If you are not from Europe, you must have a residence permit
If you want to be an au pair with a host family in Denmark, you must have a residence permit. If you are a citizen in EU, EEA or Switzerland, you are in principle covered by EU rules on freedom of movement. If you are a citizen of one of the Nordic countries, you do not need a residence permit and are free to travel to, live in and work in Denmark. You can read more about the rules applying to EU, EEA and Nordic citizens here.

Valid passports and renewing your passport
You must have a valid passport in order to be granted a residence permit. A residence permit can only be given for a period of up to three months before your passport expires. If your passport expires in 12 months, your residence permit can only be granted for nine months. The conditions concerning validity of your passport are the same when you apply for extension of your residence permit. If you hold a passport from your country of origin, the embassy or consulate general of your country of origin must renew it. The Immigration Service renews alien's passports and convention passports.

Extending your residence permit
The application for extension must be submitted no later than one month before (and no sooner than two months before) the residence permit expires. You should use the same application form as when you applied for your first permit – simply state that you wish to apply for an extension. The completed form should be submitted to the Service Centre of the Immigration Service or at your local police station (if you live outside the Greater Copenhagen area). If you apply for an extension, your au pair agreement with the same host family may continue while the Immigration Service is processing the application. The contract between you and your host family must also be extended and forwarded with the application.

Termination of your residence permit
If the grounds on which the residence permit was granted no longer apply, your residence permit may be revoked or you may be denied an extension. This may be the case if you break your au pair contract or if your working hours exceed the legal limit. You are obliged to inform the Immigration Service of any such changes. If you have found a new host family, you must apply for a new residence permit before beginning as an au pair with the new family.

Revocation or refusal of your residence permit
The Immigration Service has the right to revoke or refuse to extend your residence permit if you no longer possess a valid passport or other legitimate form of travel documents or if you have given false information in connection with the residence permit. Your residence permit can also become invalid if you leave Denmark for an extended period of time, or if you no longer maintain a residence in Denmark.

Read more about rules and procedures regarding residence permits on the website of the Danish Immigration Service.