Applying for a Denmark Residence Permit? Read This.

If you're hoping to stay in Denmark for more than 90 days, chances are you need to apply for a residence permit.

Many Schengen countries offer long stay visas that follow similar processes of Schengen visas (for certain travelers spending less than 90 days in the Schengen area).

Denmark is a little bit different. Whether you're heading to study, work, or join family, if it's more than 90 days you must apply for residency.

But how do you do that? And is there just one type of residence permit? Or multiple? We'll fill you in with what you need to know here, giving you the confidence you need to take the next step towards your journey to Denmark.

Do I need to apply for a Denmark residence permit?

If you plan to stay in Denmark for more than 90 days, you need to apply for residency. (Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish citizens are exempt).

The Danish Immigration Service and the SIRI (the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) both manage and facilitate the application process - not an embassy or consulate, as is true with short stay visas (under 90 days).

Whether you're heading to Denmark to study abroad, work, visit a family member, or something else, if you're staying for longer than 90 days, applying is mandatory.

Which Danish resident permit do I need?

There are several types of residence permits available, and the one you should apply for is the one that matches your purpose for traveling to Denmark.

Common residence permit categories are:

• Students
• Family
• Work
• Au Pair
• PhD
• Internship

However, there are many other categories, including asylum seekers, religious workers, and more.

Some categories, such as the work category, have subcategories within them. The New to Denmark official website gives detailed information about each one.

How to apply for a residence permit for Denmark

First, make sure you know which residence permit applies to you, whether that's student, au pair, etc. If applicable, know the sub category too (such as Researcher, Herdsmen and Farm Managers, etc.).

The process starts on the New to Denmark official site.

There, you will see the requirements for each type of residence permit, including which documents you will need to include in your application.

Regardless of which specific residence permit you qualify for and must apply for, the general application process is as follows:

• Start on the New to Denmark official website.
• Create a new case order ID.
• Pay the application fee.
• Begin gathering the documentation needed for your application.
• Complete your application. In some cases, you may need to complete your application with a third party. This means that if you are a student, the Danish university must fill out a section of your application. If you are a skilled worker, your employer must fill out part of it. The website will prompt you and let you know if someone else needs to contribute to your application or not.
• Provide your biometrics. While most of the residency application can be conveniently completed online, there is an in-person part that is mandatory. Within 14 days of submitting your application, you must submit your fingerprints and a facial image in person at a Danish diplomatic mission or visa application center.
• Wait for an answer! Different permits may have different processing times. The New to Denmark website will tell you the current processing time for your permit during the application process.

FAQs about Denmark residence permits