Understanding Student Visas In Denmark

Preparing for university is a mixture of excitement, curiosity and nerves. It’s the beginning of a new chapter of your life and a time that you’ll remember for years to come. However, there’s lots of things you need to prepare in order to be ready, especially if you’re moving to a new country to study!

3 March 2023   •    4 min read

Preparing for university is a mixture of excitement, curiosity and nerves. It’s the beginning of a new chapter of your life and a time that you’ll remember for years to come. However, there’s lots of things you need to prepare in order to be ready, especially if you’re moving to a new country to study!

If you’ve decided to move to the beautiful country of Denmark for university, congratulations, you’ve made one of the best decisions of your life. Denmark has world-class study facilities, a rich history, and a vibrant culture like no other. We know you’ll just love it! To be able to make the big move to Denmark, however, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got your Denmark student visa.

At Nido, we’re dedicated to helping you reach your full potential which is why we want to support you with understanding the Denmark student visa process. We’ll take you through everything, from the Denmark student visa cost to the Denmark student visa processing time. By the end of this guide, you’ll practically be an expert! The guide will cover the following topics:

  • How do you know if you need a student visa for Denmark?
  • Steps for applying for a Danish student visa
  • How long does it take to get a Danish visa?
  • Denmark student visa requirements
  • How much does a Denmark student visa cost?
  • Can you work in Denmark as an international student?

So let’s get started with learning everything there is to know about a Denmark student visa, shall we?

How Do You Know If You Need A Student Visa For Denmark?

So, you might be wondering, how do you even know if you need a student visa for Denmark? When you study abroad as an international student, in most cases you’ll need a student visa to be allowed to study, and this is no different for students moving to Denmark for university.

We want to help get rid of any stresses or concerns you have about starting university which is why we’re here to support you with everything you need to know about the Denmark student visa. It depends where you currently live and are a citizen of as to whether you need a Denmark student visa:

  • If you are not an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen – If you’re not currently an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit to be able to study and live in Denmark.
  • If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizenYou don’t need to apply for the regular residence permit. Instead, you must apply for an EU residence document.

The great news about residence permits in Denmark is that they’re valid for the whole of your course which means you don’t need to re-apply each year, like in many other countries!

 

Steps for Applying for a Danish Student Visa

If you’ve never applied for a student visa for Denmark before, you may feel confused or overwhelmed by the application process. However, applying for your Denmark student visa couldn’t be easier!

There are 6 simple steps you need to follow to get your Denmark student visa in no time at all:

  • Get accepted into a Danish university – The university must be publicly accredited and you need to have accepted your place before you can submit your Denmark student visa application. Sometimes you may be asked to pay an enrollment fee in order to accept your university place, but this will depend on where you plan to study.
  • Use the online portal on the New to Denmark site – Once you’ve accepted your place at a Danish university, you can create a new case order ID on the New to Denmark website. To do this, you’ll need to supply information such as your full name, email address and passport number. To submit the case ID, you need to pay the application fee.
  • Gather your documentation – As part of your Denmark student visa application, you’ll need to provide important documents. It’s a great idea to gather up your documents and keep them to hand so that you can fill out your application form easily and quickly.
  • Fill in your application form – Once you’ve got the right documents, you can fill out the application form and submit it online through the portal. If you’d prefer to fill out a paper application, that’s fine too! You simply need to fill out the form and take it to your nearest application centre.
  • Record important biometric data – The last thing you need to do to be able to get a student visa for Denmark is to record your biometric features at an application centre or police station. Biometric features include your photograph, fingerprints and signature, and you must do this within 14 days of submitting your application form.
  • Wait to hear – You’ve done the main parts and you can breathe a sigh of relief! How long does it take to get a Danish visa once you’ve submitted your application? You should usually receive a decision within around 2 months.

Take a look at the official New to Denmark website to understand each step of the process.

 

How long does it take to get a Danish visa?

It’s important for you to get prepared as early as possible when moving to a new country to study because, if your Denmark student visa doesn’t arrive in time, you won’t be allowed to enter the country to begin your degree.

So, how long does it take to get a Danish visa? The answer is: it depends on a number of factors!

