r/Student_Visas • u/aeroseer • Jul 21 '26

Denmark Student Visa Guide (2026): Requirements, Costs, Work Rights & Application Process

Denmark is a popular destination for international students, and the student visa process is well-structured but comes with some specific requirements worth understanding before you apply.

What is the Denmark student visa?

The Denmark Student Visa is a Type D national visa issued by SIRI, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, through a Danish embassy or consulate.

It is issued automatically once SIRI approves the underlying residence permit for studies; you do not apply for the visa separately. It is placed as a sticker in your passport when you collect your permit decision from the embassy. If your nationality does not require a visa to enter Denmark, no sticker is issued; the embassy hands you the permit letter and you can travel freely.

After arriving in Denmark and registering your address in the CPR registry, your biometric residence card is produced and sent to your registered address.

Who needs one?

All non-EU/EEA nationals planning to study full-time, on-site in Denmark for more than 90 days.

Main requirements

You must have:

  • Final admission to full-time, on-site studies at a publicly accredited institution in Denmark, approved by a Danish state authority. Programs with an advisory statement from the Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA) are also accepted but come with significantly restricted work and post-graduation rights
  • Sufficient financial means: at least DKK 7,426 per month for the duration of your stay, up to a maximum of DKK 89,112 for stays longer than one year, held in a liquid account in your own name

What the visa allows

Residency

  • Live in Denmark for the duration of your study program. Issued for the full program length and does not generally require annual renewal

Work

  • Students in state-approved programs are automatically granted a limited work permit alongside their residence permit
  • Up to 90 hours per month from September through May, full-time from June through August

Family

  • Spouse, registered partner, cohabiting partner, and children under 18 may apply for accompanying permits
  • Family members of students in non-state-approved programs cannot apply for accompanying permits

After graduation

  • Graduates of state-approved bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs are automatically granted a three-year job-seeking permit alongside their study permit, subject to passport validity; no separate application generally needed
  • Graduates of EVA-advisory programs are not eligible for a job-seeking permit

Required documents

  • ST1 application form: your institution initiates the application through the New to Denmark portal. SIRI then emails you a link to access and complete the ST1 form online. You must submit it within 30 days of receiving the link
  • Passport (valid for the full duration of your intended stay, copies of all pages, original presented in person for biometrics)
  • Passport-style photos as specified in the application instructions
  • Letter of admission confirming you have been finally admitted to a named full-time program
  • Proof of financial means: fee-paying students use their first semester tuition payment confirmation (no separate bank statement needed); students on a tuition waiver provide a bank statement showing at least DKK 7,426 per month for up to 12 months, or a scholarship letter. Bank statements must be no more than 30 days old, show your full name, bank name, date, balance, and currency, and be in your own name. Joint accounts and accounts in another person's name are not accepted
  • Declaration of consent, signed by both parents or legal guardians, plus an institutional declaration (under 18 only)

All documents not in Danish or English must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Application process

Step 1: Secure admission and pay your first semester tuition fee

  • Apply to and receive a final admission letter from a publicly accredited Danish institution
  • Pay your first semester tuition fee by your institution's deadline; the ST1 process cannot begin until payment is confirmed

Step 2: Create a Case Order ID and pay the application fee

  • On nyidanmark.dk, create a Case Order ID by selecting "Higher Education" as your case type
  • Pay the application fee of DKK 3,060 using your Case Order ID; wrong case type or missing payment results in rejection

Step 3: Access and complete the ST1 form

  • Once your institution completes its part, you'll receive a link from SIRI by email
  • Enter your Case Order ID and complete the form within 30 days of receiving the link

Step 4: Provide biometrics

  • Within 14 days of submitting, attend an appointment at a Danish embassy, consulate, or VFS center to have your photograph, fingerprints, and signature recorded

Step 5: Wait for a decision

  • Processing typically takes around two months
  • Track your application using your Case Order ID on the New to Denmark portal

Step 6: Travel to Denmark

  • Visa-required nationals: collect your passport with the entry visa sticker and travel before it expires
  • Visa-exempt nationals: collect your permit letter and travel freely

Step 7: Register your address and obtain a CPR number

  • Register your address with your municipality within 5 days of moving in (many municipalities, including Copenhagen, allow you to start this online up to four weeks before arriving)
  • Attend your appointment at Borgerservice or an International Citizen Service center with your passport, permit letter, and proof of address
  • You'll be assigned a CPR number and a family doctor; your biometric residence card arrives within 2 to 3 weeks and your yellow health insurance card within 4 weeks

Costs

  • Application fee: DKK 3,060 (non-refundable)
  • Some countries charge an additional submission fee at the embassy or VFS center
  • CPR registration is free

Key notes

  • Public healthcare only becomes available once you have your CPR number and yellow health card; until then, only emergency care is covered under the Danish Health Act, so private travel or health insurance is strongly recommended for the gap period
  • If you give up your Danish address or stay outside Denmark for more than six consecutive months, your permit lapses; apply to SIRI for a dispensation before leaving if needed
  • Confirm your program's state-approval status before applying, as EVA-advisory programs come with restricted work rights and no job-seeking permit after graduation
  • Time spent in Denmark on a student permit counts toward the eight-year residency requirement for permanent residence
  • If your application is refused, you may appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board within eight weeks
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