DK
Denmark · Opholdstilladelse til studier · apply online, in person · processing 60-90 days
Denmark's residence and limited work permit for non-EU/EEA students admitted full-time to an accredited, state-approved higher education programme. The permit normally covers the programme's nominal duration. Students apply through SIRI, submit biometrics and show sufficient funds. Rules introduced on 1 October 2026 restrict accompanying family permits and shorten post-study job-seeking periods for most new applicants.
Higher education is free for EU/EEA and Swiss students and exchange students. For other students, the official Study in Denmark portal gives a typical annual tuition range of EUR 6,000-16,000, depending on programme. Limited Danish government scholarships are available for highly qualified non-EU/EEA students.
Students in state-approved higher education receive a limited work permit with the residence permit: 90 hours per calendar month from September through May, and full-time work in June, July and August. Mandatory programme internships may have separate full-time work permission. There is no weekly cap: the legal limit is monthly during term and full-time during the three summer months.
| Program | Type | Duration | Min degree | Work | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job-Seeking Residence Permit (up to 1 year, applications from 1 October 2026) | Job seeker | 12 mo | Any | No | No |
| Job-Seeking Residence Permit (up to 3 years, grandfathered and PhD cases) | Job seeker | 36 mo | Any | No | No |
| Job-Seeking Residence Permit (6 months) | Job seeker | 6 mo | Any | No | No |
| Test | Purpose | Language | Min score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or institution-accepted equivalent | Admission | English | — | Admission requirement, not a visa-wide threshold. Study in Denmark gives IELTS 6.5 as a rough English B equivalent and 7.0 for English A; each institution sets accepted tests and scores. |
| Studieprøven, Danskprøve 2 or Danskprøve 3 | Admission | Danish | — | Danish-taught programmes may require one of these tests; the programme/institution determines the required level. |
| Fee | Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIRI Study Case Processing Fee | Application | $474 | One time |
The education institution completes its part of the ST1 application; applicants can use an online or paper form and must record biometrics within 14 days after submission. Applications may be submitted in Denmark if the applicant is legally present. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not apply for this permit. For applications submitted from 1 October 2026, most students in state-approved degree programmes can bring neither a spouse/partner nor minor children; eligible family applications linked to earlier student applications are grandfathered, and PhD students remain eligible. Most new graduates receive up to one year of job seeking; some programme types receive six months, while PhD graduates and specified grandfathered applicants may receive up to three years. A student residence permit can contribute to the eight-year legal-residence period for permanent residence, but separate eligibility requirements apply.
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source
clarified student legal residence as a PR qualifying period and adjusted the rough citizenship timeline for the permanent-residence holding requirement (nyidanmark.dk; lifeindenmark.borger.dk).
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