Higher educational programmes

You must be studying in a higher educational programme in Denmark

Normal processing time
2 months

Processing fee
DKK 2,115,-

What do you want to print?

Who can recieve a residence permit as a student?

If you have been admitted to a higher educational programme in Denmark, you can be granted a permit to live and study in Denmark.

You can either complete a full educational programme or you can do part of your education as a guest or exchange student.

You can also be granted a residence permit to complete a preparatory course for a higher educational programme, e.g engineer.

If you are a citizen of a EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you do not need to apply for a residence permit, but must instead apply for a EU residence document.

Read more about EU residence

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What are the conditions?

It is a requirement that you are admitted to a higher educational programme in Denmark, and that you are studying full time at your place of education.

You can not be granted a residence permit to study part time. 

You must be able to speak and understand the language of instruction at a level that allows you to actively participate in the courses you are attending.

If you have been admitted to a preparatory course for a higher educational programme, and if you are staying in Denmark for more than 3 months, you can be granted a permit to reside and study in Denmark. 

The preparatory course must meet the following conditions:

  • The Ministry of Higher Education and Science must have determined that attendance in the course is a prerequisite for admission to a particular higher educational programme, e.g. engineer. 
  • The course must not have a duration of more than 1 year.
  • You must have been admitted to the higher educational programme that the preparatory course is linked to.

Moreover, you must meet the same requirements as if applying for a residence permit to study at a higher educational programme.

The educational institution must be publically accredited. As an alternative at least one of the board members of the educational institution must be appointed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science. You can see a list of publically accredited educational institutions here

The educational programme must be approved by a state authority.  If your educational programme is not approved by a state authority, it must instead have an advisory statementor by the Danish Evaluation Institute, (EVA). You can read more about educational programmes approved by EVA here.

An educational programme is considered to be a higher educational programme if the admission requirement is to have completed a high school programme, or a vocational education.

You must have sufficient funds to be able to support yourself during your stay in Denmark.

You have sufficient funds, if your disposable amount corresponds to DKK 6,589 per month (2023 level). You must multiply the amount with the number of months you will be studying at a higher educational programme in Denmark. If you are studying more than one year, you must be able to document funds for 12 months. That means a maximum of DKK 79,068 (2023 level)

What documentation can you submit?

  • Bankstatement that shows: 
  • Date of the statement (maximum 30 days old at the time of submission of application)
  • Your full name
  • Balance
  • Currency
  • Documentation showing that your financiel support is secured via a scholarship or a student loan.
  • Your scholarship or student loan must be granted to you, and the sum must correspond to DKK 6.589 per month (2023 level), for each month that you are studying in Denmark.
  • If you are studying in Denmark for more than a year, the sum must correspond to a maximum of DKK 79.068.

If you submit more that one bankstatement, they must be from the same date.

 Please note that we only accept documentation for liquid assets (that means assets that can quickly be realised into cash, which you have access to. Therefore, we do not accept restricted stocks, bonds or an investment portfolio as documentation).

A bankstatement under another persons name (e.g. your parents), or a statement from others saying that your financiel support is secured, will not be accepted as documentation either.

Read more about the requirement for self-support.

If you are to pay a tuition fee for studying in the educational programme and if you have already paid tuition for the first semester, this is accepted as documentation showing that you have sufficient funds. In this case, you do not need to provide additional documentation.

If you have not yet turned 18, both of your parents must sign a declaration of consent to allow you to study in Denmark(i.e. that they must both sign a declaration of consent).

You must provide documentation of who your custody holders are, e.g. by submitting a copy of your birth certificate along with a copy of the data page in your parents' passport.

The school must also declare that it will ensure that you will have proper residence and study conditions in Denmark

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What are my rights, if I am granted a permit?

What are you allowed to do with a Danish residence permit as a student? – and what are you not allowed to do?

A residence permit allows you to reside and study in Denmark for the period of time your permit is valid.

Additionally, a permit allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180 days period. However, the permit does not allow you to work in other Schengen countries.

Please note that you must not give up your Danish address or stay abroad for more than 6 successive months. A violation of this rule will result in the lapse of your permit. This means that you will lose your right to stay in Denmark.

If you need to stay abroad for a longer period of time, you can apply for a dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing.

You can read more about permit lapse and dispensation options here.

You can read more about applying for dispensation, and apply for dispensation here

In addition to your residence permit as a student, you will be granted a limited work permit.

