Danish immigration law is administered by three bodies that get mixed up constantly. Knowing which one owns your case decides where it is filed and which rules are applied to it, and filing in the wrong place costs weeks.
The Danish Immigration Service
The central immigration authority, under the Ministry of Immigration and Integration. It decides:
- asylum cases, protection under section 7 of the Aliens Act
- family reunification, spouses, children, parents
- permanent residence
- visa cases, working with the embassies
- humanitarian residence permits.
SIRI
The Agency for International Recruitment and Integration sits under the same ministry with a different portfolio:
- work permits, Pay Limit Scheme, Positive List, Fast Track and the rest
- study permits for higher education
- EU residence rights, for EU citizens and their family members
- accompanying family of workers and students
- researcher and trainee stays.
The Immigration Appeals Board
Not a first-instance authority at all, but an independent appellate body. It hears:
- appeals against decisions of the Immigration Service and SIRI
- those appeals only after the original authority has reconsidered
- everything except asylum appeals, which go to the Refugee Appeals Board.
Where your case belongs
| Type of case | Decided by |
|---|---|
| Family reunification, ordinary rules | Immigration Service |
| Family reunification, EU rules | SIRI |
| Work permit | SIRI |
| Study permit | SIRI |
| Permanent residence | Immigration Service |
| Asylum | Immigration Service |
| Schengen visa | Immigration Service, through the embassy |
| Appeal against a decision | Immigration Appeals Board, Refugee Appeals Board for asylum |
| Citizenship | Ministry of Immigration and Integration |
If it goes to the wrong place
It will usually be forwarded internally rather than rejected, but the detour costs time you do not get back. Filing correctly first time is the cheapest possible precaution.
Not sure which applies to you? Ask us, it takes a minute to answer.
Wondering where your own case stands?
Immigration law is all we do. Send us the details and you will have a straight assessment back within a working day, free, and with nothing to sign.
