Folk high schools
You can be granted a residence permit in order to follow a course at a folk high school (folkehøjskole) or similar institution
- for example, a housekeeping or needlecraft school.
If you are a Nordic citizen, you are free to reside, study and work in Denmark. If you are an EU/EEA citizen or Swiss citizen seeking residence in Denmark based on the EU regulations on freedom of movement, you may be subject to special rules. More information about EU/EEA and Nordic citizens.
Conditions
In order to be granted a residence permit you must document:
That you are enrolled to follow a course at a folk high school (folkehøjskole) or similar which has been approved by a state authority. The head of the school must declare that the course you are to follow is eligible for state subsidies, or state that the course will be carried out without state subsidies. In the latter case, the school must attach a statement about the course from Danmarks Evalueringsinstitut
That you have paid the course fees
That you can support yourself for the duration of your stay in Denmark. Please note that a foreign student in Denmark may not receive public assistance / benefit payments. If you do so, your residence permit can be revoked
That you can speak and understand the language of instruction and have a working knowledge of either Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German
A residence permit requires that the school is included by the Danish legislation concerning folk high schools, continuation schools, housekeeping schools and needlecraft schools. The Danish Agency for Labour Retention and International Recruitment will only grant residence permits for attendance at schools approved and monitored by the Ministry of Children and Education.
Duration
You will be granted a residence permit for the duration of the course. You can apply for an extension of your residence permit, resulting in a total maximum of 18 months. The 18 months can be used for several courses at different folk high schools, either as one stay of 18 consecutive months, or as several separate stays.
It is a condition for the residence permit that you are active and enrolled in the school's programme. If this is not the case, the Immigration Service can revoke your residence permit. The school is obliged to inform the Danish Agency for Labour Retention and International Recruitment if you are not actively participating in the school's activities.
Please note that a course at a folk high school (folkehøjskole) does not qualify to admission to a higher education and does not give access to further education or residence in Denmark.
Family members
Normally, you cannot bring your family to Denmark. Only in very special cases will a residence permit be granted to your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner, or any children under the age of 18 who are living at home with you. In this case, your family members must be able to support themselves and you must live together in Denmark at the same address. Your spouse/partner is allowed to work full-time for the entire period his/her permit is valid.
Work
As a student at a folk high school or similar, you will only be granted a work permit in special situations, e.g. if you would benefit educationally or professionally from a paid or unpaid trainee period. The job must have an educational purpose, and the work permit will only be valid for a specific place of employment.
If you are under the age of 18 you will only be eligible for a work permit if you have a written offer or contract for a specific job, and if the employer confirms to the Danish Agency for Labour Retention and International Recruitment that Danish workplace environment legislation is being upheld.
If you work illegally in Denmark, e.g. by working without a work permit, the Danish Agency for Labour Retention and International Recruitment may revoke or refuse to extend your residence permit. This can happen even if you otherwise meet the conditions for your residence permit, e.g. if you are still actively enrolled in your course or study programme.
If you work illegally in Denmark, you risk deportation, and you and your employer risk fine or imprisonment.
How to apply
Read more about how to apply for a residence permit as a student.