Do public benefits block permanent residence in Denmark?

Help under the Active Social Policy Act (aktivloven) or the Integration Act (integrationsloven) in the last 4 years before you apply blocks permanent residence. SU, unemployment benefits, parental leave benefits and housing support are not covered by the requirement.

What blocks it

Help under the Active Social Policy Act, for example kontanthjælp.
Help under the Integration Act.

The period is the last 4 years before the application, and the requirement also applies until the decision is made.

What does not block it

SU (Danish state education support).
Unemployment benefits (dagpenge) from an a-kasse.
Parental leave benefits (barselsdagpenge).
Housing support (boligstøtte).

Certain smaller one-off benefits are also exempt.

What makes it complicated

The name of the payment is not what decides it; the law it was paid under is.
A short period of help early in the 4 years still counts.
The 4 years keep running while the case is processed, so a payment received after you applied also matters.

If you are not sure which law a payment came under, ask your municipality before you apply. The check lets you answer "do not know" instead of guessing.

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Residence Check compares your answers with the requirements and shows which ones you meet, what you still need to clarify, and the earliest date you can meet all of them. Answering the questions is free.

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Do public benefits block permanent residence in Denmark?

What blocks it

What does not block it

What makes it complicated

Check your own dates

More answers

Official sources