You are allowed to work:

  • an average of 20 hours per week during the normal period of study from September to May, and 
  • full-time through June, July and August.

The work permit is also valid during the job seeking period of either 6 months or 3 years, which is normally granted to you if you expect to complete a full educational programme in Denmark. 

It will be regarded as illegal work, if you work more hours than you are allowed to.

If you work illegally you can receive a warning, a fine or your residence permit as a student can be revoked. You can read more about illegal work here.

You can read more about working conditions in Denmark and 'The Danish labour market model' here.

However, you are permitted to dounlimited hours of unpaid voluntary work for an organisation or association, if the work is a benefit to society. Hours spent on doing unpaid voluntary work, does not count as part of your limited work permit. Read more about unpaid voluntary work.

If you are granted a residence permit to study at an educational programme containing a mandatory internship, you will automatically be granted a permit to work full-time for the duration of the internship.

If you have not been initially granted a permit for an internship and if you find out at a later time that you will be doing an internship, you must apply for a full-time work permit, which is valid during the period of your internship.  This only applies if you will be working full-time during your internship.

The internship must be part of your educational programme, and the place of internship must be approved by your educational institution.

Please note that you cannot not begin working full-time during the internship before you have been granted a permit.    

You can find the application form for an internship work permit here.

You must be able to support yourself and your family members, if they live in Denmark during your stay. Therefore, you are not allowed to apply for public benefits, e.g. benefits under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act, state study grants and housing benefits.

If you or your family member receives such benefits, your permits can be revoked – and you will all lose the right to stay in Denmark. 

If an authority, e.g. a municipality, disburses benefits to foreign nationals, SIRI will be notified.

You can see a list of benefits that you are not allowed to receive here.

With a residence permit in Denmark, you are entitled to free Danish lessons. However, you must have turned 18 years and have your Danish address registered in the Danish National Register.

If you have a residence permit in Denmark based on work, study, etc. you have to pay a deposit before you can start receiving lessons. Be aware that you can lose your deposit if you do not pass the different modules within a specific timeframe.

Your municipality of residence is obliged to offer you Danish lessons and refer you to a language centre. If you have not been offered Danish lessons within a month after registering your address in Denmark, you can contact your municipality.

You will (typically) be taught together with other foreign nationals who have arrived in Denmark recently.

If you are going to stay, study and work in Denmark, there are a number of things to acquaint yourself with. Depending on your personal situation, you might need other important information and options.

The portal lifeindenmark.dk provides you with information, links and in many cases also options concerning the most important subjects such as:

  • NemID
  • The CPR register
  • Health card
  • Tax matters
  • Holiday entitlements
  • School and daycare
  • Housing
  • Danish lessons
  • Car registration and driver’s license

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How long can I stay in Denmark?

You can stay in Denmark for the standard (nominal) duration of your educational programme, provided that you are actively participating in the programme. 

Please note, that if you do not complete your educational programme within the nominal period of study, it is important that you apply for an extension of your permit.

Your permit can be extended for a maximum of 1 year. As a rule, your permit cannot be extended further if you prolong your studies by more than a year.

However, if the prolonging of your studies is caused by pregnancy or parental leave, your permit can be extended by an additional year. In these cases, your permit can be extended for a maximum of 2 years in total.

You must apply for an extension not later than the day your permit expires - however, you must not apply for an extension earlier than 4 months before your permit for studying expires.

If you change your educational programme, you must apply for a new residence permit for the new programme.  You are allowed to start your new educational programme while you wait for us to reach a decision regarding your case.

If you have completed an entire higher educational programme in Denmark, you can be granted either a 6-month or a 3-year residence pemit to look for employment in Denmark. This depend on which kind of educational programme you have completed.

If you are granted a permit to complete a full educational programme, you will generally be granted the 6-month or 3-year job seeking permit along with your residence permit. If you have not been granted a 6-month or a 3-year job seeking permit, along with your residence permit, you can apply for it, when you finish your educational programme.

The residence permit for job seeking gives you the same work rights as you had during your studies: on average of 20 hours per week and full-time through June, July and August. The hours are calculated per calender month.

If you have been granted a 3-year job seeking permit, you can also apply for a work permit without limitations, once you have completed your educational programme.

Read more about work permit under the jo seeking period here

The purpose of the job seeking period is for you to find employment in Denmark, after you have completed your educational programme. If you receive a job offer during your job seeking period, you can choose to apply for a new residence and work permit, based on the job you have been offered.

A residence permit can only be valid until 3 months before the expiry date of your passport.

