Denmark, one of the happiest nations in the world, offers top-notch educational facilities to its students. The educational opportunities available to students in Denmark include short-term courses, graduation courses, doctoral programs, and internships.
Students must apply for a Denmark student visa (if applicable) if they wish to study there. Everything they require to obtain the visa and ensure a simple process is outlined below.
Mostly, the country of origin will determine if a student needs a visa to study in Denmark. Students can study in the nation without needing any documentation if they are from one of the Nordic nations, namely Finland, Norway, or Sweden.
When prospective students present their passports or another form of personal identification at the airport, they will just need a personal identification number, which will be supplied to them by the Danish embassy.
If they have a valid passport and are a member of the EEA, Switzerland, or EU, they can stay in Denmark for up to three months.
Students will require a Danish registration certificate, though, if they intend to stay for longer than three months. They will receive a personal identification number with this certificate, which is necessary if they wish to work in the nation.
Those planning to study will need a visa to study in Denmark if they are not from the EEA or EU. The type of permission they need will depend on how long they plan to remain in the country.
In most cases, a visa is required if the intended stay in Denmark will be shorter than three months, and a residency permit is required if the stay will be longer than three months (if applicable).
Denmark Student Visa Requirements
Depending on the country of origin and the program a prospective student is applying for they have the following options:
1.) Basic and Youth Study
Denmark has basic or youth study programs where students can enroll in studies.
2.) Programs for Higher Education
Individuals can enroll to pursue a higher education program.
3.) Ph.D. Courses
Participants in a Ph.D. study program affiliated with a Danish educational institution will be doctoral students. It is further subdivided into two categories:
- D. (full-time)- This program is for scholars planning to pursue a full-time doctorate study at a Danish educational institution.
- Guest Ph.D.- It is available for those interested in pursuing a guest Ph.D. in a study linked to a Danish institution of study.
4.) Folk High School
At a folk high school in Denmark, students will be enrolled in a course. They can fill out the form by exploring this program if it meets their requirement.
5.) Permit to Work for Internships
For this, as part of the study in Denmark, students are required to work full-time as an intern. A full-time work permit is therefore required.
6.) Job Seeking after Completing a Study Program
This is for those who possess a residence visa as a student pursuing a Danish higher education program or Ph.D. program.
When they have completed their educational program, they may be eligible for a residence permit to search for employment in Denmark.
7.) As a Student Living in the EU
To apply under this category, the individual should be an EU citizen who has been accepted to an upper secondary program, higher education program, or vocational education program in Denmark.
Do take note! Prospective Students cannot apply for residency in Denmark using the application page or the OD1 application form if they are a citizen of the United Kingdom (UK), as they are not EU citizens. Instead, they must use the BR1 application form and the Brexit application pages.
Document Checklist for Denmark Study Visa
Again, depending on the type of visa being applied for and the student’s nationality a checklist and the type of form to be filled out will be different.
USA
The educational institution in Denmark and the student must both provide the information sought for the processing of the application. This is necessary if an applicant wants to apply for a residence permit as a student.
Place to Apply
The Danish Consulate General in New York is responsible for processing all student applications.
Application Steps
- A filled and signed application form ST1. No two-sided copies are permitted.
- Case Order Id and Payment receipt will be required later on.
- The applicant's original passport must have at least 2 blank pages and be valid for at least three months after the requested permit expires. The passport will be held for two to fourteen days for the verification procedure.
- Exchange applicants must provide evidence that they can sustain themselves financially while studying in Denmark. A financial letter or bank statement from US University attesting to a minimum monthly income of 1,000 USD is necessary. The student's name must be on the funds.
- Acceptance letter from the Danish university for exchange students is required.
- Notarized letters of approval from parents and a copy of the applicant's birth certificate if the applicant is under eighteen.
- The Consulate General's fee must be paid and a payment receipt must be submitted by uploading it on the official site.
Please be aware that when a student submits his/her application at the Visa Application Centre, there is a 30 USD service fee in addition to the fees to DIS or SIRI and the Danish Consulate General.
