On July 1, 2024, new rules for family reunification of spouses came into effect. The rules also apply to certain applications submitted before the rules came into effect.
Key Changes
- Among other changes, there is now a requirement that the spouse in Denmark needs to have passed Prøve i Dansk 3 or another Danish language test at the same or higher level, in order for the couple collectively to meet the integration requirement.
- This requirement can now also be met by the spouse in Denmark by documenting having been in ordinary full-time employment for five years, which has significantly involved communication in Danish. ‘Significantly involved in communication in Danish’ means that the spouse is in Denmark on a daily basis and as a significant part of a work day has had frequent written or oral contact in Danish with Danish speaking persons. The communication can have been with colleagues, citizens, customers, patients or other persons.
- In addition, the financial guarantee requirement, which must be met in some cases in order to qualify for family reunification of spouses, has been reduced from approx. DKK 114,000 to DKK 57,000.
Impacts
- When the proposal was presented to the Danish Parliament on April 11, 2024, the Immigration Service gave the spouse in Denmark in relevant cases the opportunity to indicate whether the couple wanted the further processing of the case to await the expected entry into force of the new rules. The processing of these cases will now be finished.
- Applicants, whose application for family reunification of spouses has been refused before the proposal was presented on April 11, 2024, because they did not meet the current financial guarantee requirement or the current language requirement, now have the opportunity to submit a new application for family reunification of spouses.
- The bill also includes a change in the rules regarding permanent residence and the transferred permanent residence permit requirements in cases regarding family reunification of spouses.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.