Denmark
Student Visas in Denmark
The documentation required for studying in Denmark depends on your country of origin and the duration of your stay. Nordic and EU/EEA citizens do not require anything more than valid passport to enter Denmark (although some action may need to be taken on arrival), whilst international students will need a visa/residence permit. See below for further details:
Nordic Citizens
If you are a resident of Norway, Sweden or Finland you can live, study and work in Denmark without any documentation. You will need a Danish personal identification number, however, which requires the presentation of a passport or other form of photo identification on arrival.
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals
Students from the EU and Switzerland may reside in Denmark for up to three months without any further documentation than a valid passport. Those planning on staying longer than three months will need a Danish registration certificate. To obtain a registration certificate you will need to check in with the Regional State Administration (Statsforvaltningen) within three months of your arrival and present your passport, two passport sized photos and a letter of admission from your university. A registration certificate makes it possible to get a personal identification number, which is required for many things in Denmark including the right to work without restrictions.
International students
If you are from outside the EU/EEA, then the kind of permit you need to study in Denmark will depend on the duration of your stay. For a short stay of less than three months students will require a visa, and for a long stay of more than three months a residence permit is required. The details are as follows:
- Visa (short-term stay)
Those studying in Denmark for less than three months will need to apply for a tourist visa (this is not necessary for some non-EU countries). You can apply for a visa at any authorized Danish mission in your country of origin, including all Danish embassies and consulates abroad – to find out where to apply for a visa, visit the website of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Obtaining a visa does not enable students to work in Denmark.
- Residence permit (long-term stay)
Those studying in Denmark for more than three months will need to apply for a residence permit, which you can do at the Danish embassy in your home country. This permit allows non-EU/EEA citizens to work part-time in Denmark for a maximum of 20 hours per week. Once granted, the residence permit will be valid for the duration of your program, so you do not need to worry about renewing it. You will be provided with an application form at the Danish mission in your home country, which you must fill out and return with the supporting documentation – it is advisable to begin the application process about three months prior to your arrival date. Please note that if you apply for a visa and a residence permit at the same time, your application will be turned down.
You should enquire at the Danish consulate as to what specific documentation will be required, but you could be asked for the following:
- An acceptance letter from your university
- Proof of language proficiency (in English or Danish, depending which language you are undertaking your studies in)
- Proof that you have the financial resources to live (deemed to be around 1000 EUR per month and taking the form of paid tuition for you first semester, or a bank statement that is less than 30 days old)
- Proof that you have purchased travel insurance
- Proof regarding accommodation arrangements during your studies
- A valid passport and a passport photo
- You will need to pay a visa fee
Learn more about education in Denmark:
Student
Visas
Sources:
- http://um.dk/en/travel-and-residence/danish-visa-rules/
- http://studyindenmark.dk/live-in-denmark/permits-visas-red-tape/visas-1
- http://studyindenmark.dk/live-in-denmark/permits-visas-red-tape/residence-permits-for-non-eu-citizens
- http://danishfolkhighschools.com/faq/do-i-need-a-visa