Before the application is approved, the Consulate General cautions against making any final trip plans, especially buying non-refundable airline tickets for a specific date.
India
There is a single application form for Study, Sports, and Cultural Visa for Indian students wishing to pursue higher education in Denmark. The following details are requested from the applicants:
- The application form must be fully completed on the official site for a student visa for Denmark. It should be printed and signed by the applicant.
- Receipt for visa fee payment printed from the official website must be printed and kept by the applicant.
- One color, passport-size photo that is no older than six months and bears a striking resemblance. It must be 3.5cm by 4.5cm.
- Any other type of travel document must be valid for at least six months, beyond the expected length of stay in Schengen, and include at least two blank pages. Passports must be valid for at least three months. Copies of the most recent visas and stamps will also be required.
- A cover letter from the Indian organization or institution that includes the applicant's name and date of birth.
- A description of the applicant's itinerary, the reason for the trip, how or why it relates to his or her current studies, and the length of expected stay in Denmark or another Schengen country.
- A copy of the organization's, school's, or establishment's student ID cards or certificates.
- An invitation, entry ticket, or enrollment confirmation from a company or institution that includes the applicant's name, the visit's intended dates, and the charges the host will be covering. For this, a VU3 form is preferred.
- Worldwide travel health insurance that is accepted in all Schengen nations. The applicant must be covered by the insurance for all risks, such as illness, medical emergency, accident, evacuation, etc., for at least thirty thousand euros or the equivalent.
The insurance must clearly state the validity period and must cover the entire length of the trip to Denmark, including the arrival and departure dates.
- Reservations for round-trip or return flights. If the applicant is visiting multiple Schengen countries, a flight reservation, train schedule, or rental car confirmation must be provided.
- Reservations for a hotel, a vacation rental place, or a college residence serve as proof of lodging. Proof of sponsorship and/or private lodging from the host is required if students want to stay with family or friends.
12.) Proof of lodging in each Schengen country they will visit if they are traveling there.
13.) When a minor or an individual under eighteen years old travels, the following documents must be presented:
- A photocopy of both parents' passports.
- Written consent from both parents or guardians having custody or guardianship of the minor.
- If the minor travels without parents or guardians, written consent from both parents or guardians having custody or guardianship of the minor, is certified by a public notary.
- A copy of the passports for both parents. A copy of the applicant's birth certificate and copies of the parents' ID cards, if appropriate.
- A copy of the passports for both parents. A copy of the applicant's birth certificate and copies of the parents' ID cards, if needed.
14.) Original, fully stamped and signed by the bank, three-month-old personal bank statement with applicant's name indicating transactions:
All candidates, regardless of sponsorship, should submit the information. It must demonstrate that they have the financial resources to cover their stay and back trip.
If students are staying in a private residence, then they must have access to three hundred and fifty DKK per day. This includes if they are staying in a hotel, the sum must be higher, five hundred DKK per day.
Insufficient funding could result in the rejection of the application.
15.) The acknowledgment of the last two assessment years' Indian income tax returns serves as proof of financial support.
If the candidate has a job
Paystubs from the previous three months; an employment contract and a letter from the employer approving any holidays or leaves are required.
If the applicant owns a business or works for themselves
A copy of the company's registration certificate is needed.
If the candidate has a sponsorship
They need to provide sponsorship proof.
If a candidate is retired
The past three months' worth of pension statements as well as documents related to regular income derived from business or property ownership.
How Can an Applicant Apply for a Student Visa in Denmark?
To pursue a higher education program in Denmark, students need to apply for a residence permit (if applicable to their case).
Eligibility Criteria for Resident Permit Application for Student
Prospective students may be given a permit to stay and study in Denmark if they have been accepted to a higher educational program there.
They also have the option of finishing a full educational program or completing a portion of it as an exchange or guest student.
Additionally, students may be given residency permission to finish a course that will prepare them for a higher education program.
