Denmark Identifies Turkish Citizens for Fee Exemption
Turkish nationals may qualify for waived permanent residence permit fees under the EU-Turkey Association Agreement, Denmark's government says.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Immigration
Denmark's government has identified Turkish citizens as potentially eligible for a fee exemption on permanent residence permit applications. The exemption depends on coverage under the EU-Turkey Association Agreement and on current employment or business activity in Denmark.
Why it matters
For most foreign nationals, a permanent residence permit in Denmark carries a mandatory application fee, making the exemption a notable carve-out. Denmark also stated that foreigners who received a prison sentence of more than six months cannot qualify for permanent residency, regardless of how long they have lived there.
Denmark is the only country to have publicly named Turkey under this exemption category. Eligibility requires that the applicant be covered by the EU-Turkey Association Agreement, directly or through a family member, and be currently working or engaged in business in Denmark.
The players
Denmark's government
The national government of Denmark, which set out the fee exemption criteria and the prison-sentence disqualification for permanent residency.
EU-Turkey Association Agreement
A bilateral arrangement between the European Union and Turkey covering work and business activities, which underpins the Turkish fee exemption.
The details
The exemption is rooted in treaty obligations rather than domestic immigration policy alone, tying eligibility to the bilateral EU-Turkey Association Agreement covering work and business activities. Foreigners with a prison sentence exceeding six months are excluded from permanent residency in Denmark.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: Article reporting Denmark's identification of Turkish fee-exemption eligibility published.
Legal Context
Denmark's exemption applies a treaty obligation, the EU-Turkey Association Agreement, to national permanent-residence fees, rather than relying on domestic immigration rules alone. This ties Turkish eligibility to the agreement's work and business provisions as a bilateral legal framework.
Turkish nationals who are currently working or running a business in Denmark, or who are covered through a qualifying family member, may be exempt from the mandatory permanent residence permit fee. Anyone with a prison sentence over six months should expect to be ineligible for permanent residency.
The takeaway
Permanent residence eligibility in Denmark can depend on treaty coverage and criminal history, not just length of stay, so applicants should confirm their specific status before applying. Checking whether a family member's agreement coverage extends to you can determine whether a fee applies.
Further reading
Explore more on Immigration to see how residency rules and treaty obligations shape permit eligibility across countries.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Legit.ng - Nigeria news..
