Number of residence permits granted in Denmark 2012-2022

The number of residence permits granted in Denmark reached a record-high 127,000 in 2022, significantly higher than the 75,000 the previous year. This development is explained by people fleeing the Russia-Ukraine war. Before this, the highest number of permits were granted in 2015. During that year, the so-called refugee crisis resulted in changing migration patterns and consequently a higher influx of refugees to and across Europe. Since then, several policies were implemented in Denmark to limit immigration and asylum seekers, making it more difficult for people to obtain residence permits altogether.

Types of permits

Among the granted resident permits in 2022, only 1,400 were to asylum seekers. Ukrainian refugees were granted special residence permits and did not have to apply for regular asylum. Roughly 33,000 permits were granted to Ukrainian refugees. People from other EU/EEA-countries also accounted for a considerable amount of the permits granted.

Permanent residence permits

Far from all immigrants obtain a permanent residence permit when coming to Denmark. In 2021, nearly 4,500 immigrants were granted permanent permits. In order to acquire Danish citizenship, one must have resided in Denmark for eight years. Most permanent permits are granted on the basis of family reunification, amounting to 2,400 permits in 2021. By comparison, 566 permanent permits were given to asylum seekers that same year.