If your passport has a shorter validity than the otherwise possible period of stay, your residence permit will be shortened. This means that the validity of your residence permit will be shorter than it could be. When you have renewed your passport, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit – however, this can only be done 3 months before your permit expires at the earliest.

Read more about the passport requirements.

If you are studying at an educational programme that has not been approved by a state authority, but which instead has an advisory statement from the Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA), you can only be granted a residence permit that is valid until the date of expiry of that advisory statement. 

If you wish to complete your educational programme, you must apply for an extension of your advisory statement 4 months before it expires, at the earliest. 

What do you want to print?

Can my family be granted a residence permit?

A residence and work permit as a student ind Denmark allows your family to live with you to Denmark.

A permit can only be granted to your spouse, registered or cohabiting partner as well as children under the age of 18 living at home.

Read more about accompanying family members.

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What more do I need to know before I apply?

An application for a residence permit on the basis of studies is processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). If you are in Denmark when submitting the application, you must be here legally. More about legal submission here.

You must be admitted to an education or a preparatory course in Denmark to be able to apply.

Before submitting your application, you must create a case order ID for your application and pay a fee to cover SIRI’s case processing expenses.   You can do this on the “How to apply” tab to the right. Here you also find the relevant application form, ST1. You can choose between an online form and a paper form.

Your place of study must fill in one of two parts of the form.

If you use the paper form, the application process is generally initiated by your place of study. 

If you use the online form, your place of study must complete their part first. When your place of study has completed their part, they will receive a reference number and a password for the second part of the form. The place of study will pass on this information in order for you to be able to open the application and complete your part. 

Please note that, as a rule, SIRI will refuse your application for a residence permit on new grounds, if the application is submitted prematurely in relation to the wished for start date for your stay in Denmark.

If you submit such an application earlier than 6 months before your stay in Denmark will begin, you can expect a refusal to your application. If you have paid SIRI's case processing fee, you will not receive a refund of the fee.

SIRI will contact you or your place of study if we need further information to process your case.

What do you want to print?

Below you will find a step-by-step guide to submitting an application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

It is important that you have carefully read the conditions for being granted a residence permit before you begin step 1. You can do this on the tab “Need to know” on the left.

When submitting an application or appeal with a fee, you must first create a case order ID.

Case type:

Higher education

Fee:

DKK 2,115,-

Information about the applicant

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Are you exempt from paying the fee?

Are you sure a fee is not required to be paid in your case?

Only certain applicants are exempt from paying a fee. If the immigration authorities decide at a later stage that the applicant/appelant is not exempt from paying a fee, the application/appeal will be rejected.
If you have paid a fee and the following case handling shows that the fee should not have been paid, the whole fee will be refunded.

In certain cases the fee is not warranted (fee exemption). Examples are:

  • The Association Agreement between the EU and Turkey
  • Denmark’s international obligations

You are still required to create a case order ID, even if you are not required to pay a fee.

If you have paid a fee and it is not warranted, the whole fee will be refunded.

Read more about Fee exemption

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Case order ID

All fees are regulated every year on 1 January. Make sure to create your Case Order ID, pay the fee and submit your application in the same calendar year. If you pay the fee before 1 January and submit your application after 1 January, your application may be rejected.

If no case order ID is shown in the field below, please type your case order ID and click on View payment status.

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Case Order ID:

Fee:

Payment status:

Payment options

It is a good idea to gather the necessary documents before you start to complete the application form.

You can use this check list and download the declartion you might need below.

If you submit documents not written in English or Danish, you must also submit certified translations into Danish or English.

Before you submit the application it is important that you gather following:

If you are below the age of 18, you must also submit:

Download declarations: 

Download Sworn declaration and information (must be signed and attached if you do not sign the application with MitID)

Expect to use

30-40 minutes

per person to complete the application

2 persons

You and your educational institution are each required to complete a part of the application form.

In this step you and your educational institution have access to the relevant application forms. You can choose between an online form and a print form.

Make sure that you have read the instructions under the tab 'Need to know', and that you have completed all the proceeding steps under this tab before you begin.

You must fill out all of the sections in the application form. Additionally, you must inform us of your previous place(s) of education and your previous work experience under the section concerning your qualifications. The instructions in the application form will show you what documenation has to be attached to each section.

You can read more about how we process your personal data here.

 

Online applications

If you apply online, you must choose the application form ST1 online.

