Citizens of non-EU/EEA and non-Nordic countries
If you are not a citizen in the EU/EEA or in a Nordic country, you need a residence permit to study in Denmark.
Along with your 'Letter of Admission' from the University of Copenhagen, you will receive an application form called ST1 as well as instruction on how to apply for the residence permit. When these documents are in place, you are ready to apply for a residence permit.
The application
The application process for a residence permit usually takes a considerable length of time (2 months). You ought to send your application immediately when you receive your Letter of Admission and the ST1.
→ New to Denmark on how to apply when you have been admitted to a higher educational programme.
You can also contact the Danish consulate or embassy in your country, or affiliated with your country, for information on how to apply for the residence permit. Usually, the relevant information is available on the consulate/embassy's website. Find a consulate or embassy near you at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
When you start your application for the residence permit, you must create a case order ID online and pay a fee according to the guidelines from the Danish Immigration Service.
Please make sure that any possible bank fees in connection with the transfer are added to the amount and not deducted from it. If full payment is not received, your residence permit application will not be processed. Hence, it is crucial that you ensure the full amount reaches The Danish Immigration Service.
The embassy or consulate processing your application may have additional fees.
The Danish Immigration Servcies requires documentation of your ability to support yourself financially during the length of your stay. You must be prepared to provide documentation, for example from your bank, verifying that you have the equivalent of DKK 4,200 per month during your intended stay.
All non-EU citizens over the age of 18 applying for residence permits under the terms of the Aliens Act must have their biometric features (fingerprint, photo and signature) recorded.
- If you apply at a Danish embassy or consulate abroad, you must submit the application in person and your biometric features will be recorded on that occasion.
- If you apply at another country’s embassy or consulate – e.g. a Norwegian or Swedish consulate which has agreed to process Danish applications – your biometric features will be recorded after you arrive in Denmark. Book an appointment at SIRI København, Njalsgade 72C.
- If you apply at the Immigration Service/Agency for Labour Retention and International Recruitment in Denmark, your biometric features will be recorded on that occasion. This only applies to applicants who can enter Denmark legally without a visa or residence permit, i.e. citizens from visa free counties.
Further information about biometric features is available at the website New to Denmark.
If you apply in due time through a consulate or embassy, you will receive a reply from the embassy or consulate prior to your departure. The estimated processing time is 2 months. When you have arrived in Copenhagen and have registered with the Danish authorities, you will receive your residence permit (residence card type Z) by mail to your Danish address. The residence card serves as proof that you have been granted a Danish residence permit.
As a general rule you should apply and receive your residence permit before entering Denmark. Citizens from countries where a visa is required to enter Denmark cannot enter without a visa or residence permit at hand. It is not possible to apply after entering Denmark.
Citizens from specific countries are allowed to enter Denmark without a visa for short term stays (visa exemption). Those citizens can apply for the residence permit in Denmark. This may be relevant for students who live far from a Danish consulate or embassy. Students who live close to a Danish consulate or embassy should apply prior to departing for Denmark. Applying after arrival in Denmark will delay getting registered with the Danish authorities for a CPR number which gives access to a range of services in Denmark. Whenever possible, it is preferable to apply prior to arrival.
Find out if you need a visa prior to departure from the Danish Immigration Service website 'New to Denmark'.
Non-EU/EEA and non-Nordic students are allowed to work in Denmark 15 hours a week from September to May – and 37 hours a week from June to August. A permit for this extent of work is automatically granted with the residence permit.
Further information about work regulations is available at the Danish Immigration Service webpage 'You want to apply for a work permit'.
Biometrics: As of 2012, residence permits must contain biometric data on the residence permit holder. The data consists of fingerprints, photo, and signature.
Residence permit: Foreign citizens must have a residence permit in order to stay in Denmark for a longer period of time. Exemptions are made for citizens of Nordic countries, and special rules apply to citizens of EU/EEA countries.
Residence card: Once a residence permit has been granted, a residence card is issued as proof of status.
Schengen: The Schengen is a cooperation between a number of European countries on the free movement across borders between the member countries.
ST1: Students must use the ST1 form when applying for a residence permit. The form is issued by the University of Copenhagen along with a letter of admission.
Visa: A visa is a permission granted to a foreign citizen allowing the individual to stay in Denmark for a period of time of less than 90 days. When a visa is required, it must be obtained before entering Denmark.
Visa exemption: Citizens from some specific countries are allowed to enter Denmark without a visa. The immigration service website has a list of countries from which citizens are exempt from visa requirements.