Updated September 21, 2026.
Individuals awaiting permanent residency, family reunification, or citizenship decisions, or preparing to submit fingerprints and photos, should note two new pieces of information from the Danish immigration authorities.
The changes concern two different agencies. Applicants should check their confirmation letter to determine whether their case is handled by SIRI or Udlændingestyrelsen.
1. Suspension of Certain Cases Due to Error in Criminal Register System
Udlændingestyrelsen – the Danish Immigration Service – announces that it is temporarily unable to finalize certain cases due to an identified error in Kriminalregisteret, the Danish police’s criminal register system.
The suspension applies to cases where information regarding prior convictions or criminal offenses in Denmark could affect the outcome of the assessment.
Which Cases May Be Affected?
- Applications for permanent residency in Denmark.
- Certain family reunification cases processed by Udlændingestyrelsen.
- Certain applications for Danish citizenship currently under review by the Ministry of Immigration and Integration.
Not all cases within the above categories are automatically suspended. Whether processing is affected depends on whether data from the criminal register system is relevant to the specific case. The authorities have not yet announced when these cases will resume processing.
Are Cases Processed by SIRI Affected?
According to the official announcement, this error does not currently lead to the suspension of cases under SIRI’s jurisdiction. Many cases for work, study, accompanying family members, and EU residence continue to be processed according to current procedures.
What Should Applicants Awaiting Decisions Do?
- Do not withdraw or resubmit your application without instructions from the responsible agency.
- Continue to renew your current residence permit on time.
- Monitor Digital Post and respond fully to all requests for additional documents.
- Contact the correct responsible agency if the delay urgently affects your work, travel, or family circumstances.
Contacting the agency may help determine if your case falls within the suspended group, but it does not guarantee prioritized processing.
Official Sources:
- Udlændingestyrelsen – Suspension of Certain Cases Due to Error in Kriminalregisteret
- Ministry of Immigration and Integration – Impact on Citizenship Cases
2. SIRI Temporarily Extends Biometric Submission Deadline to 4 Weeks
Due to increased demand for appointments, SIRI announces a temporary extension of the deadline for submitting fingerprints and photos after application submission:
- Previous Deadline: 2 weeks from the application submission date.
- Current Temporary Deadline: 4 weeks from the application submission date.
This regulation applies to individuals who have submitted an application to SIRI and are required to provide biometric data. This group may include applicants for work permits, study permits, or residence as accompanying family members.
SIRI still recommends that applicants book appointments as early as possible and cancel appointments if they no longer need them to free up slots for others. SIRI has not yet announced an end date for this temporary extension.
Official Source: SIRI – Biometric Deadline Temporarily Extended to 4 Weeks.
Distinguishing Deadlines for the Two Agencies
| Case Processing Agency | Currently Announced Biometric Deadline |
|---|---|
| SIRI | 4 weeks from the application submission date |
| Udlændingestyrelsen | 6 weeks for cases under its jurisdiction |
SIRI cannot collect biometrics or issue re-entry permits on behalf of Udlændingestyrelsen. Therefore, applicants must carefully read their confirmation letter and book an appointment with the correct agency.
General Information on Biometrics: New to Denmark – Biometric features.
Summary
- Some permanent residency, family reunification, and citizenship cases are currently suspended due to an error in the criminal register system.
- Not all cases within these categories are affected.
- Cases processed by SIRI are not currently suspended due to this issue.
- The biometric submission deadline for SIRI cases has temporarily increased from 2 to 4 weeks.
- Cases processed by Udlændingestyrelsen have a separate deadline, currently announced as 6 weeks.
- Applicants should still book their biometric appointment as soon as possible.
Note: This article provides summarized information from official sources and does not constitute legal advice. In specific cases, applicants should contact the agency processing their application directly.