Student Visas in Denmark
Studying there, and whether study leads to residency
A residence permit for study is granted where a person is admitted to an approved Danish programme and can document tuition payment and means of support. The decisive financial point is that non-EU and non-EEA students pay full tuition, whereas EU, EEA, Swiss, and Nordic students study free at public institutions. Limited work rights attach to the permit, and graduates may apply for an Establishment Card to remain and seek work.
| Permit type | Residence permit as a student source |
| Tuition, non-EU students | Commonly around DKK 45,000–120,000 per year depending on programme source |
| Tuition, EU/EEA/Swiss/Nordic students | No tuition at public institutions source |
| Work rights | Commonly around 20 hours per week during term, full time in June, July and August |
| After graduation | Establishment Card for a limited period to seek work or start a business source |
What must be documented
- Admission to a programme at an institution approved by a Danish public authority; admission to a non-approved course does not support a permit.
- Payment of the first instalment of tuition where tuition is charged.
- Means of support for the study period, commonly evidenced at a level tied to the Danish state education grant rate, held in a Danish or an accessible account.
- Language ability appropriate to the programme, which for English-taught degrees generally means a recognised English test result set by the institution.
- Proof that the study is full time; part-time and distance study generally do not qualify.
The cost picture for non-EU students
Full tuition combined with Copenhagen living costs makes Denmark one of the more expensive study destinations in northern Europe for non-EU applicants. Scholarship provision exists but is competitive and is largely institution-specific rather than a national entitlement.
The state education grant, SU, which supports Danish students, is not generally available to non-EU students on a study permit, although workers and certain EU citizens may qualify under separate rules. Budgeting on the assumption of SU is a common and costly error.
Whether study leads to settlement
Study years count as lawful residence, but the settlement rules value employment heavily. The Establishment Card exists precisely to bridge the gap: it allows a graduate of a Danish higher education programme to remain for a defined period in order to find work or establish a business, after which a work scheme permit is required.
Because permanent residence conditions include a substantial full-time employment history and citizenship requires around nine years of residence, a student should treat graduation as the beginning rather than the middle of the settlement timeline.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.