Study in Denmark: Student Visas & Permits

The documentation required for studying in Denmark depends on your country of origin and the duration of your stay. Nordic citizens do not need a passport to enter Denmark while EU/EEA citizens do not require anything more than a valid passport to enter Denmark (although some action may need to be taken on arrival). Meanwhile, non-EU/EEA students will need a visa/residence permit. See below for further details.

Nordic Citizens

If you are a citizen Iceland, Norway, Sweden or Finland, you can live, study and work in Denmark without a visa, residence permit or work permit. 

You can enter Denmark without a passport. However, you must be able to identify yourself if required - you can use your credit card or driver's licence.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals

Students from the EU/EEA 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.

A registration certificate can be obtained from the Regional State Administration and you will need to apply for it within three months of your arrival.

A registration certificate makes it possible to get a personal identification number and a health insurance card.

Non-EU/EEA citizens

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 students to work part-time in Denmark for a maximum of 20 hours per week.

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 can support yourself financially for the duration of your stay
• A valid passport
• You will need to pay a visa fee