Immigraion To Denmark

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Studying in Denmark

As a foreign national, you can be granted a residence permit in order to study in Denmark. There are three main categories of study which can warrant a residence permit:

* Higher educational programmes
* Basic and youth study programmes
* Folk high schools (folkehøjskoler)

If you are a Nordic citizen, you are free to reside, study and work in Denmark. EU/EEA citizens, who wish to study at a higher educational programme in Denmark, must apply for a proof of registration (EU citizens) or proof of residence (EEA citizens) at the Regional State Administration. EU/EEA citizens who wish to study at basic and youth study programmes or folk high schools must apply for at residence permit with the Immigration Service.

Higher educational programmes
You can be granted a residence permit in order to follow a higher educational programme in Denmark.

If you are a Nordic citizen, you do not need a residence permit but are free to enter, live and work in Denmark. If you are an EU/EEA citizen or Swiss citizen, you must apply for a certificate of registration at the Regional State Administration.

Conditions

In order to be granted a residence permit you must document:

That you have been admitted to a higher educational programme which has been approved by a state authority or which is offered by a publicly accredited educational institution.

That you can support yourself for the duration of your stay in Denmark. If you are to pay a tuition fee, you must document that you have paid the tuition fee for the first semester or year, instead of documenting that you can support yourself.

That you can speak and understand the language of instruction and have a working knowledge of either Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German.

Your participation in the educational programme must have been arranged by a ministry or institution of higher learning, or the educational programme must be part of a higher educational programme which you have already commenced in your country of origin. In other words, you may be granted a residence permit either in order to complete an entire educational programme or in order to follow part of a programme as a guest student.

What is a higher educational programme?

Normally, the term 'higher educational programme' is used when the conditions for admission into the programme require you to have completed upper secondary school or the equivalent.

If the educational programme is included in the Ministry of Education's coordinated application system for admission to higher educational programmes, then the programme will normally be regarded as 'higher' in connection with the application for a residence permit. You can find more information about higher educational programmes on the website of the Ministry of Education.

Admission as a single-subject student - for example, under an Open University programme - is not regarded as admission to a higher educational programme. The same applies to language classes at a language centre, a municipal language school or similar institution.

Preparatory higher educational programmes

In some cases, the Immigration Service may grant you a residence permit for a preparatory course to a higher educational programme. The following conditions apply:

The preparatory course must be connected to the higher educational programme, and the course must be a requirement for the completion of the programme.

You must already have been accepted at the educational programme to which the preparatory course is connected.

The duration of the preparatory course must be no more than one year.

Duration

The duration of your residence permit depends on whether you are going to complete an entire educational programme, or only follow part of a programme as a guest student.

If you are to complete an entire programme you will be granted a residence permit for the duration of the programme.

If, on the other hand, you are only to follow part of a programme, the residence permit will be granted for the duration of the part you are to follow, with a maximum of two years.

If you are to follow a preparatory course, your residence permit wille be granted for the duration of the course.

It is a condition for the residence permit that you are active and enrolled in the educational programme. If this is not the case, the Immigration Service can revoke your residence permit. The educational institution is obliged to inform the Immigration Service if you are not actively following the educational programme.

Green Card Scheme for students

If you have been granted a residence permit in order to complete a higher educational programme in Denmark, your residence permit will be valid for an additional six months after you complete the programme. This is to allow you to look for work in Denmark.

If you complete a higher educational programme in Denmark and you have not previously been granted the additional six months' residence permit, you can have your residence permit extended by six months by submitting an application for extension.
Family members

If you have been granted a residence permit to follow a higher educational programme, then your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner, as well as any children under the age of 18 who are living at home with you, are also eligible for residence permits. However, you must document that you dispose of DKK 25,000 per family member, your family members must be able to support themselves, and you must live together in Denmark at the same address. Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner is allowed to work full-time for the entire period his or her residence permit is valid.

You are not entitled to family reunification during the job-seeking period after the completion of the educational programme. However, if you have already brought your family to Denmark, then they are allowed to stay for the additional six months. The conditions mentioned above still apply during this period.
Work

As a foreign student following a higher educational programme or a required preparatory course, you are allowed to work 15 hours a week, as well as full-time during the months of June, July and August. The same applies during the job-seeking period after the completion of your educational programme. A work permit sticker will be placed in your passport.

If you are under the age of 18, you are only eligible for a work permit if you have a written offer or contract for a specific position, and if the employer confirms to the Immigration Service that workplace environment legislation is upheld.

If you work illegally in Denmark, you risk deportation, and you and your employer risk fine or imprisonment.

Basic and youth study programmes

As a foreign national, you are required to have a residence permit in order to follow a basic or youth study programme in Denmark.

