Accompanying family permit — bringing spouse & children on a work permit
If you hold a Danish work permit and want to bring your spouse and children with you, they need their own residence permits. This is the accompanying family permit (medfølgende familie) — a separate SIRI process that runs alongside your own permit but has its own requirements, timeline, and biometrics appointments. Here is how it works.
What is the accompanying family permit?
The accompanying family permit (opholdstilladelse som medfølgende familiemedlem) allows the spouse/partner and children (under 18) of a work permit holder to live in Denmark. It is tied to the primary permit holder’s work permit — if that permit is revoked or expires, the family permits fall with it.
This permit is specifically for family members of people on work permits (Pay Limit, Positive List, Blue Card, Researcher, Fast-track). It is a separate process from family reunification (familiesammenføring), which applies to people settling permanently.
Accompanying family vs family reunification — what is the difference?
| Factor | Accompanying family | Family reunification |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | Work permit (temporary) | Permanent settlement / marriage |
| Processing time | Same as primary permit + 1–4 weeks | 4–12 months |
| Income requirement | Met by primary permit’s salary threshold | Separate, higher income requirement |
| Housing requirement | Basic — suitable accommodation | Stricter — size per person rules |
| Danish language requirement | No | Not for initial application; yes for extension |
| Spouse’s work rights | Full work rights (any employer) | Full work rights |
| Linked to primary permit? | Yes — falls if primary expires | Independent after conditions met |
If the primary holder is on a work permit, the accompanying family route is almost always faster and requires less documentation than family reunification. SIRI processes both applications together, and the family permit is typically issued within weeks of the primary permit — not months.
Who is eligible
- Married spouse or registered partner — the marriage/partnership must be recognised under Danish law. Same-sex marriages are fully recognised.
- Cohabiting partner — if you have lived together for at least 1.5–2 years and can document it. This requires more evidence (shared lease, joint bills, photos, travel records).
- Children under 18 — biological or legally adopted children of either the primary permit holder or their spouse/partner.
Application process
- Apply at the same time as the primary permit. The family application can be submitted simultaneously with the work permit application — do this whenever possible for the fastest processing.
- Complete the application on nyidanmark.dk. Each family member needs their own application form. The primary permit holder is listed as the reference person.
- Pay the application fee. Each accompanying family application has a fee (check nyidanmark.dk for current amount — typically DKK 1,000–2,500 per person).
- Provide supporting documents (see below).
- SIRI processes alongside the primary permit. If the primary permit is approved, the family permits typically follow within 1–4 weeks.
- Book biometrics appointments for each family member (including children). See the SIRI appointment guide.
Documents needed
- Valid passports for all family members
- Marriage certificate (apostilled or legalised if issued outside Denmark/EU)
- For cohabiting partners: documentation of 1.5+ years of cohabitation (shared lease, utility bills, bank statements)
- Children’s birth certificates
- Passport-size photos for all applicants
- Primary permit holder’s work permit application or approval
- Proof of accommodation in Denmark (lease agreement showing sufficient space)
- Application fee payment receipt
Marriage certificates, birth certificates, and other civil documents from non-EU countries often need an apostille or legalisation (authentication by the issuing country’s foreign ministry). This can only be done in the country that issued the document. Getting these documents sorted after you have left your home country is extremely difficult and time-consuming.
Work rights for the accompanying spouse
An accompanying spouse/partner with this permit has full, unrestricted work rights in Denmark. They can work for any employer, in any field, with no salary requirement. This is one of the significant advantages of the accompanying family route — the spouse is not limited by the same conditions as the primary work permit.
The spouse can also start a business (registering a CVR number), study at a Danish institution, or choose not to work at all. The only restriction is that the right to stay is tied to the primary holder’s permit.
Children’s permits
Children under 18 receive their own residence card. They have the right to attend folkeskole (free public school) or international schools. Childcare (vuggestue, børnehave) is also accessible once the child has a CPR number — though waiting lists in Copenhagen can be 3–6 months.
Children’s permits are linked to the primary holder’s permit and expire at the same time. Each child needs their own biometrics appointment and will receive their own residence card.
What happens if the primary permit changes?
- Primary holder changes employer: The primary holder applies for a new work permit. Family permits remain valid during processing but may need to be renewed alongside the new permit.
- Primary holder loses their job: The primary holder enters a grace period. Family permits remain valid as long as the primary permit is valid — but if the primary permit expires or is revoked, the family permits end too.
- Divorce/separation: If the marriage ends, the accompanying spouse’s permit loses its basis. The spouse must apply for an independent permit (e.g. their own work permit) or leave Denmark. See the divorce guide for details.
- Primary holder gets permanent residency: Family members can apply for their own permanent residency once they individually meet the conditions (typically after 8 years, or 4 years under accelerated conditions).
If you are the accompanying spouse, find employment in Denmark as soon as possible. Having your own employment history and tax record strengthens your position if you ever need to apply for an independent permit. It also counts toward permanent residency requirements and protects you in case the primary holder’s circumstances change.
Processing time
When submitted alongside the primary work permit, accompanying family permits typically add 1–4 weeks to the overall processing time. If the primary holder’s employer is SIRI-certified (fast-track), the family permits also benefit from faster processing.
If submitted after the primary permit is already approved, standalone processing takes 2–6 weeks for work permit family members — significantly faster than family reunification (4–12 months).