Published 01-05-2025 - Last updated: 25-04-2026
New rules for third-country students in non-state-approved higher educational programmes
The rules will affect both third-country students in non-state-approved higher educational programmes and their accompanying family members.
On 30 April 2025, the Ministry of Immigration and Integration published an amendment to the ‘Executive Order on the granting of residence and work per-mits to students’ (the Executive Order on study programmes). The amendment means that students from third-countries in non-state-approved higher educational programmes will no longer be granted limited work permits, 6-month job search stays and the right to bring accompanying family.
The changes will apply from 2 May 2025 and only apply to applications for a residence permit as a student or accompanying family submitted from 2 May 2025.
The purpose of the changes is to ensure that residence permits are only granted to third-country students whose real intention is to study in Denmark.
The changes do not apply to foreign nationals who have applied for or been granted a residence permit as a student in a non-state-approved higher educational programme before 2 May 2025. These students will continue to have the right to a limited work permit and a 6-month job seeking permit. These students will continue with the same rights if they apply for an extension of their residence permit from 2 May 2025. These students can get residence permits in Denmark for their minor children, even if the children applied on or after 2 May 2025.
The changes also do not apply to foreign nationals who have applied for or been granted a residence permit as an accompanying family member of a student in a non-state-approved higher educational programme before 2 May 2025. These accompanying family members will continue with the same rights if they apply for an extension of their residence permit from 2 May 2025.
Spouses, cohabiting partners and registered partners who apply for a residence permit as an accompanying family member of a student in a non-state-approved higher educational programme on or after 2 May 2025 are subject to the new rules and will therefore not be able to get a residence permit as an accompanying family member of the student.
Read about the new rules for accompanying family members
Read the Executive Order on study programmes (in Danish only)