In the ST1 online form, your educational institution must complete the first of the two parts of the form. When your educational institution has completed their part, a reference number and password will be shown, which the educational institution must pass on to you. After this you are then able to open the online application form and complete your part.

Make sure that you have all documents ready in digital form, in order to attach them as you complete the application form.

If you do not have MitID, you must sign, scan and attach the document ‘Declarations and information’ here. This is also accesible within the application form.

 

Use the online form ST1

 

Printable application forms

In the printable application form ST1 your educational institution must complete part 2 of the form. When your educational institution has completed their part, you must complete your part. Once parts 1 and 2 have been completed, they must be submitted together – read more in the next step.

You must submit the necessary documents with the application.

The printable application form in Word format can be completed on screen before you print. The application form in pdf format must be printed first and then completed by hand.

Download the printable form ST1 (Word format) 

Download the printable form ST1 (Pdf format)

You have applied online

If you have applied online, your application has already been submitted. Read more about having your biometrics recorded in the next step.

You are submitting the application abroad

The application can be submitted to a Danish diplomatic mission or an application centre in the country where you are residing.

See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ list of diplomatic missions or application centres where you can hand in your application (opens in a new window)

In certain countries Denmark does not have a diplomatic mission or application centre. In these instances the list will refer you to one of the Norwegian missions with which Denmark has made an agreement or to the nearest Danish diplomatic mission or application centre in the region.

We recommend that you visit the local diplomatic mission’s webpage to get more information before you submit the application. The individual diplomatic mission can have additional requirements regarding payment of additional fees, submission of additional passport photos or additional copies of the application.

You are submitting the application in Denmark

If you are residing legally in Denmark, you are normally able to submit the application in Denmark. This is the case, if you:

  • hold a valid visa
  • is exempt from the visa requirement or
  • already hold a valid residence permit.

Read more about the legal residence requirement and submission of your application in Denmark. 

You can submit the applicaton in one of SIRI’s branch offices.

If you plan to submit your application in one of SIRI’s branch offices, you must remember to book an appointment. 

You can also send the application to SIRI.

When you apply for a residence permit, you must have your biometric features recorded. This means that you must have a facial photo taken and your fingerprints recorded. The facial photo and your fingerprints will be stored on a microchip embedded in the residence card, which will be issued to you if you are granted a permit.

If you do not agree to have your biometric features recorded, your application will be rejected. This means that your application will not be processed.

Read more about biometrics here

You have applied online

If you have submitted an online application form, you must have your biometric features recorded no later than 14 days after you submitted your application.

Your biometric features can be recorded at

If you are unable to have your biometric features recorded within the time limit of 14 days, because you are unable to book an appointment at a Danish diplomatic mission, you can inform us by email of the appointed time you will have your biometrics recorded. This way you can avoid having your application rejected.

You are are submitting the application abroad

If you submit an printable application form, you can have your biometric features recorded at a Danish diplomatic mission or an application centre in the country, where you reside.

See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ list of diplomatic missions or application centres where you can have your biometric features recorded (opens i a new window)

In certain countries Denmark does not have a diplomatic mission or application centre. In these instances the list will refer you to one of the Norwegian missions with which Denmark has made an agreement or to the nearest Danish diplomatic mission or application centre in the region.

If you submit your application to a Norwegian diplomatic mission, you must also submit one passport photo. If you are granted a residence permit based on your application, you must within a specific time frame after your entry to Denmark have your biometric features recorded.

We recommend that you visit the local diplomatic mission’s webpage to get more information before you submit the application. The individual diplomatic mission can have additional requirements regarding payment of additional fees, submission of additional passport photos or additional copies of the application.

You are submitting the application in Denmark

If you are residing legally in Denmark, you are normally able to have your biometric features recorded in Denmark. This is the case, if you:

  • hold a valid visa

  • is exempt from the visa requirement or

  • already hold a valid residence permit.

Read more about the legal residence requirement and submission of your application in Denmark. 

You can have your biometric features recorded in one of SIRI’s branch offices. 

If you plan to have your biometrics recorded in one of SIRI’s branch offices, you must remember to book an appointment.

You have submitted your application succesfully if you have:

  • created a case order ID
  • paid the fee
  • submitted the application
  • had your biometric features recorded

You can see the normal case processing time to the right on this page. When we make a decision in your case, you will receive an answer.

SIRI will contact you or your employer if we need further information to process your case.

Read more about what you can expect while you are waiting for an answer.

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Last updated 15-11-2023 - Published by: SIRI