Published 01-12-2025

Clarification of rules for accompanying family members of third-country students in non-state-approved higher educational programmes

On 30 April 2025, the Ministry of Immigration and Integration published an amendment to the ‘Executive Order on the Granting of Residence and Work Permits to Students’ (the Executive Order on study programmes). Now, we clarify how the amendment means that accompanying family of third-country students in non-state-approved higher educational programmes are no longer eligible for residence permits.

The changes came into effect on 2 May 2025 and only apply if you applied for a residence permit on or after 2 May 2025. 

Students in non-state-approved higher educational programmes who applied for a residence permit before 2 May 2025 are not covered by the new rules and will therefore be entitled to work and to a jobseeking permit. These students can get a residence permit in Denmark for their minor children, even if the children have applied on or after 2 May 2025.

Spouses, cohabiting partners and registered partners who have applied for a residence permit as accompanying family members of a student in a non-state-approved higher educational programme before 2 May 2025 are also not covered by the new rules and will therefore also be able to get a residence permit as accompanying family members of the student.

Spouses, cohabiting partners and registered partners who apply for a residence permit as accompanying family members of a student in a non-state-approved higher educational programme on or after 2 May 2025 are covered by the new rules and will therefore not be able to get a residence permit as accompanying family members of the student.

This means:

• If you are the spouse, cohabiting partner or registered partner of a student in a non-state-approved higher educational programme in Denmark and you applied for a residence permit before 2 May 2025, you will still be able to get a residence permit as an accompanying family member of the student.
• If you are the spouse, cohabiting partner or registered partner of a student in a non-state-approved higher educational programme in Denmark and you apply for a residence permit on or after 2 May 2025, you will not be able to get a residence permit as an accompanying family member of the student.
• If you are a minor child of a student in a non-state-approved higher educational programme in Denmark and the student applied for a residence permit before 2 May 2025, you will still be able to get a residence permit as an accompanying family member of the student.
• If you are a child of a student in a non-state-approved higher educational programme in Denmark and the student applied for a residence permit on or after 2 May 2025, you will not be able to get a residence permit as an accompanying family member of the student.