THE APPLICATION PROCESS FROM A TO Z
Applying for a residence permit in Denmark as a student
Agenda
SIRI – who are we?
The application process – 7 steps
The residence permit period and limited work permit
Accompanying family members
Extension of residence permit
Can I enter Denmark?
Contacting SIRI
Questions
Step 1: Creating the case order ID
Before submitting your application you must create a case order ID.
You must enter your first name, surname and e-mail address.
Once you have entered the information and pressed “Create case order ID”
your case order ID will be listed below.
The case order ID is always two letters, four numbers, and two letters.
Example: AA-0000-AA
Step 2: Pay the application fee
The 2024 application fee is DKK 2,490.
The application fee can be paid by credit/debit card (Dankort, VISA or MasterCard),
international bank transfer or Danish internet bank transfer.
• Note: If you have created a case order ID with any other fee than DKK 2,490, you
have created an incorrect case order ID and must create a new one.
Your application will not be processed until the correct fee has been received by SIRI.
Common mistake: Creating an appeal case order ID and paying the DKK 930 fee.
Step 3: Gather documentation
Prior to completing and submitting your application, you must gather the
relevant supporting documentation.
• Documentation of paid application fee.
• Complete passport copy.
• Documentation of enrolment in your home university – if exchange/guest
student.
• Documentation that you can support yourself during your stay in Denmark –
depending on whether you have paid a tuition fee to the Danish university.
Documentation – accepted languages
Any documentation not submitted in either Danish, English, Swedish,
Norwegian or German must be officially translated into either Danish or English.
”Home made” translations will not be accepted as documentation.
Statements from the applicants as to the content of the documentation will not
be accepted.
Documentation of paid application fee
A copy of the credit card payment receipt or confirmation of bank transfer
Example of a receipt for credit card payment:
Banking fees might cause the amount to be slightly
higher than DKK 2,490. (+ 50-70 DKK is not
uncommon)
You must download the receipt immediately after
paying the fee. It cannot be recreated later.
Complete passport copy
An up to date copy of ALL the pages in your passport. Including the cover pages
and empty pages.
Start with the front cover page of your passport and copy all the pages until
you have copied the back cover page.
Make sure the copies are of a sufficient quality. Watch out for blurry scans and
cropped pages.
Documentation of enrollment in home university – if
exchange/guest student
Documentation showing that your are enrolled at an educational institution in
your home country
This is not required if you are enrolled as a full degree student.
Documentation that you can support yourself during
your stay in Denmark
If you pay a tuition fee to the Danish university and have paid for the first semester, you are
exempt from showing documentation of financial self support.
If you do not pay a tuition fee to the Danish university, you must submit documentation of
financial self support. The amount depends on how long you will be studying in Denmark.
You have sufficient funds, if your disposable amount corresponds to DKK 6,820 (2024 level) per
month you will be studying at a higher educational programme in Denmark:
• 1 semester = DKK 34,100
• 2 semesters = DKK 68,200
• 12 or more months (full degree student) = DKK 81,840
What documentation can you submit?
• Bank statement
• Documentation of student loan
• Documentation of student grant/scholarship
The bank statement
The bank statement must show the following:
• Date of the statement (maximum 30 days old at the time of submission of
application)
• Your full name (you must appear clearly as the account holder)
• Balance
• Currency
• Information about which bank it originates from
Bank statements from accounts belonging to parents, legal guardians etc. cannot serve
as documentation
Statements of financial support from parents, legal guardians etc. cannot serve as
documentation.
Student grants and loans
Documentation of student grants and loans must fulfill the following
requirements:
• Must be the official grant or loan document, offer letters will not be
accepted
• Your name must appear clearly as the recipient/loaner
• The granted/loaned amount must appear clearly
• When the funds were/will be made available to you must appear clearly
Step 4: Complete the application form
ST1 application form.
The application form is filled out in collaboration with the Danish university.
Two parts: The Danish university completes their part first and then the
applicant completes their part.
Remember to fill out all sections in your part of the application form, including
the section regarding educational and employment history
Remember to sign the sworn declaration
• Do not insert a photo of your signature.
• Do not submit a copy of your signature on a blank piece of paper.
Step 5: Submit the application
The application can be submitted online or in person at a SIRI Citizen Centre in Denmark or to a
Danish diplomatic mission or an application centre in the country where you are residing.
In certain countries Denmark does not have a diplomatic mission or application centre. In these
instances the list will refer you to one of the Norwegian missions with which Denmark has made
an agreement or to the nearest Danish diplomatic mission or application centre in the region.
See the link for information regarding your specific country: https://um.dk/en/travel-and-
residence/where-to-apply/
Whether you submit your application online or in person must be agreed with the Danish
university, as the Danish university starts the process of completing the application form. If the
Danish university starts an online process, you must complete the online process.
Step 6: Biometrics
Digital recording of facial photo, fingerprints and signature.
• Always bring your passport to a biometrics appointment!
Must be recorded within 14 days of submitting your application.
• If you are not able to record your biometrics within 14 days, you must contact SIRI and inform when you will be
able to do so and send documentation for your booked appointment.
Biometrics can be recorded at a SIRI Citizen Centre in Denmark, a Danish Embassy/Consulate or a Visa Center abroad.
See the following link for information regarding your specific country: https://um.dk/en/travel-and-residence/where-
to-apply/
Applications are not processed until the biometric features have been submitted.
If you do not record your biometrics in time, your application will be rejected and you must restart the entire
application process.
Step 6: Biometrics – Norwegian representations
In some countries, applicants must visit a Norwegian Embassy/Consulate or Visa
Center for identification instead of biometrics, e.g. Brazil, Chile, South Korea and Sri
Lanka.
