Danish Green Card remains popular despite reduction in visa duration

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The Danish Immigration Service has changed the length of time that a Green Card can be issued from the previous three-years to 18 months.

A person living and working in Denmark under a Green Card residence permit can apply for an extension of up to two and a half years before the expiration of the first 18-month period. A follow up extension can be granted for up to four years.

The Danish Green Card is a points based system that scores applicants on criteria such as age, European education, and work experience. Denmark hopes that this selection criteria will attract immigrants who are needed by the Danish economy.

Language skills are also important. Applicants are scored on their ability to speak Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German.

Increase in fees likely

A Finance Bill for 2011 has proposed a possible increase in fees for Green Card applications. If this measure is adopted, the new fee will increase from Rs. 8650 to Rs. 50,000 on 01 January 2010.

In the last few years it has become more difficult to gain immigration to other Countries such as the UK, Canada and Australia. People have increasingly been considering immigration to Denmark as an alternative.

For more information on the Danish Green Card scheme, please see our Danish immigration section.