If you come from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, you need a Danish residence permit to study here. You apply before you arrive, and only after you have been admitted to a programme. The application goes through the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).
If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you do not need a residence permit at all. You need a registration certificate or residence card instead, and only if you stay longer than three months.
Who needs what
The rules split students into three groups. Find yours before you do anything else.
- Outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland: you need a residence permit from SIRI before you come to Denmark.
- EU/EEA and Switzerland: no residence permit. You can stay up to three months without a registration certificate, or up to six months if you work. Stay longer and you need a registration certificate (EU/EEA) or a residence card (Swiss).
- Nordic citizens: you have the right to live, study and work in Denmark. No visa, no permit. Register in the CPR system once you arrive.
Not sure whether you need a visa just to enter? The Danish Immigration Service publishes the list of countries whose citizens need one. Check that list rather than guessing.
Applying from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland
You can only apply once you hold your admission letter. Start by reading the guide for international students and, if you have not chosen a course yet, browse programmes in Denmark.
To qualify, you must normally:
- be admitted to an eligible higher education programme approved by the Danish state
- be able to support yourself financially during your stay
- speak and understand the language of instruction well enough to take part in your studies
The exact requirements depend on your programme and your situation. On money, our page on supporting yourself explains what the requirement involves. For the current amount, check New to Denmark, because figures change.
The practical steps
- Get admitted.
- Contact the International Office at your institution. They can help you create a case order ID, pay the application fee, gather the documents, complete your part once the institution has completed theirs, and submit the application and biometric data if required.
- Submit your application through SIRI, or through a Danish embassy or general consulate in your home country, as soon as you have your admission letter.
Do not apply for a short stay visa at the same time. If you apply for a residence permit and a visa together, the visa application is turned down. A visa only covers stays of no more than 90 days in any 180 day period, and work is not permitted on one.
Fees, documents and processing times change. Check the current figures on New to Denmark before you apply. We do not quote them here because they move.
The new rules from 1 October 2026
If you submit your student residence permit application on or after 1 October 2026, two things change. The job seeking period after graduation is shorter: up to one year, instead of up to three years for earlier applications. And your family generally cannot come with you. Your spouse, registered partner, cohabiting partner or children can generally no longer be granted residence permits as accompanying family members under the student rules.
If you applied before that date, transition rules apply. For example, your child under 18 can still apply as an accompanying family member after 1 October 2026 if you submitted your own application before then. Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner must also have submitted their own application before 1 October 2026 to be covered by the previous rules.
Two groups sit outside this change. PhD students are not affected. Special rules may also apply to certain Turkish citizens covered by the Association Agreement between the EU and Turkey. Read the official rules on New to Denmark for your own case.
Working on a student permit
If your permit is for a state approved higher education programme, you also get a limited work permit. It allows up to 90 hours a month from September to May, and full time in June, July and August.
Check your residence card. Working more than it allows counts as illegal work and can affect your permit. This page is general information, not immigration advice. SIRI decides on your case.
EU, EEA and Swiss students
You skip the residence permit entirely. For a stay beyond three months, EU/EEA citizens need a registration certificate and Swiss nationals need a residence card. Both come from SIRI. Book an appointment in advance and bring your passport, two passport photos and your letter of admission.
Processing can take up to three weeks. These documents are proof of rights you already have under EU free movement rules, not a permission granted under the Danish Aliens Act. You need yours before you can register with the Danish Civil Registration System and be covered by Danish health insurance.
After you arrive: CPR and registration
Your first admin task is your CPR number, the personal ID number used across Danish daily life. You can only get it after you arrive in Denmark.
To register on the basis of residence, you must meet all of these:
- your stay will last more than three months
- you have acquired a residence or a fixed place of abode in Denmark
- you are legally entitled to stay, which in practice means showing your residence permit
Report your arrival to your local municipality within five days after those conditions are met. Bring ID. The municipality can ask you to report in person before registration.
Go to a Citizen Service Centre. Take your residence permit with you. Once you have your CPR number you are fully registered, and you can use it to open a bank account, use the library or get a gym membership card. If you move, report the change to your new municipality. Before you leave Denmark, report your departure to the municipality where you are registered.
If you study in Denmark but do not officially reside here, you can in most cases still be allocated a CPR number for taxation purposes.
Where to register
You can only register your residence at the International Citizen Service centres:
- Copenhagen: International Citizen Service East, Gyldenløvesgade 11, 1600 Copenhagen, +4533666606
- Aarhus: International Citizen Service West, Åboulevarden 31, 1st floor, 8000 Aarhus C, +4572223375
- Odense: International Citizen Service South, Dannebrogsgade 3, 1.th, 5000 Odense C, +4572205420
- Aalborg: International Citizen Service North, Slotspladsen 1, Opgang A, 9000 Aalborg, +4572568920
Quick comparison
| Your situation | What you need | Where from |
|---|---|---|
| Outside EU/EEA and Switzerland | Residence permit, applied for before arrival | SIRI, or a Danish embassy or consulate |
| EU/EEA citizen staying over three months | Registration certificate | SIRI |
| Swiss national staying over three months | Residence card | SIRI |
| Nordic citizen | Nothing beyond CPR registration | Citizen Service Centre |
One last thing. Your institution's International Office is the first place to ask when something in your case looks odd. They deal with these applications constantly and can tell you what support they offer. For the rules themselves, SIRI and New to Denmark are the authority.
Frequently asked questions
Do EU students need a residence permit to study in Denmark?
No. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a residence permit. If you stay longer than three months, EU/EEA citizens need a registration certificate and Swiss nationals need a residence card, both from SIRI. You can stay up to three months without one, or up to six months if you work.
When should I apply for a Danish student residence permit?
Apply as soon as you have your admission letter, and before you come to Denmark. You submit the application through SIRI or a Danish embassy or general consulate in your home country. Do not apply for a short stay visa at the same time, because the visa application will be turned down.
What changes for student permits from 1 October 2026?
If you apply on or after that date, the job seeking period after graduation is up to one year instead of up to three. Your spouse, partner or children can generally no longer get residence permits as accompanying family under the student rules. PhD students are not affected, and some Turkish citizens may have special rules.
How many hours can I work on a Danish student residence permit?
If your permit is for a state approved higher education programme, you can work up to 90 hours a month from September to May, and full time in June, July and August. Check your residence card, because working more than it allows is illegal work and can affect your permit.
Sources
- Study in Denmark, Residence permits (non-EU/EEA citizens), Requirements, International Office help, 1 October 2026 rules
- New to Denmark (SIRI), Study, Official, current student permit rules and fees
- Study in Denmark, Do I need a visa?, Short-stay visa limits; no visa with a permit application
- Study in Denmark, Registration certificates (EU/EEA/Swiss citizens), EU/EEA/Swiss students
- Study in Denmark, How do I register my residence in Denmark?, Registering after arrival
- Study in Denmark, Student jobs, 90 hours a month September-May; full-time June-August
Last checked: October 2026. Rules and amounts change; confirm them on the official page before you act on them. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
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