If you're from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland and you're staying in Denmark for more than three months to study, you don't need a visa. You need a residence permit. And you need to apply for it before you arrive. If you're from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, the rules are different again.
Here's the short version: a visa is only for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. For a degree, you need a residence permit if you're a non-EU/EEA citizen. Let's break that down.
Visa vs residence permit: what's the difference?
A visa lets you enter Denmark for a short stay, no more than 90 days in a 180-day period. It's for visits, not for living and studying long-term. If you're a non-EU/EEA citizen and you plan to study for a full degree, you'll be here for months or years, so a visa isn't the right document.
Instead, you need a residence permit. If you must have a visa to enter Denmark and you want to stay for more than three months, you must apply for a residence permit before you arrive. You can't just turn up and sort it out later.
One important trap: if you apply for a residence permit and a visa at the same time, your visa application will be turned down. So don't do both. Apply for the residence permit, and only that.
Who needs a visa to enter Denmark?
Not everyone needs a visa to enter Denmark, even for a short visit. Nyidanmark.dk lists the countries that need a visa. Check that list before you do anything else. If you're from a country that doesn't need a visa for short stays, you still need a residence permit for study if you're staying more than three months and you're not from the EU/EEA or Switzerland.
Also, if you already hold certain residence or re-entry permits from another Schengen country, you may not need a visa to enter Denmark. But that's a separate situation from studying here.
If you do need a visa, you apply at an authorised Danish mission. Find the list on nyidanmark.dk.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens: different rules
If you're a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you don't need a visa or a residence permit to study in Denmark. You can stay for up to three months without a registration certificate, or six months if you're working. After that, you may need to register, but that's a different process. The international students section explains more about arriving from the EU/EEA.
How to apply for a student residence permit
If you're from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you normally need a residence permit for study before you come. You apply through the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). The details are on nyidanmark.dk. Start early: applications take time, and you can't start your course without the permit.
You'll need to have been admitted to a programme first. Undergraduate applications are coordinated centrally through www.optagelse.dk, but the institutions assess them. The deadlines are 15 March and 5 July, both at 12 noon CET. Postgraduate deadlines vary by institution and programme, so check directly.
Our catalogue lists 24 Danish higher education institutions and 422 programmes imported from the Study in Denmark register. You can browse all universities in Denmark to find the right place for you. Once you have an offer, you can apply for the residence permit.
For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our residence permit guide.
Work and money: what to remember
Work is not permitted during a stay covered by a visa. If you want to work, you need a work permit for paid or unpaid work. That includes internships and part-time jobs. So don't rely on a visa to let you earn money on the side.
On money: higher education is free of charge for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, and for students entitled to the same status as Danish citizens under EU law. Other full-degree students pay tuition fees set by each institution. Fees and deadlines on this site are shown as listed in the Study in Denmark register. Always confirm them with the institution, because they can change.
If you're from outside the EU/EEA, budget for tuition and living costs. You'll need to show you can support yourself as part of the residence permit application. The exact amount is on nyidanmark.dk. Don't guess it.
Checklist before you apply
- Check if you need a visa for entry. Look at the country list on nyidanmark.dk.
- If you're staying more than three months, apply for a residence permit. Do this before you travel. Don't apply for a visa as well.
- Get your admission offer first. Undergraduate deadlines are 15 March and 5 July at 12 noon CET via www.optagelse.dk.
- Apply through SIRI. The process is on nyidanmark.dk. Our student residence permit guide walks you through it.
- Don't plan to work on a visa. You need a separate work permit.
- Confirm fees and deadlines with your institution. They're listed in the Study in Denmark register, but always double-check.
Sources
- Life in Denmark, permits and visas: do I need a visa?
- Life in Denmark, registration certificates for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens
- Life in Denmark, residence permits for non-EU/EEA citizens
- Study in Denmark, how to apply
- Study in Denmark, tuition fees and scholarships
- Study in Denmark, guarantee for a quality experience
- This site's catalogue, imported from the Study in Denmark register
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to study in Denmark if I'm from the EU?
No. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a visa or residence permit to study in Denmark. You can stay up to three months without a registration certificate (six months if working). After that, you may need to register, but that's a separate process.
Can I study in Denmark on a visa?
No. A visa is only for short stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period, and work is not permitted. For a degree, you need a residence permit if you're a non-EU/EEA citizen. Apply before you arrive.
What happens if I apply for a residence permit and a visa at the same time?
Your visa application will be turned down. So don't do both. Apply only for the residence permit if you're staying more than three months.
How do I apply for a student residence permit in Denmark?
You apply through the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). The details are on nyidanmark.dk. You'll need to have been admitted to a programme first. Start early, as processing takes time.