To meet the Denmark student visa requirements, non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss citizens admitted to a recognized Danish higher education program must apply to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) using the ST1 form, pay a 3,060 DKK processing fee, and — if tuition has not been paid — prove access to at least 7,426 DKK per month in disposable funds at the 2026 level.1The Danish Immigration Service. Higher Educational Programmes The permit doubles as a work authorization, and SIRI’s service goal for a decision is two months.
Who Needs the Permit
Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, India, China, and any other country outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland need this residence permit to study in Denmark for longer than three months. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens do not; they apply for an EU residence document instead, which is a separate and simpler process.1The Danish Immigration Service. Higher Educational Programmes
You must have an offer of admission to a full-time program at a Danish university or college that is publicly recognized or accredited by the Danish government. Part-time courses, language schools, and casual enrollment do not qualify. The institution has to sign off on part of the application itself, so you cannot start without an active admission offer.
Documents You Need to Gather
Your passport has to remain valid for the full length of your program plus at least three months. SIRI can only issue a permit valid until three months before your passport expires, so a near-expiring passport will shorten your permit and force an early renewal.2New to Denmark. Job Seeking Residence Permit for 3 Years After a Completed Educational Programme
Alongside the passport, you’ll submit your official admission letter and, depending on the program, documentation of English or Danish language proficiency. Bank statements and other financial documents must be provided in English, Danish, German, Norwegian, or Swedish; anything in another language needs a certified translation before submission.3The Danish Immigration Service. Application for a Residence and Work Permit for Students
Financial Proof
Financial self-support is the most heavily scrutinized part of the application. If you have not paid tuition — because of a waiver, a scholarship, or a program without fees — you must show disposable funds of at least 7,426 DKK per month for up to 12 months, which is 89,112 DKK for a full academic year.4New to Denmark. Financial Self-Support on Specific SIRI Schemes That is the 2026 level and is adjusted annually. The money has to sit in an account in your own name, or you have to show a scholarship that covers living expenses.
If tuition has already been paid, you submit a receipt or official confirmation of payment in place of the monthly funds proof.
If Family Is Coming With You
Each accompanying spouse, partner, or child adds another 7,426 DKK per month to the required funds at the 2026 level, capped at 12 months per person.4New to Denmark. Financial Self-Support on Specific SIRI Schemes Family members apply for reunification through a separate process with its own eligibility criteria, including age and housing standards. Bringing one family member for a full year raises the demonstrated-funds requirement to roughly 178,224 DKK.
The ST1 Form and Case Order ID
The ST1 form is the central document, and it is filled in by two parties. Your institution completes Part 2 first (program details and institutional confirmation, sections 12 through 18) and sends the form back to you. You then complete Part 1 with your personal information, passport details, and financial documentation, sections 1 through 11.5The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration. Application for a Residence and Work Permit for Students
Before you can submit, create a Case Order ID through the SIRI online portal. The system generates it automatically — you cannot choose your own — and it links your application to your fee payment.6The Danish Immigration Service. Fee – User Manual You need the ID both when paying and when submitting, so generate it before you try to finalize either step.
Fee, Submission, and the 14-Day Biometrics Deadline
Submit the completed ST1 through the SIRI online portal and pay the 3,060 DKK processing fee at or before submission.1The Danish Immigration Service. Higher Educational Programmes The fee is adjusted every January, so confirm the current amount on the SIRI site before paying.
After submitting online, you have exactly 14 days to have your biometric features recorded: fingerprints, a digital photograph, and your signature. Biometrics are taken at a Danish embassy or consulate or at a VFS Global application center. Miss the 14 days and SIRI rejects the application outright, meaning it will not be processed at all.7New to Denmark. Studies and PhD – Waiting for an Answer Book the biometric appointment before you submit online rather than after.
Processing Time and Decision
SIRI’s service goal for student residence permit cases is two months.8New to Denmark. Case Processing Times – SIRI That is a target, not a guarantee, and peak seasons (spring and early summer for fall enrollment) can push timelines longer. You will be notified through the contact details you supplied in the application. If you are applying from abroad, wait for approval before booking travel.
An approved permit comes with a residence card that is your physical proof of legal status. If the permit’s validity was shortened because your passport expires too soon, you can apply for an extension after renewing the passport, but no earlier than four months before the current permit expires.
Working While You Study
The student residence permit includes work authorization. During the academic year you can work up to 90 hours per month, and in June, July, and August the cap lifts and you can work full time.9New to Denmark. Warning Issued When You as a Student Has Been Working Illegally
Cards issued before July 1, 2024, may still say “20 hours per week,” but the real rule since that date is 90 hours per month regardless of what the card shows.9New to Denmark. Warning Issued When You as a Student Has Been Working Illegally Students in a master’s program designed for working professionals get a higher cap of 112.5 hours per month plus full-time summer work, but only for one specific employer.
The hour limits matter. Working beyond them is illegal employment under Danish immigration law, and SIRI can issue a formal warning or revoke the permit. Danish employers report working hours, and discrepancies get flagged.
Duration, Extensions, and After Graduation
Your permit is generally issued for the length of your program, capped at three months before your passport expires. If studies run longer than planned, you can apply for an extension while still actively enrolled, with your institution confirming your status. File extensions well before the current permit expires; applying with less than a month left creates avoidable gaps.
Graduates of a professional bachelor’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD program at a Danish institution can receive a residence permit of up to three years to look for work.2New to Denmark. Job Seeking Residence Permit for 3 Years After a Completed Educational Programme In most cases SIRI grants this three-year job-seeking period automatically alongside the student permit if passport validity allows it, with no separate application.
A separate application is needed if your student permit was shortened by passport expiration, if you were given only a six-month job-seeking period, or if you finished after the prescribed study period. You can apply no earlier than four months before your current permit expires, and the fee is 3,060 DKK.2New to Denmark. Job Seeking Residence Permit for 3 Years After a Completed Educational Programme Graduates of a master’s program for working professionals get only a six-month job-seeking period rather than three years.