Residence and work permit
Several practical matters must be dealt with either prior to or during the first days in Denmark. Depending on your country of origin, different rules and procedures apply for staying in Denmark. Below you will find the general rules applicable to foreign citizens, but contact the relevant authority for more information.
Nordic countries
Citizens from the Nordic countries are exempt from applying for residence and work permits to stay in Denmark. You should, however, bring the internordic document of change of address (internordiske flyttepapirer) and register at the municipal civil office (Folkeregistret) to get a personal registration number.
EU/EEA countries
You may stay in Denmark for less than three months without any form of permit. For stays of more than three months, you need a residence permit from the local county authority (Statsamt). You should apply for this during the first three months in Denmark. No work permit is required, irrespective of the length of your stay.
- Students
If you come to Denmark as a student, you should bring your admission papers from the recognized Danish educational institution when applying for a residence permit. If you want to work while studying in Denmark, you do not need a work permit.
- Work placements, traineeships, or positions as specialists/researchers
If you come to Denmark in order to work for more than three months, you must apply for a residence permit. You should contact the local county authority (Statsamt) during the first three months of your stay and bring your work contract as documentation. Permanent positions entitle you to a residence permit for five years, whereas seasonal jobs entitle you to a time limited residence permit.
Other countries
You must apply for and be granted a residence permit before entering Denmark for stays of more than three months. Contact the Danish embassy or consulate in your home country for further information.
- Students
Students should apply for a residence permit in order to study in Denmark for more than three months. To obtain a residence permit, you must provide documentation that you can pay all costs related to the stay (minimum DKK 4,200 per month). The documentation must be in one of the following forms:
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A grant or scholarship.
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A student loan.
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A positive bank balance (cash) in a personal bank account (the applicant must be the sole holder of the account).
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A letter of guarantee from a recognised bank that warrants the accommodation expenses of the applicant during the stay in Denmark.
Students should apply for residence permit at the Danish embassy or consulate in their home country when they have been accepted for admission to the educational institution. If you are invited as a student or researcher by a Danish institution of higher education, check with your host university whether you need to submit a particular form along with your residence application. A residence permit cannot be obtained during a temporary stay in Denmark, and you cannot expect to obtain a residence permit if the sole purpose of your stay is to learn Danish.
- Work placements, traineeships, or positions as specialists/researchers
A residence and work permit is only granted to foreigners with skills not otherwise available in Denmark. The National Labour Market Authority (Arbejdsmarkedsstyrelsen) is the body responsible for assessing this, and the Danish Immigration Service (Udlændingestyrelsen) is the issuing body. A residence and work permit is issued for the period of time applied for, but not for more than three years at a time. Extensions are possible.
If you have been offered a position as a researcher or specialist in Denmark, the residence and work permit should be applied for at the Danish Immigration Service (Udlændingestyrelsen).