According to the New to Denmark website, they aim to get back to you within 1 month of submitting your application. However, it can take around 60 days for the information to be processed if you’re travelling from:

  • America
  • India
  • Canada
  • Iran
  • Indonesia
  • Egypt
  • Bangladesh
  • Philippines

If you’re travelling from one of the following countries, the Denmark student visa processing time may take up to 6 months:

  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Kenya
  • Ghana

If there are any issues with your application, or they need to request more information, you may need to wait longer to receive your student visa for Denmark. Don’t worry though, you’ll be kept in the loop and updated on each step of your application so you’ll know if there’s anything else you need to do in order to get it approved.

 

Denmark student visa requirements

We’ve talked about the Denmark student visa application process, but you may still be wondering about the Denmark student visa requirements to be able to apply in the first place.

To get a student visa in Denmark, requirements have to be met such as proof of funds and acceptance letters. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered! We’ve put together a list of documents you’ll need to meet the Denmark student visa requirements:

  • Your university acceptance letter, along with information about your programme of study
  • Proof of accommodation for while you’re studying
  • A valid passport (or other travel ID document)
  • Passport photo
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • Proof of payment of your residence permit fee
  • Application form which has been filled in and signed
  • Travel insurance
  • Proof of funds (usually around €1000 a month)

Within 3 months of arriving in Denmark, you’ll need to present:

  • Your passport
  • 2 passport-style photos
  • Your university admission letter

If you’re a non-EU or EEA citizen over 18 years old, you must also have a digital recording of your photograph, fingerprints and disnature when you apply for your Denmark student visa.

 

How Much Does A Danish Student Visa Cost?

Let’s talk about the thing on the front of everyone’s minds: Money!

We understand that you’ll need to factor any Denmark student visa application fees into your student budget, which is why we want to give you as much information as possible on the Denmark student visa cost. Want to find out more about the cost of living in Denmark for students? Take a look at our recent blog!

So, how much will your Denmark student visa cost? To apply for the visa, you’ll need to pay a fee of €255. However, to meet the Denmark student visa requirements, you’ll also need to provide proof of funds. This means that, while you don’t need to spend any money on this, you need to be able to prove that you still have access to that amount of money.

To be able to receive your student visa for Denmark, you also need to provide information such as proof of English language proficiency. To do this, you may need to pay money to take a formal test. Other costs can include:

  • New passport photos
  • Updating your passport if it has less than 6 months left on it
  • Travel insurance
  • Accommodation costs

This may sound like a lot of money but don’t panic! As you’ll be studying away from home, a lot of these costs will occur anyway, such as accommodation fees and travel insurance. So, it may sound expensive but a lot of these costs you’ll already have covered in your budget!

 

Can you work in Denmark as an international student?

Moving to a new country to study offers so many amazing opportunities. From meeting new people to experiencing a new culture, there are endless amounts of fun to be had when you study abroad! What better way to learn more about Denmark’s rich culture than by becoming part of it and working alongside your studies?

That’s right, as an international student, you can work in Denmark while you study. This means you can make some money while also immersing yourself into the wonderful culture in Denmark!It’s important to know that there are some limitations on working hours for international students. If you’re a Nordic, EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, there are no restrictions. However, for non-EU/EEA and non-Nordic students, you can only work in Denmark for up to 20 hours a week between September-May, and up to 37 hours a week between June-August.

 

Still Looking For The Perfect Student Accommodation in Denmark?

Moving to Denmark to study is an exciting opportunity that will help you create memories to last a lifetime. However, we understand that preparing to study abroad can feel daunting, especially when it comes to applying for your Denmark student visa.

By following our guide, you’ll be able to understand the Denmark student visa requirements, application process and learn other information such as whether you can work while at university.

Are you still looking for accommodation in Denmark so that you can provide proof of accommodation for your Denmark student visa? We can help!

At Nido, we provide contemporary student accommodation in Copenhagen that doubles as a social hub. With a range of facilities including study spaces, social areas, and a yoga and wellness room, you can relax, study, thrive, and live your best life. We’re all about creating the perfect study-life balance that works for you, so come and join the Nido family!

Take an in-person tour of Nido Bryggen or try our 360 virtual tour to see where you’ll be living.

Want to explore other Nido locations? We have accommodation in countries such as the UK, Ireland, Germany, Spainand Portugal. If you have any questions about becoming part of the Nido family, get in touch with us!

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