Denmark - Work Skills & Ancestry - Religious Workers
Conditions
You may be granted a residence permit as a member of the clergy if you can document that you are to work for an existing religious order/denomination in Denmark.
You may be granted a residence permit as a missionary if you can document that you are to work as a missionary and preach a specific religion or belief affiliated with an existing religious order/denomination in Denmark.
You may be granted a residence permit for other religious functions if you can document that you are to work within an existing religious order in Denmark. This applies to, e.g., monks and nuns who traditionally have religious functions within an order. The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (Folkekirken) or another officially acknowledged or sanctioned religious denomination in Denmark must confirm that the order is established under or works within the religious denomination.
Furthermore, you must meet the following conditions:
You must document that you are affiliated with the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (Folkekirken) or another officially acknowledged or sanctioned religious denomination in Denmark. Documentation can be a written agreement or declaration by the denomination stating that you are a religious worker within the religious order or denomination.
The number of foreign nationals holding residence permits as religious workers must be proportionate to the size of the denomination. The denomination will be asked to state its size (number of members) as well as the number of religious workers affiliated with it.
You must document a background, training or education relevant to being a religious worker.
You must sign a declaration stating that neither you nor any family members accompanying you will apply for public assistance during your stay in Denmark. This statement is part of the application form for religious workers.
You must sign a sworn declaration stating that you will not engage in any activity that poses a threat to public safety, law and order, health, decency or the rights and duties of others. This statement is part of the application form for religious workers.
Normally, you cannot be granted a residence permit if you are solely to work as a teacher - even at religious schools - if you are to teach subjects which are not characterised by preaching a religious message. Likewise, you cannot be granted a residence permit in order to receive religious instruction or to be educated or trained as a religious worker. If you are to study theology or related fields, you may be eligible for a residence permit as a student. You can find more information about studies here.
Duration
As a religious worker, you can be granted a residence permit for one year with a possibility for extension for one year at a time, for a maximum of three years in total.
However, if you are authorised to perform weddings, your residence permit can be extended for one year initially, then for two years, and then for periods of three years, with no upper time limit.
When applying for an extension, you should use the same application form as when you apply the first time (application form RF1). Please state that you wish to apply for an extension.