Residence permit in order to obtain a Danish authorisation as a doctor
Foreign doctors who are trained outside the EU/EEA can be granted a special residence permit in order to obtain a Danish authorisation as a doctor. The residence permit is granted to enable the foreign doctor to reach the professional and linguistic skills required to obtain a Danish authorisation as a doctor.
You should apply using application form XG1.
It is only possible to be granted this special residence permit if the Danish Board of Health has decided that your medical training can constitute the basis for a Danish authorisation. Please make sure to include the statement from the Danish Board of Health with your application.
Please note that it is illegal to work in Denmark without a valid residence and work permit. This also applies in connection with the evaluation employment which is part of the qualification process towards obtaining a Danish authorisation as a doctor.
Duration and extension
The residence permit is initially granted for two years. You can be granted a two-year extension provided that you include in your application documentation that you have passed the Danish language test required to obtain a Danish authorisation.
You cannot have the residence permit extended beyond four years in total.
Please note that your residence permit can only be granted or extended up to three months before your passport expires. In other words, if your passport expires in 12 months, your residence permit can only be granted for, or extended by, nine months.
Self-support requirement
In order to be granted this residence permit you must be able to support yourself and any accompanying family members during your stay in Denmark. You must include documentation of this in your application.
You must document that you have at your disposal an amount equal to Danish Start Help ('starthjælp') for one year.
There are differing rates of Start Help, depending on your age and number of dependants.
Read more about Start Help rates (available in Danish only).
The monthly Start Help rates before tax are (2011 level):
- DKK 5,367 for persons under the age of 25 living alone
- DKK 6,472 for persons over the age of 25 living alone
- DKK 5,367 per person for spouses or cohabiting partners
It is possible to receive a caregiver supplement if there are children under 18 living in the household. A household can receive a maximum of two caregiver supplements.
The monthly caregiver supplement is (2011 level):
- DKK 1,342 per child for married or cohabiting parents
- DKK 1,619 per child for single parents
Bank account statements and similar documents can be used as documentation that you can support yourself and any accompanying family members.
Example
If you apply for a residence permit and you wish to bring your spouse/partner and child, you must document that you have at your disposal DKK 5,367 per month to support yourself, DKK 5,367 per month to support your spouse/partner, and DKK 1,342 per month to support your child.
This means that you must document that you have at your disposal (5,367 + 5,367 + 1,342) x 12 = DKK 144,912 (equal to one year's Start Help).
Please note: If your child/children apply for a residence on their own, without your spouse/partner (the other parent of the child/children) applying for a residence partner, the monthly Start Help amound is DKK 1,619 per child.