How to Get Your Beloved to Denmark

Point requirements for future family reunification in Denmark have recently been published.

60 points are needed to get a residence permit in Denmark through family reunification if you are 24 years old and 120 points if you are under 24 years old.

Thus, for example, a bachelor’s degree from an university abroad, other than from the twenty best, is just not enough to allow a family reunification in Denmark in the future – although one is above 24 years of age.

Points can be achieved within these four groups: Education, working experience, linguistic skills  and ‘other qualifications’.

Points are scored with qualifications from the groups one to three. They may be supplemented with up to 20 points from group four.

Group 1: Completed education

A PhD or master’s degree in Denmark or one of the world’s top 20 universities gives 120 points

A PhD or graduate from other universities abroad gives 80 points

A Bachelor’s degree in Denmark or one of the world’s top 20 universities gives 70 points

A Bachelor’s degree from other universities abroad gives 50 points

Profession and professional education in Denmark gives 50 points

Profession and professional education abroad gives 40 points


Group 2: Work experience

Qualified professional (‘positive job’) for 2 years in Denmark gives 80 points

Qualified professional (‘positive job’) for 2 ½ years out of the last 3 years abroad gives 60 points

Other professional experience in 2 ½ years out of the last 3 years abroad gives 40 points

(The Positive Job List consists of a number of industry areas where there are shortages of skilled manpower as follows: Academic work. Construction. IT and telecommunications engineering. Leadership. Educational, social and church work. Sales, purchasing and marketing. Health care and personal care. Transport, postal, warehousing and machine operator job. Teaching.)


Group 3: Language skills

Danish, Swedish and Norwegian at levels equivalent to the study test (C 1) gives 50 points

English, German, French, Spanish at the level of the study test (C 1) gives 40 points


Group 4: Other qualifications

Danish level equivalent to Danish Test 2 (B1-B2) gives 20 points

English, German, French, Spanish at the level of the Danish Test 2 (B1-B2) gives 20 points

If the applicant is not resident in a residential area ‘exposed’ he or she receives 20 points

Active participation in global humanitarian organizations gives 10 points

Self-supporting (can not be combined with other work) gives 10 points