of an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen who lives in Denmark as a worker, self-employed person, student or with sufficient means. The 24-year rule and the guarantee do not apply. SIRI issues the EU residence document.
Main requirements under Danish law
- Age: both spouses must normally be at least 24 years old; you can apply when the younger spouse is 23 years and 6 months. Exceptions are possible.
- Self-support: the spouse in Denmark must not have received certain public benefits in the past 3 years.
- Financial guarantee: a guarantee of DKK 61,709.34 (2026 level).
- Housing: you must have a home of a sufficient size at your own disposal.
- Integration: the requirements on Danish language and work or education that apply to your case.
- Cohabiting partners: you must normally have lived together at a shared address for at least about 18 months.
Refusals and appeals
- If the Danish Immigration Service refuses your application, you can appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board (Udlændingenævnet) within 8 weeks of receiving the decision.
- The appeal fee is DKK 1,040 (2026) and is refunded if the appeal succeeds fully or partly.
- The Board's decision can be brought before the Danish courts.
Read more
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