Are you thinking of studying in Denmark? If yes, then you need to know how to get a Student Visa in Denmark. Asides from Denmark being is the happiest country in the world, it is the home to several globally recognized universities with excellent academic records.

Danish universities practically offer various programs and that alone draws a lots of attention from international students. So, if you are seeking for knowledge about Denmark student visa, you are in the right place.

For several years, many international students choose Denmark as their next destination for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Denmark is globally known to have a high standard of education and offers a lot of options.

Some of the standard education options in Denmark include basic and youth education, short-term courses, higher education ( Bachelors and Masters's degrees), the Danish folk schools (where students learn specific skills for a low-cost option),

Ph.D. studies, and internships that count toward a degree. Students get to choose one option from these several options because the quality of education is very high.

This detailed article would serve as a guide, putting you through all you need to know about the student visa in Denmark.

Let's get started!

How Does Student Visa's Work in Denmark?

International students who are citizens of the European Union (EU), EEA, or Switzerland are eligible to study in Denmark for free in most of the Danish universities.

However, international students who are not European Union, EEA, or Swiss citizens who plan to study in Denmark need to prepare for getting a Denmark student visa.

With a student visa in Denmark, international students can live, study and work (part-time) in Denmark if a university in Denmark admits them.

Type of Student Visa in Denmark

We refer the document international students need to study in Denmark to as a “residency permit” instead of a student visa in case we use interchangeably them in this article.

International students have to get a student visa to study in Denmark depending on their nationality and the type of education they are going for.

Students from the European Union, EEA, or Switzerland, as mentioned above, can live in Denmark for up to 3 months with none visa or permit.

If they decide to take a longer course like a university degree, then they will have to apply for a registration certificate.

On the other hand, international students who are not from the European Union, EEA, or Switzerland need to apply for either a short-term visa or a long-term visa.

The short-term student visa allows them to travel to Denmark for studies or educational training for up to 90 days per 6 months.

The long-term student visa falls under the National visas or residency permits. A long-term student visa is a requirement for students who intend to study in Denmark for as long as their studies last.

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Requirements and Eligibility Criteria for a Denmark Student Visa

The requirements for international students to travel and study in Denmark changes often depending on the student's nationality.

These requirements are different based on the different nationality of three categories of students:

Nordic nationals
European Union/EEA/Swiss citizens
Foreign citizens

#1. Nordic Nationals

These are students who are from countries in the peninsula, like Norway, Sweden, and Finland. They are eligible to study and work in Denmark for short or extended periods, even with no paperwork, student visa, or documents except for their travel passport or ID.

They are only required to get a Danish personal ID and register right away before they enter the country.

#2. European Union/EEA/Swiss citizens

Students from the EU/EEA or Switzerland can stay for up to 90 days in Denmark with no student visa or permit other than their passports or ID.

However, if they plan to study for over 3 months, then they are required to register for a Danish certificate of registration.

With the Danish certificate of registration, these students get assigned a Danish personal ID number with which they can use to even seek employment in Denmark.

#3. Foreign Citizens

Students who are not from outside the European Union/EEA or Swiss regions require a student visa or student resident permit depending on the length of their study in Denmark.

Short programs like exchange programs and summer courses just need an entry visa to be able to come into the country while longer programs require a residence permit so they can be able to stay for longer periods in the country.

Renewal of the student visa in Denmark is contingent that the student remaining enrolled in a university program.

Both the short-term and long-term student visas are warded at Denmark's embassy or consulate in their country of origin.

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Some other Documents or requirements usually requested but not limited to include:

Letter of acceptance into an approved Danish university
Proof of language proficiency (English/Danish)
Travel insurance
A passport photo (must be valid for at least 6 months)
Recent passport photos
Valid travel document
Application form filled with correct information
Visa fee
Accommodation details and information
Proof of finances (at least $1200/month)
Receipt showing you paid for the application fee
If below 18 years of age, the student needs to provide a parental consent document to live and study in Denmark.

How Long is the Student Visa in Denmark Valid?

So, long as you actively take part in your education program in Denmark, your student visa in Denmark is valid.

It is important to know that if you don't complete your education program within this period you must apply to extend your student residence visa.

They can extend your student visa in Denmark for a maximum of a year. If you extend your student visa in Denmark due to pregnancy or parental leave then your student visa can be extended for a maximum of two years.

What is the cost of a student visa in Denmark?

The student visa in Denmark costs around DKK 2,000 (250 EUR). International students are required to present their official receipt of payment when submitting their requirements so they must keep it safe. Also, denied they do not refund applications.

International students from the European Union, EEA, or Switzerland who intend to extend their stay in Denmark do not have to pay this fee.

How to apply for a student visa in Denmark

It is important to know that students must submit their student visa application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

Below is a step-by-step process to apply for a student visa to Denmark:

Create a case order ID on the online portal
Pay the student visa application fee
Gather the required documents
Complete the student visa application form
Submit the student visa application
Register biometric data
Await a response

Create a case order ID on the online portal

After you must have accepted a place at a public-accredited Danish institution then you will need to go to the SIRI website and create a case order ID for your visa application.

After you fill in the form here, you will receive your case order number.

Pay the student visa application fee

After you create your case order ID then you must pay a fee of DKK 2000 (260 EUR). Failure to pay here will lead to the rejection of your application.

Gather the required documents

After you pay the student visa application fee then you have to gather the documents required for the Denmark visa requirements.

This includes the documents mentioned in this article. Students applying online must make sure all the required documents are set in a digital form.

Complete the student visa application form

The application needs to be completed by both the student and the educational institution or university. The student will have to choose between an online form and a print form application.

Submit the student visa application

Once the application form is completed, students who applied online have to just submit while students who did not apply online will have to apply to a Danish diplomatic mission or application enter near their location.

Register biometric data

After they successfully submit the application, students are required to take a photo and biometric data for a Danish student visa which will be taken at a Danish diplomatic mission abroad or in one of SIRI's branch offices.

Students who applied online are required to submit their biometric data at a diplomatic mission within 14 days else their application will be rejected.

Await a response

Once you submit your biometric data then you just have to wait for a response via SMS or email regarding your application status. Once your visa is approved then you can travel to Denmark to enroll in your courses.

Student visa processing time in Denmark

The standard processing time for a student visa in Denmark is 2 months (60 days). At this point, all you have to do is just relax and wait for a response regarding your application status.

It is important to know that processing time can vary depending on the nationality of the student. For example, students from countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya, etc may have to wait for up to 6 months.

It is important to check these details before you apply so you avoid missing deadlines.

Can I get a student visa in Denmark without IELTS?

One of the major requirements for a student visa in Denmark is language proficiency, whether in English or Danish language.

This means that you will have to provide internationally recognized certificates like TOEFL and IELTS so that you can prove your proficiency in English.

Working while studying in Denmark

International students studying in Denmark are eligible to work. However, international students who are outside from outside the European Union, EEA, or Switzerland may work for only 20 hours per week.

International students from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland may work as much as they like with no restrictions.

Summary

There you have it, everything you need to know on How to Get a Student Visa in Denmark as an International student. The student visa application process in Denmark is quite different compared to other European countries.

Equally, the student visa Denmark application is also easier than other countries that other although sometimes it can confuse when you don't know the next steps at each stage of the application process.

The detailed process in this article will go a long way to help you apply successfully.