Denmark

Information for all students

Students should ensure that their passports are signed and stamped when entering and exiting Border Control. These stamps will prove the duration of your visit and, more importantly, prove to the visa official that you have not overstayed your 90-day visit.

It is important to understand the Schengen 90/180 rule. You are allocated 90 visa-free days to use within the Schengen Zone, however you must remember these are rolling days and are added onto a cumulative total of days in the Schengen region. Leaving and entering does not reset your calculator – only leaving for a period of 90 days in a non-Schengen country will reset your visa-free 90-day allowance.

Please note that you are not allowed to take up residence or work on a Schengen visa in Denmark. If you plan to work or study for more than 90 days in Denmark, you need to apply for a Residence Permit and/or work permit.

Read more about the Schengen rules

Studying for less than 3 months

Dependent upon nationality, students studying in Denmark for up to 90 days (within a 180-day period) can do so without a visa.

To determine if you can travel to Denmark without a visa, please see the list of non-visa required countries on the Denmark website.

If you do not require a visa, you can enter Denmark for up to 90 days to complete the following activities:

• Tourism
• Visiting family or friends
• Attending business meetings
• Cultural or sports events
• Short-term studying or training

Students who do require a visa should apply for the short-stay Schengen visa.

Nationals of the following countries can stay in Denmark, regardless of their period of stay:

• Australia
• Canada
• Israel
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Malaysia
• USA
• Chile
• South Korea

If you are a Nordic Citizen (Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden) you do not need a visa or a Residence Permit.

Gather your documents

To apply for a Schengen visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Visa application form
• 2 passport photos
• Valid passport
• Copies of previous visas (if any)
• Travel health insurance
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in Denmark
• A cover letter
• Letter of acceptance from the educational institution 
• No-objection certificate from relevant school or university
• Proof of paid visa fee
• Proof of academic achievement

How to apply

You should submit your short-stay visa application at a Danish Embassy, Consulate or Visa Application Centre.

Studying for more than 3 months

Depending on nationality, students studying in Denmark for more than 90 days must apply for a Residence Certificate (EU students) or Residence Permit (non-EU students). You must apply for your Residence Permit prior to travelling to Denmark.

National visas (D) are for those planning to study, work, or live long-term in a specific Schengen country. They allow travel within the Schengen Area but only permits you to live, work, or study in the country that issued it. Once granted, you must travel there and obtain a residence permit within a set timeframe, this then allows you to live abroad.

Gather your documents

In order to apply for the relevant Residence Permit, you must gather the following documents:

• Proof of payments to SIRI (e.g.: receipt).
• Copy of all pages of your valid passport (including all empty pages and the front and back covers).
• Proof of enrolment in an educational institution in your home country (if applicable).
• Proof that you can support yourself during your stay in Denmark.
• Insurance letter/proof of insurance covering your time in Denmark (not mandatory but strongly recommended).

How to apply

Students in the UK can apply at their nearest Visa Application Centre in London. Students will need to work with their host university to complete their application form.

If you are an EU national staying in Denmark longer than 3 months, you must apply for an EU residence document upon arrival to Denmark. However, you can begin the application process in your home country by filling out and submitting the OD1 application form online, or by filling out a paper version and taking it with you when you visit SIRI.

Read more about the conditions for EU residence as a student on the SIRI website.

If you are a citizen in a Nordic country, including the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland, you can freely enter and stay in Denmark indefinitely without a residence document.

Upon arrival

Upon arrival, you will need to apply for a CPR number and NemID (digital signature and the key to digital Denmark and Danish Health Insurance). Doing so requires a Residence Permit. Students will need to submit a ST1 form in Copenhagen.

Working for less than 6 months

If you are planning to complete paid or unpaid work in Denmark and you are from a non-visa required country, you do not require a visa.

If you are from a visa-required country, you will need short-stay Schengen visa to work in Denmark. With a short-stay Schengen visa, you can complete the following activities in Denmark for a period of up to 90 days:

• Short training programmes
• Internships
• Conferences
• Corporate meetings
• Remunerated activities (whatever the form)

EU citizens can enter Denmark and remain in this country for up to 3 months without an EU residence document (registration certificate). EU nationals who wish to stay for longer than 90 days must apply for an EU residence document (registration certificate) within 3 months of arriving in Denmark.

If you are a citizen of Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden, you do not need to apply for a registration certificate. Citizens of Nordic countries have the right to reside in Denmark without permission under the Nordic Union.

UK and non-EU students will must apply for a work permit and a Residence Permit.

Working for more than 6 months

Non-EU/EEA and UK students travelling to Denmark as interns/trainees are considered employees by the Danish authorities. You are therefore not allowed to begin your internship/traineeship until you have received your Residence Permit.

Please note that it takes 3 months to process a Residence Permit. The application form for interns/trainees is the PR3 form on the New to Denmark website.

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens may need a visa to work in Denmark. You can check here whether you require a visa before travelling.

Interns/trainees from countries with a visa requirement cannot enter Denmark prior to receiving a Residence Permit.

Interns/trainees from visa-free countries can enter Denmark prior to receiving a Residence Permit. However, you are not allowed to begin your internship/traineeship until you have received your residence permit.

Gather your documents

To apply for a Residence Permit, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Proof of fees paid (e.g.: receipt).
• Copy of all pages of your passport (including all empty pages and the front and back covers), it must be valid for 3 months longer than your intended stay.
• Passport-sized image, following the Schengen Visa guidelines.
• Employment contract or job offer (no more than 30 days old).
• Documentation of education (relevant to the job offered).
• Documentation of parts of your salary/benefits that do not appear in the employment contract (e.g.: paid rent for housing, salary paid to you abroad, etc.).
• Documentation of authorisation (if applicable).
• Documentation relating to the trainee programme (training plan, etc.).
• A completed application form (available on the SIRI website).
• Proof of financial means. 
  • Work permit - proof can be an employment contract/salary.
  • International student - proof can be a scholarship.

How to apply

Students should apply for a Residence Permit at the nearest VFS Global Visa Application Centre.