The Danish Student Residence Permit

Updated By exploringdenmark9 min read

If you are from outside the EU, a student residence permit is the document that lets you study a full programme in Denmark – and lets you work alongside it. This guide covers who needs one, the proof-of-funds and fees, how to apply through SIRI, your right to work, and what happens when you graduate. For the bigger picture, start with our guide to studying in Denmark.

THE PATH TO A PERMIT 1. ADMISSIONApproved programme 2. APPLYSIRI, before arrival 3. BIOMETRICSWithin 14 days 4. PERMIT~1-2 months PROOF OF FUNDS~DKK 7,400/mo APPLICATION FEE~DKK 2,000 WORK ALLOWED20 hrs/week

Overview

The short version: if you hold a passport from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you have been admitted to a full higher-education programme, you need a student residence permit before you start. EU, EEA and Swiss students do not – free movement lets them simply register on arrival. The permit confirms your right to live in Denmark for your studies, sets out how much you can work, and is tied to your enrolment.

In one line

A student residence permit = admission to an approved programme + proof you can support yourself + a SIRI application before you travel. It usually takes one to two months.

Who needs a student residence permit?

Only non-EU nationals. To be precise:

  • Non-EU / EEA / Swiss students: you need a student residence permit for any full degree or longer programme.
  • EU / EEA / Swiss students: no permit – you register your residence (an EU registration certificate) and get a CPR number instead.
  • Exchange students on short stays may fall under different rules; check with your host institution.

The requirements

Three things sit behind every student residence permit:

  1. Admission to a programme at an institution approved to host international students.
  2. Proof you can support yourself for the first year without working (the figure below).
  3. Evidence you have paid any tuition due for the first semester or year, where fees apply.

You will also need to show progress once enrolled – the permit is conditional on you actively studying.

Funds and fees

You must document that you can cover your living costs. For 2026 the benchmark is roughly DKK 7,400 per month (about DKK 89,000 for a year), held in your own account or covered by a scholarship. The SIRI application fee is around DKK 2,000. Tuition is separate: free for EU/EEA/Swiss students, but non-EU students typically pay several thousand euros a year. Treat all these numbers as a guide and confirm the current amounts on SIRI before you apply.

How to apply for a student residence permit

The process runs through SIRI (the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration):

  1. Get admitted and receive your offer letter.
  2. Submit the application online (your university often starts it for you) and pay the fee – do this from your home country, before you travel.
  3. Record your biometrics (photo and fingerprints) at a Danish mission or visa centre, normally within 14 days of applying.
  4. Wait for the decision – typically one to two months.
Studying in Denmark: the full guide →
Choosing a programme, costs and applying

Working while you study

A student residence permit comes with the right to work, within limits: up to 20 hours per week during term, and full-time in June, July and August. That allowance matters – it helps with living costs and, for EU students, work can even open the door to SU (see below). Keep an eye on the hours, as exceeding them can put your permit at risk.

SU for international students →
When studying here comes with state support

Bringing family

If you are doing a longer programme, your spouse or partner and children may be able to join you as accompanying family, usually with the right to work. The conditions are specific, so check your eligibility early if family plans are part of the move.

After you graduate

Finishing a Danish degree as a non-EU graduate does not mean packing up. You generally get a period to stay and look for work, and the establishment card lets you work for up to three years without a job offer. That is the bridge to a longer-term work permit.

Staying after you graduate →
The job-seeking period and establishment card

Questions and answers

Do EU students need a student residence permit?

No. EU, EEA and Swiss students move under free-movement rules – you register your residence and get a CPR number, but you do not apply for a permit.

How much money do I need to show?

Around DKK 7,400 per month for 2026 (roughly DKK 89,000 a year), in your own account or covered by a scholarship. Confirm the exact figure on SIRI.

Can I work on a student residence permit?

Yes – up to 20 hours a week during term, and full-time in June, July and August.

How long does it take?

Usually one to two months from a complete application, so apply as soon as you have your admission letter.

Sources

  1. New to Denmark (SIRI) – student residence permit rules, funds and fees.
  2. Study in Denmark – the official portal for international students.
  3. borger.dk – CPR registration and life admin after arrival.