Folk high schools - extension

You want to extend your stay in Denmark as a student at the same course at a folk high school.

Normal processing time
3 months

Processing fee
DKK 2,255,-

Can I extend my permit?

You can apply for an extension if you are still enrolled in the same course at the same folk high school. If you have been admitted to a new course or a new folk high school you must apply for a new residence permit.

It is very important that you apply for an extension before your current permit expires.

If you do not apply for an extension before your permit expires, you no longer have the right to stay in Denmark – and an application submitted in Denmark will usually be rejected.

If you submit your application for an extension in time, you can stay in Denmark while SIRI is assessing you application for an extension – even if your permit expires.

You can apply for an extension of your residence permit no earlier than 3 months before your permit expires.

What are the conditions for extending a permit?

It is a condition that you are still enrolled in the same course and at the same folk high school, and that you have paid for your stay. If you have been admitted to a new folk high school or to another course at the same folk high school, you must apply for a new residence permit.

It is a condition for the extension of your permit that you are participating actively in the course. The school is obligated to inform SIRI if your conditions have changed and you no longer participate actively.

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

What are you allowed to do with a Danish residence permit as a course participant at a folk high school? – And what are you not allowed to do?

A residence permit gives you the right to stay and study at a folk high school for the period your permit is valid.

In addition, 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.

You must not give up your Danish address or stay abroad for longer than 6 successive months. A violation 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.

A residence permit as a student at a folk high school does not give you the right to work.

You must be able to support yourself during your stay. You are not allowed to receive public benefits, e.g. benefits under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act, state study grants and housing benefits.

If you receive such benefits during your stay, your permit can be revoked – and you will 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.

When living 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.

You might already have done what is necessary, but if you still have any questions, the portal lifeindenmark.dk provides you with information, links and in many cases also options concerning the most important subjects such as:

  • MitID
  • The CPR register
  • Health card
  • Holiday entitlements
  • Danish lessons
  • Car registration and driver’s license

 

How long can I stay in Denmark?

You can stay in Denmark for the duration of your course and as long as you are participating actively.

If you are admitted to a new course or a new folk high school you must submit an entirely new application on the basis of the new course. You are allowed to begin the new course while you wait for our decision.

Your stay in Denmark as a course participant at a folk high school can only be for a total maximum of 18 months, no matter if you participate in various courses back to back or if you divide it between various stays in Denmark. 

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.

What more do I need to know before I apply?

An application for a residence permit on the basis of a stay at folk high school is processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

You must continue to be enrolled in a course at a folk high school 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.

The educational institution must complete the first of the two parts of the application. We will send you an email after the educational institution has completed their part. 

The educational institution must write your email address in their part. You must use the link in the email to sign up as a user with the same email address to access your part.

Make sure that the email address the educational institution writes is the same email address as the one you intend to sign up with.

SIRI will contact you or the folk high school if we need further information to process your case.

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.

It is a good idea to gather the necessary documents before you start to complete the application form. You can use the check list below.

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

You must submit:

If you have not yet turned 18, you must submit:

Educational institutions must submit:

Download declarations:

For applicants below the age of 18: Download declaration of consent from your parents (PDF)

For the educational institution: Download the sworn declaration for the head of the school (PDF)

For the educational institution: Download declaration of proper residence and study conditions (PDF) (in Danish only)

Expect to use

30 minutes

completing the application

2 persons

You and your folk high school are each required to complete a part of the form.

In this step you and your folk high school have access to the relevant application form.

Make sure that you have completed all the preceeding steps before you begin.

All our application forms contain careful instructions on how to complete the form and what kind of documents you must submit along with the form.

In the form, your folk high school must complete the first of the two parts of the form. When your folk high school has completed their part, a reference number and password will be shown, which the folk high school must pass on to you. You are then able to open the application and complete your part.

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

ST3

Please note that it is mandatory to use this application form. Under special circumstances, you can be exempted from the requirement to use an online application form. You can read more here.

You can find your ongoing and completed applications for 30 days from your last login.

Log in to see your applications

When you apply for an extension of your 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.

SIRI can, as a rule, only start processing your application once you have had your biometric features recorded. This must happen  no later than 14 days after you submitted your application.

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 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 26-06-2025 - Published by: SIRI