Case processing time

It is very difficult to say how long the consideration of the case will take. The time depends both on the general work load in the system and the individual aspects of the case at hand. Manifestly Unfounded cases are often determined within 2-4 months but if the case is in Normal procedure it will often be one year, and if it needs to be appealed the total waiting time can be up to two years.

Normally, completion of the asylum form filling is done within the first week and and the first interview is carried out within the first month, but thereafter it can take several months before the second interview.

Dublin cases also vary between one month to more than a year, depending on the other country’s answer to Denmark’s inquiry, and sometimes the case will be put on hold while a similar case is pending at the European Court of Human Rights.

All cases from a certain country can be put on hold for longer periods, usually awaiting an important report or because the situation is changing fast in the country.

The average time of stay in the Danish asylum system with an active case is often around 200 days. When you hear about people who have been waiting for many years in asylum centers (up to 20 years), these person’s asylum cases have been ruled on but the person cannot be deported due to various circumstances.

The waiting time for humanitarian residence permit applications is often a year or more, reopening applications to the Refugee Appeals Board also take one year and international appeal cases takes several years. In some of the cases mentioned, the asylum seeker has a right to remain in Denmark while the case is being processed ("suspensive effect"), but not always. 

Family reunification cases for refugees usually take 10 months. Read more about the service goals of Immigration Service (asylum cases not included).