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DK

Residence Permit for Studies (ST1)

Active Post-study work

Denmark · Opholdstilladelse til studier · apply online, in person · processing 60-90 days

Official page Compare
Tuition $0k–18k per year
Work during study Allowed vacations: Unlimited
Post-study work 36 months 3 options
Proof of funds $13,803 per year

Path to staying

  1. Post-study workup to 36 months
  2. Permanent residencyafter 8 years
  3. Citizenshipafter 10 years

Overview

Country
Denmark
Visa name
Residence Permit for Studies (ST1)
Local name
Opholdstilladelse til studier
Status
Active
Renewable
Yes

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.

Tuition and costs

Tuition policy
Mixed
Free condition
Free for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and Nordic country nationals.
Tuition range
$0 – $17,900/year
Proof of funds
$13,803/year
Funds type
Bank statement
Scholarships
Available

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.

Work rights during study

Work allowed
Yes
Vacation hours
Unlimited
Permission
Automatic

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. The structured hours fields are null because the legal cap is monthly during term and full-time during the three summer months, rather than a weekly cap.

Post-study work options

Post-study work options
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

Language requirements

Language requirements
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.

Fees and costs

Fees
Fee Type Amount Frequency
SIRI Study Case Processing Fee Application $474 One time

Long-term pathway

Post-study visa
Available
Work permit
Possible
Permanent residency
After 8 years
Citizenship
After 10 years
Study time counts
100% credit

How to apply

Method
Online, in person
Processing
60-90 days
Interview
Not required
Official site
www.nyidanmark.dk
Health insurance
Not required

Notes and caveats

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.

Also in Denmark

Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source

Change history

    • Official page https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/You-want-to-apply/Study/Higher-Education https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/You-want-to-apply/Study/Higher-education
    • Work hours per week 21 none
    • Fees updated
    • Post study options updated

    clarified student legal residence as a PR qualifying period and adjusted the rough citizenship timeline for the permanent-residence holding requirement (https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/You-want-to-apply/Permanent-residence-permit/Permanent-residence; https://lifeindenmark.borger.dk/settle-in-denmark/danish-citizenship/conditions-for-foreign-citizens--acquisition-of-danish-citizenship).

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