If they are a citizen of an EEA or EU nation or Switzerland, then they must apply for an EU residence document rather than a residence permit.
How to Apply?
Depending on the student visa category and nationality of the student, they will need to meet the specific requirements for each visa/ permit type.
A detailed application procedure to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration for Higher Educational Programs is provided below:
1.) Create a case user Id
Students must first generate a case order ID before filing an application or an appeal with a fee.
The case type would be “Higher Education” and the fee is one thousand eight hundred and ninety (1890) DKK.
Then applicants must fill out their name, surname, and Passport number. Thereon, they must permit the immigration authorities to communicate the case order ID to the listed email (place a tick mark and provide an email address).
Moreover, they must answer “Yes” or “No” if they are exempt from paying the fee.
Fee Waiver
In some circumstances, the fee exemption is justified. Examples include:
- The EU's Association Agreement with Turkey
- Denmark's commitments abroad
Even if students are not required to pay a charge, they must still create a case order ID. They will receive a full refund of any fees they may have paid if it is not warranted.
To learn more about fee exemption, students must get in touch with the nearest Danish embassy or consulate.
- Fee Payment
Every year on January 1st, all fees are regulated by authorities for students applying for Danish higher education programs.
Keep in mind that students planning to study in Denmark must generate their Case Order ID, pay the application fee, and apply all within the same calendar year. The application can be turned down if they pay the money before January 1 and submit it after that date.
- Assemble the Documents
Students must also offer official translations into Danish or English for any documents they submit that are not written in English, German, Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish.
Prospective scholars must provide:
- A record of the “case processing fee” paid to SIRI. Make sure to attach a copy of the payment receipt.
- A copy of the passport's entire contents, including all blank pages and the front and back pages.
- Documentation proving enrollment in a school in the country of residence in case of exchange or guest student.
- Document proof to establish they sustain themselves while in Denmark.
Make sure to print a copy of the checklist.
- Fill out the Application Form
Before beginning to fill out the application form, it is a good idea to acquire the required documents. Students will require thirty minutes to finish the application.
Prospective students and the educational institution must fill out a section of the form. They can access the necessary application forms at this stage along with the educational institution.
Furthermore, students have the option of using a print form or an online form for Denmark.
Before starting, applicants must make sure to have finished all the previous steps. All of the application forms have detailed instructions on how to fill them out and what kind of supporting documents to attach.
For Online Application Form
If students apply online, they must select the ST1 application form.
The educational institution must fill out the first of the two components of the ST1 online form.
A reference number and password will be displayed once the educational institution has finished its portion, and they must give it to the students. After that, students can access the online form and finish the section.
To attach documents after completing the application form, applicants need to make sure all of the documents are ready in digital format.
Printable Application Form
The educational institution must fill out part 2 of the printed ST1 application form. They must finish the portion after the educational institution has finished theirs. Parts 1 and 2 must be finished and submitted jointly.
The required paperwork must be included with the application.
Before printing, they can fill out the word-format printable application form online. The pdf application form needs to be printed before being manually filled out.
- Submit the Application
For Submission of Forms Online
In such cases, the application is already been submitted if students have applied online. They also need to get their biometrics taken.
Application is Submitted Abroad
An application center in the nation where students currently reside or a Danish diplomatic mission both accept study applications.
Denmark doesn't have a diplomatic representation or application center in some nations. In these cases, students must contact the closest Danish diplomatic mission or application center in the area or one of the Norwegian missions with which Denmark has an agreement.
Each diplomatic post may have its requirements, such as paying additional fees or submitting more copies of the application or passport photos.
Application is Submitted in Denmark
Students can apply in Denmark if they are lawfully residing there.
The application can be submitted at one of SIRI's branch locations. They are advised to make an appointment in advance if individuals intend to submit their application to one of SIRI's branch offices. Moreover, the application can also be sent directly to SIRI.
- Biometrics
The biometric data must be collected when prospective students apply for a residence permit. This implies that they must have their fingerprints and facial image taken.
