Denmark's government has published a conclusive list of six categories of public debt that automatically disqualify foreigners from obtaining a permanent residence permit. The rule, confirmed on the official government website, states that any overdue public payment, regardless of the amount, is sufficient to block a permanent residence application.
What Counts as Overdue Public Debt
According to the Danish government's website, a debt is considered overdue when the public is entitled to payment and the amount due has not been cleared by the deadline. The official statement reads: "You may not have any overdue public debts. A debt is considered overdue if the public is entitled to payment of the debt, or if the amount due has not been repaid by the due date."
The website further states: "The following types of debt are those that are considered public debt. If you have overdue payments for any of the types of debt below, you cannot qualify for a permanent residence permit (conclusive list)."
The Six Disqualifying Debt Categories
The Danish government listed six specific categories of public debt that will prevent a foreigner from qualifying for permanent residence:
- Nonpayment of Active Social Policy Act benefits
- Child support paid
- Day-care payment
- Overpaid housing benefits
- Housing-subsidy loan
- Taxes and levies, unless
All six fall under the umbrella of public debt, and the government describes the list as conclusive, meaning no debt types outside of these six apply under this particular rule.
Impact on Applicants
Foreigners planning to apply for permanent residence in Denmark are advised to verify their debt status against each of these categories before submitting an application, as any overdue payment under one of these headings would constitute an automatic disqualification.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that Denmark's government website has identified a category of foreigners who can never qualify for a permanent residence permit in the country. The restriction applies regardless of how long they have lived in Denmark or whether they meet other permanent residency requirements.
