To get a Danish student residence permit as a non-EU/EEA citizen, you have to show you can support yourself financially during your stay. Study in Denmark does not publish an amount, so neither do we. The current figure and the documents SIRI accepts are on New to Denmark, and you should check them there before you move any money.
What the rule actually says
The financial requirement is one of several normal conditions for a residence permit to study. Alongside it, you must be admitted to an eligible higher education programme approved by the Danish government, and you must be able to 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. SIRI, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, is the authority that decides. We can explain the shape of the rule, but we cannot tell you what your case needs. That is SIRI's call.
Where to find the amount
Because the figure is not on Study in Denmark, the only sensible place to look is the official source. Go to New to Denmark and find the student residence permit page for your situation. It lists the current requirement and the documentation SIRI accepts.
Two things to keep in mind. First, amounts and rules change, so an old figure from a forum or a friend's screenshot is not evidence. Second, do not assume that a mechanism you have read about for another country, such as a blocked account, applies in Denmark. Check what SIRI asks for in your case before you arrange anything.
How to prove it, step by step
Your first stop should be the International Office at the institution where you have been admitted. Ask them before you move money. They can guide you through the practical application process and tell you what support they can provide.
- Contact the International Office and ask what documentation they expect in your case.
- Create a case order ID.
- Pay the application fee.
- Gather the required documentation.
- Complete your part of the application after your institution has completed theirs.
- Submit the application and provide biometric data if required.
You apply through SIRI, and you apply before you come to Denmark. Required documentation, fees and processing times can change, so check the current information on New to Denmark before you submit.
A budget to plan from, not to prove with
Separate the permit requirement from your actual living costs. They are two different numbers, and they can differ. For planning, our cost of living page adds up Study in Denmark's monthly figures. Here is the rough monthly picture from that budget:
| Cost | Approximate amount per month |
|---|---|
| Rent (utilities usually included) | 3,000 to 6,500 DKK |
| Food | 2,000 to 3,500 DKK |
| Insurance | About 300 DKK |
| Streaming licences | 200 DKK |
| Books and supplies | 400 to 650 DKK |
| Mobile phone | 250 DKK (internet around 250 DKK, may be included in rent) |
| Transport | 300 DKK |
| Other personal expenses | 2,000 DKK |
Add those lines up and you land somewhere between 8,450 and 13,700 DKK a month. That is a budget guide from the register's own figures, not the permit requirement. Use it to plan your life, not to fill in your application.
If you pay tuition fees, remember they are separate from living costs. Check what your institution charges and whether any scholarships could help.
Money for the first few weeks
Denmark is an expensive country, even if the standard of living is high. Before your first payment lands, you will need cash for the rent and deposit on your accommodation, plus housewares for your new room. Bring enough money or a credit card to cover the first few weeks, and check your card works in Denmark and what your withdrawal limit is.
All international students are advised to open a Danish bank account. To do that you first need a CPR number. Opening an account is simple: bring your passport or ID card and your CPR card to a branch. Ask your fellow students which bank they use. You register the account with the Danish tax authority as a Nemkonto, which lets public authorities pay you directly, for example wages or tax rebates.
Some everyday prices to calibrate your expectations: a second-hand bicycle costs 400 to 2,000 DKK, a cinema ticket around 150 DKK, a coffee at a cafe 40 to 60 DKK, and a beer or soft drink from the supermarket 10 to 25 DKK. For currency, 1 euro is approximately 7.5 kroner, 1 US dollar approximately 6.5 kroner, and 1 UK pound sterling approximately 10 kroner.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using an old figure. Amounts and rules change. Check the current requirement on New to Denmark.
- Assuming a part-time job covers it. With a residence permit for a state-approved programme you may work up to 90 hours a month from September to May and full-time in June to August. But you apply for the permit before you arrive, so ask SIRI what evidence it accepts rather than counting on future wages.
- Forgetting tuition and other costs. Fees are separate from living costs.
- Copying another country's method. Check what SIRI accepts for Denmark, not what you read about elsewhere.
Who this applies to
The student residence permit applies to students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. If you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you do not need this permit. Higher education is free of charge for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, and for stays beyond three months you need a registration certificate or residence card instead.
If you are outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland and plan to stay more than three months, apply for the residence permit before you arrive. A visa covers short stays of no more than 90 days within a 180 day period, and work is not permitted on a visa. If you apply for a residence permit and a visa at the same time, your visa application will be turned down.
One more thing to know: new rules for accompanying family members apply from 1 October 2026 for certain students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. If you submitted your application on or after that date, your spouse, registered partner, cohabiting partner or children can generally no longer be granted residence permits as accompanying family members under the student rules. PhD students are not affected, and special rules may apply to certain Turkish citizens covered by the Association Agreement between the EU and Turkey. Read the official information before you plan around family joining you.
Your next move
Email the International Office at your institution today and ask two questions: what documentation does SIRI expect for my case, and when should I have the money in place? Then open New to Denmark and read the current requirement yourself. Do both before you transfer anything.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to show for a Danish student residence permit?
Study in Denmark says you must be able to support yourself financially during your stay, but it does not publish an amount. SIRI publishes the current requirement on New to Denmark, so check it there before you save or transfer money.
Can I count on a part-time job to cover my costs?
Plan not to. With a residence permit for a state-approved programme you may work up to 90 hours a month from September to May and full-time in June to August, but you apply for the permit before you arrive. Ask SIRI what evidence it accepts.
Who can help me with the application?
The International Office at the institution where you have been admitted. It can help you gather documentation, pay the fee and complete your part of the application after the institution has completed theirs.
Do EU, EEA and Swiss students have to show this?
No. The student residence permit applies to students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens need a registration certificate or residence card for stays beyond three months, and higher education is free of charge for them.
Sources
- Study in Denmark, Residence permits (non-EU/EEA citizens), Must be able to support yourself financially; International Office help
- New to Denmark (SIRI), Study, Current requirements, fees and processing times
- Study in Denmark, Bank & budget, Monthly living-cost figures in DKK
- 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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