Resumption of processing of pending residence and asylum applications for Syrians in Denmark and official clarifications from the Immigration Service
The Danish Immigration Service (Udlændingestyrelsen) has updated information concerning Syrian refugees and their families in light of recent developments in the processing of asylum and residence applications. On July 21, 2025, it issued an official clarification containing a series of frequently asked questions and answers, aimed at clarifying the legal and procedural status of those affected by the lifting of the temporary suspension on processing their applications.
This information indicates that the Danish Immigration Service has begun processing pending applications from Syrian refugees, including asylum applications, extensions of residence permits, changes in legal status, family reunification, and permanent residency. These cases will be processed gradually according to the date of submission, and applicants may be contacted by the authorities if additional information or documents are required to complete the process.
The following is a translation of the questions and answers as they appeared on the official website mentioned below:
Q: I applied for a residence permit as a refugee (asylum), and my file was placed on “temporary suspension” (suspenderet). What happens now?
A: If you have applied for a residence permit as a refugee from Syria, your case will now be processed. On June 30, 2025, the Coordination Committee of the Refugee Appeals Board decided to lift the temporary suspension on cases involving Syrians, meaning the files have been returned to the Danish Immigration Service (Udlændingestyrelsen) for reconsideration. Consequently, the suspension status of these cases is lifted. The Service is now beginning to gather and examine background information on the situation in Syria in order to process asylum applications. People from Syria will be invited for asylum interviews in the fourth quarter of 2025, in a chronological order starting with the oldest cases.
Q: You have a residence permit as a refugee and have applied to change your legal status. What will happen?
A: Continuing the process of lifting the suspension on Syrian refugee cases, the Immigration Department is gathering background information about Syria and will now process applications for change of legal status. If your case was previously suspended, you will receive a letter informing you that it will be reviewed again based on the information gathered.
Q: I am waiting for a decision on extending my refugee (asylum) residence permit. What will happen?
A: If your permit is based on a specific and individual risk of persecution or abuse, your file is not suspended, and the permit can be extended as long as you meet the conditions (including permits § 7(1), § 8(1), or § 7(2), § 8(2) for individual reasons).
If your statement was based on the general security situation in Syria (§ 7(3) or 7(2)/8(2) for general reasons), then consideration of your case was suspended but the suspension has now been lifted.
The administration will begin processing these applications in order of date and will contact you if they require further information. You can stay, work, and study in Denmark while awaiting a decision.
Q: You have been reunited with a Syrian refugee family. What will happen to your application?
A: If you are part of a family reunification program for a Syrian refugee, and their residence permit extension was pending, your case was also suspended. However, the processing of Syrian refugee cases has now resumed, and once the primary refugee's (your family's) permit is extended, we will begin processing your case. The administration will contact you when it is resolved. You can stay, work, and study in Denmark during this time.
Q: I applied for family reunification with a Syrian refugee. What will happen?
A: If you have applied for family reunification for a Syrian refugee, and the refugee's asylum file is currently on hold, your family reunification application will also be on hold. This may not apply if the refugee status is based on the general situation in Syria, but once the current hold on refugees is lifted, the processing of these applications will resume sequentially. The administration will contact you when your case is reopened.
Q: I have applied for permanent residency. What will happen to my application?
A: If you are a refugee under individual protection, your application will normally be processed.
If you are a refugee under the general security situation in Syria or are seeking family reunification, you have received notification that your application is suspended. The application remains suspended because it is currently not possible to assess the necessary conditions.
If you do not meet any of the requirements, your application will be terminated with a rejection within the specified procedure period.
Q: I applied for an exemption from losing my permit as a Syrian refugee. What will happen?
A: If your application for exemption from loss of your permit was placed on hold, it will now be reopened. The Immigration Department is gathering the necessary information to assess your need for protection. You will receive a notification when processing begins after the hold is lifted.
Q: My residence permit was extended in 2024. Do I need to do anything?
A: If you have a valid permit, no action is required on your part. As a refugee, you do not need to apply for an extension yourself; when your permit expires, the Udlændingestyrelsen will automatically assess the possibility of extension and will contact you a few months before it expires.
Q: Can you apply for a Danish refugee passport (a treaty passport or a passport for foreigners) now that the detention has been lifted?
A: Once your refugee status is extended, you can apply for a Convention passport or an alien's passport. Until this extension is granted, there are alternative options:
School travel list: Children listed on this list can travel within the European Union without a passport.
A laissez-passer (emergency travel document) is available in case of urgent need.
Q: Is it necessary for me to contact Udlændingestyrelsen myself?
A: No, there is no need for that — the administration will contact you automatically when they access your file.