Conditions

In order to be granted a residence permit you must document:

* That you are enrolled in a basic or youth study programme which has been approved by a state authority or which is offered by a publicly accredited institute of learning.
* That you can support yourself for the duration of your stay in Denmark
* That you can speak and understand the language of instruction and have a working knowledge of either Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German
* That you have been given parental/guardian consent if you are under the age of 18
* That the place of study will assist in ensuring proper residence and study conditions if you are under 18

Highschool programmes

In order to be granted a residence permit for one school year at a highschool (or equivalent), it is a condition that:

* Your stay has been arranged by a student exchange organisation.
* Your year in Denmark is the continuation of a highschool programme already started in your country of origin, or
* You are applying to follow the first year of highshool and can document that you will continue the programme in your country of origin.

How long are residence permits issued for?

If you are to follow a basic or youth study programme you will be granted a residence permit for a maximum of one year.

It is a condition for the residence permit that you are active and enrolled in the study programme. If this is not the case, the Immigration Service can revoke your residence permit. The school is obliged to inform the Immigration Service if you are not actively following the programme.

In special cases – e.g. extended sickness during your stay or strong family ties to Denmark – your residence permit may be extended by one year.

If you have previously been granted a residence permit for a year for the purpose of following a basic or youth study programme, you will not be granted an extended permit in order to complete the programme.

Bringing your family

Normally, you cannot bring your family to Denmark. Only in very special cases will the Immigration Service grant a residence permit to your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner, or any children under the age of 18 who are living at home with you. In this case, your family members must be able to support themselves and you must live together in Denmark at the same address. Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner is allowed to work full-time for the entire period his or her permit is valid.

Are you allowed to work?

As a student at a basic or youth study programme you will only be granted a work permit in special situations, e.g. if you would benefit educationally or professionally from a paid or unpaid trainee period. The job must have an educational purpose, and the work permit will only be valid for a specific place of employment.

If you are an EU/EEA citizen or a Schwiss citizen, you are allowed to work.

If you are under the age of 18 you will only be eligible for a work permit if you have a written offer or contract for a specific job, and if the employer confirms to the Immigration Service that Danish workplace environment legislation is being upheld.

Consequenses of working illegally

If you work illegally in Denmark, you risk deportation, and may be banned from re-entering the country again for a set period of time (usually one year). If you are an EU citizen, however, you cannot be deported for working illegally in Denmark.

You also risk fine or imprisonment, as does your employer.

Folk high schools

You can be granted a residence permit in order to follow a course at a folk high school (folkehøjskole) or similar institution - for example, a housekeeping or needlecraft school.

If you are a Nordic citizen, you do not need a residence permit but are free to enter, live and work in Denmark. If you are an EU/EEA citizen or Swiss citizen, you must apply for a residence permit at the Immigration Service.

Conditions

In order to be granted a residence permit you must document:

That you are enrolled to follow a course at a folk high school (folkehøjskole) or similar which has been approved by a state authority. The head of the school must declare that the course you are to follow is eligible for state subsidies, or state that the course will be carried out without state subsidies. In the latter case, the school must attach a statement about the course from Danmarks Evalueringsinstitut.

That you have paid the course fees.

That you can support yourself for the duration of your stay in Denmark.

That you can speak and understand the language of instruction and have a working knowledge of either Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German.

A residence permit requires that the school is included by the Danish legislation concerning folk high schools, continuation schools, housekeeping schools and needlecraft schools. The Immigration Service will only grant residence permits for attendance at schools approved and monitored by the Ministry of Education.

Duration

You will be granted a residence permit for the duration of the course. You can apply for an extension of your residence permit, resulting in a total maximum of 18 months. The 18 months can be used for several courses at different folk high schools, either as one stay of 18 consecutive months, or as several separate stays.

It is a condition for the residence permit that you are active and enrolled in the school's programme. If this is not the case, the Immigration Service can revoke your residence permit. The school is obliged to inform the Immigration Service if you are not actively participating in the school's activities.

Family members

Normally, you cannot bring your family to Denmark. Only in very special cases will the Immigration Service grant a residence permit to your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner, or any children under the age of 18 who are living at home with you. In this case, your family members must be able to support themselves and you must live together in Denmark at the same address. Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner is allowed to work full-time for the entire period his or her permit is valid.

Work

As a student at a folk high school or similar, you will only be granted a work permit in special situations, e.g. if you would benefit educationally or professionally from a paid or unpaid trainee period. The job must have an educational purpose, and the work permit will only be valid for a specific place of employment.

If you are an EU/EEA citizen or a Swiss citizen, you can be granted a work permit which gives you the right to work 15 hours a week, as well as full-time during the months of June, July and August. You must apply for this permit separately, as it is not granted automatically together with your residence permit.

If you are under the age of 18 you will only be eligible for a work permit if you have a written offer or contract for a specific job, and if the employer confirms to the Immigration Service that Danish workplace environment legislation is being upheld.

If you work illegally in Denmark, you risk deportation, and you and your employer risk fine or imprisonment.