If they have been given a permit, they will receive a residence card that has a microchip installed in it that will contain their fingerprints and facial image.
The application will be denied if the applicants refuse to have their biometric features captured. Therefore, the application won't be handled as a result.
For Students who Have submitted Forms Online
The biometric data must be recorded no later than fourteen days after the prospective students submit their online application form if they have done so.
They can register for their biometrics at one of SIRI's branch offices or a Danish diplomatic post overseas.
If they are unable to schedule an appointment at a Danish diplomatic post during the allotted 14 days to have their biometric features recorded, they can email the immigration authorities. By doing this, they can keep their application from being turned down.
It is best to get in touch with the Danish embassy to learn more about the biometrics process.
- Getting an Answer
If students have done the following, then their application is regarded to have been successfully submitted:
They have generated a case order ID, paid the application price, submitted it, and had their biometric features taken.
The typical case processing time will be displayed if individuals choose to submit the application online. They will be given a response whenever the authorities reach a conclusion on the case.
If additional information is required to process the case, SIRI will get in touch with them or their employer.
Cost and Processing Time for Student Visas in Denmark
The processing time and cost of the Denmark Student Visas are as follows:
For Basic & Youth Study, Folk High Schools, and Higher Education Programs, the cost is 1890 DKK and the processing time is two months.
For Ph.D. (full-time), the processing time is one month and the cost is 1890 DKK. Guest Ph.D. also gets processed in one month but the cost is not listed on the official platform.
For students living in Denmark applying for work permit internships (as part of their educational program), there is no processing fee and the cost is not listed on the official site.
For those seeking jobs after completing an educational program (higher education or Ph.D.), there is no fee but the processing time is three months.
Students can get in touch with the Danish embassy or consulate to learn more about the cost and processing time for visas and permits.
How to Obtain a Residence Permit in Denmark while Studying?
If a student plans to stay in Denmark for less than three months, they may need to apply at the Danish embassy or consulate in their area for a visa type D. They can also apply for it if they want to stay longer than 90 days but less than 180 days or get a Schengen Visa if they plan to stay up to 90 days.
If they want to study in Denmark for more than three months: Any student planning to stay in Denmark for more than three months must apply for a student residency permit.
The higher education institution in Denmark will initiate the application procedure when the applicants ask for a student residence permit there. They will be given a password and a reference number once their institution would have finished their portion.
For Students Who Can Enter Denmark Without a Visa
If they are traveling to Denmark without a visa, they can apply for their student residence permit before they leave their home country or after they land in Denmark.
For Students Who Need a Visa for Denmark
Before an applicant travels to Denmark to pursue their studies, they must submit an application at the Danish embassy or consulate in their home country.
Do Students Need ETIAS to Study in Denmark?
Holders of ETIAS for Denmark and Schengen visas will be permitted to stay in the European Union and Schengen Region for ninety days within one hundred and eighty days.
This will not cover the period needed for completion for students enrolled in a three-year university or college course, and further clearance will be needed. Additionally, an ETIAS is only valid for 3 years, and some university degree programs may require longer.
It is completely within the purview of ETIAS holders for Denmark to enroll in short-term courses lasting a few weeks as opposed to several months. In such cases, no further approval or authorization may be necessary. Only when the course lasts ninety days or longer could issues occur.
The requirements for student visas differ by nation, but it is most probable that students planning to pursue higher education in Denmark will need more than merely ETIAS approval.
Hence, it is best to check with the Danish embassy (once ETIAS is implemented) to know whether a student will be allowed to pursue studies in Denmark if they hold an ETIAS for Denmark.
Conclusion
Three months before the arrival date is the ideal time to begin the residence permit application process.
Depending on the student’s nationality, the total time and processing periods could change because some documents need to be delivered, signed, and sealed, as well as having the biometrics taken could take time.
This guide should make it simple for students to travel to Denmark and in return, receive a top-notch education. However, make sure all the official paperwork is completed at the time of applying. Hopefully, that won't be too challenging because of the detailed guide provided in the article.