If you need to visit a Norwegian Embassy/Consulate or Visa Center, you must bring a
passport photo to your appointment.
Your application will be processed after you have been to your appointment at the
Norwegian representation. If your are granted a residence permit, you must record
your biometric features after entering Denmark.
See the following link for information regarding your specific country:
https://um.dk/en/travel-and-residence/where-to-apply/
Step 7: Receive an answer
Normal processing time: 2 months.
• This is not a guaranteed processing time, so applying as early as possible is always recommended.
If you submitted your application and recorded your biometrics abroad, the decision will be sent to
the local Danish/Norwegian embassy/consulate. The local Danish/Norwegian embassy/consulate will
then contact you.
Likewise, if we need further information or documentation from you, we will contact your through
the local Danish/Norwegian embassy/consulate.
If you enter Denmark prior to receiving our decision and wish to receive your decision in Denmark,
you must contact SIRI and inform us of your Danish address. This can be done through our contact
form: https://nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/Contact-us/Contact-SIRI/Kontaktformular
Remember to provide your complete address(street name, number, floor, door etc.) It is also
important that your name is written on your mail box.
The resident permit period
The length of your residence permit depends on which type of education you
are pursuing.
• Guest student = 1 or 2 semesters
• Full degree student = Full Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
All residence permits are granted up to 1 month before the start of the
semester.
Guest students are granted 14 days beyond the end of the
semester/semesters.
Full degree students get either a 6 month job seeking period or a 3 year job
seeking period beyond the nominal period of study depending on their
educational programme.
Job seeking residence period for 3 years or 6 months?
You will automatically be granted a residence permit for up to 3 years for job
seeking in Denmark if you have completed a Danish education approved by a
state authority.
You will automatically be granted a residence permit for a 6 month job seeking
period in Denmark if you have completed a Danish education which is not
approved by a state authority but instead have an advisory statement by the
Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA).
The resident permit period
Be aware of the expiry date in your passport: Residence permits cannot be
granted beyond the final 3 months of your passport’s validity period.
Your residence permit will be shortened if your passport expires during your
study period or job seeking period. You will be able to apply for an extension of
your residence permit at a later time.
Example: Bachelor’s degree student who’s passport expires on 1 June 2025
• You are granted a residence permit from 1 August 2024
• Residence permit expires on 1 March 2025
The limited work permit
When you are granted a residence permit in Denmark as a student, you are
also granted a limited work permit.
The limited work permit allows you to work 20 hours a week (87 hours a
month) for the duration of your residence permit. You are allowed to work
unlimited hours in June, July and August.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not work more than you are
allowed to. If you work more than you are allowed to, you risk being subject to a
fine or imprisonment for up to 1 year, and being deported from Denmark and
banned from re-entering Denmark for a certain period of time.
Accompanying family members
As a student at a Danish university, you can apply for residence permit for
accompanying family members.
The following family members can qualify for a residence permit as accompanying
family members to students:
• Spouse,
• registrered partner,
• cohabitating partner and
• Children under the age of 18.
For all information on applying for residence permits for accompanying family
members, kindly see the following information page: https://nyidanmark.dk/en-
GB/Applying/Familie/Medfoelgende%20familie/Accompanying%20family%20-
%20study%20and%20PhD
Extension of your residence permit
If you do not complete your education within the nominal time period for your
study, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit. You can be
granted up to 12 months extension of your residence permit.
This is done in collaboration with the Danish university. For information
regarding the extension of your residence permit, please see the following link:
https://nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/You-want-to-extend/Study---extension/Higher-
education
Can I enter Denmark?
Different rules apply depending on whether you are from a country with a visa
requirement or you are from a visa-free country
If in doubt, you can find a list here: https://nyidanmark.dk/en-
GB/Words%20and%20Concepts%20Front%20Page/US/Visum/Must_have_a_vis
a_countries_and_countries_with_visa_exemption
Can you enter Denmark before you have been granted a
permit?
If you are outside Denmark when you submit your application, you must normally
have been granted a permit before you travel to Denmark.
If you wish to travel to Denmark before SIRI has processed your application, you can
only do so if you:
• are a citizen of a country that allows you the opportunity to travel to Denmark
without a visa,
• are a citizen of a country from which a visa is necessary, but you have already been
granted a visa for Denmark or another Schengen country, or
• have a residence permit for another Schengen country.
In any case, you must comply with the visa regulations in force. If you, for instance,
have traveled to Denmark with or without a visa, and the period of time for which you
are allowed to stay legally in Denmark expires before SIRI reaches a decision in your
case, you must leave and await the decision abroad.
If you have applied while being in Denmark legally
If you submitted the application while staying legally in Denmark, you can remain in Denmark
and wait for an answer to your application, even though your visa or the period for which you
are exempt for a visa expires while you wait. You are allowed to stay because you are granted
the right to a procedural stay.
If you leave Denmark after having submitted an application in Denmark, the submission in
Denmark will not grant you the right to re-enter Denmark again before a decision is made.
Unless you can re-enter based on other grounds (e.g. a visa or if you are visa exempt), you must
wait for our answer abroad
• Please note that it is possible to apply for a re-entry permit if you rant to travel abroad and
return to Denmark while your application for a residence permit is being processed:
https://nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/Your-situation-is-changing/Work/Re-entry-permit
Find more information on the following link: https://nyidanmark.dk/en-
GB/Waiting/Study%20and%20PhD
Final piece of advice
READ THE ENTIRE RESIDENCE PERMIT DOCUMENT WHEN YOU ARE GRANTED
A RESIDENCE PERMIT
It contains all information regarding your right to stay in Denmark, right to
work in Denmark, how you get your residence card, how you can lose your right
to stay in Denmark, how and when you can apply for an extension of your
residence permit etc.
Questions
