Master’s degree programme for working professionals

You are going to study a master’s degree programme for working professionals in Denmark.

Processing fee
DKK 2,255,-

Normal processing time
2 months

Who can receive a residence permit as a student?

If you have been admitted to a master's degree programme for working professionals in Denmark, you can be granted a permit to live and study in Denmark.

You can be granted a residence and work permit as a student on a master's degree programme for working professionals, if you are to complete the entire programme in Denmark. 

If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you do not need to apply for a residence permit, but must instead apply for an EU residence document.

Read more about EU residence

What are the conditions?

It is a requirement that you are admitted to the master's degree programme for working professionals in Denmark, which is organised as a part time study. 

It is also a requirement that the educational instituition in Denmark has assessed in advance that you have documented an employment agreement with an employer. This employment agreement must concern relevant concurrent employment on the basis of a bachelor’s degree or another type of relevant education on the same educational level as a minimum.

You must be able to speak and understand the language of instruction at a level that allows you to actively participate in the courses you are attending.

The educational institution must be publically accredited.

See the list of publically accredited educational institutions

The educational programme itself must be approved by a state authority.

You must have sufficient funds to be able to support yourself during your stay in Denmark.

You have sufficient funds, if your disposable amount corresponds to DKK 7,086 (2025 level) per month. You must multiply the amount with the number of months you will be studying at a master's degree programme for working professionals in Denmark. If you are studying for more than one year, you must be able to document funds for 12 months. That means a maximum of DKK 85,032 (2025 level).

What documentation can you submit:

  • Employment contract with a monthly income that corresponds to the monthly rates for a state study grant scholarship (in Danish: SU-stipendium) for students studying a higher education who are living independently.
  • Bank statement that shows:
    Date of the statement (maximum 30 days old at the time of submission of application)
    Your full name
    Balance
    Currency
  • Documentation showing that your financial support is secured via a scholarship or a student loan.
    Your scholarship or student loan must be granted to you, and the sum must correspond to DKK 7,086 (2025 level) per month, for each month that you are studying in Denmark.
    If you are studying in Denmark for more than a year, the sum must correspond to a maximum of DKK DKK 85,032 (2025 level).

If you submit more than one bank statement, both statements must be from the same date.

Please note that we only accept documentation for liquid assets (that means assets that can quickly be realised into cash, which you have access to. Therefore, we do not accept restricted stocks, bonds or an investment portfolio as documentation).

A bank statement under another person's name (e.g. your parents), or a statement from others saying that your financial support is secured, will not be accepted as documentation either.

Read about the requirement for self-support

If you are to pay a tuition fee for studying in the educational programme, and if you have already paid tuition that, as a minimum, corresponds to the tuition for the first semester, this is accepted as documentation showing that you have sufficient funds. In this case, you do not need to provide additional documentation for self-support.

What are my rights if I am granted a permit?

What are you allowed to do with a Danish residence permit as a student? And what are you not allowed to do?

A residence permit as a student allows you to reside and study a master's degree programme for working professionals in Denmark for the period of time your permit is valid.

Additionally, a permit allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180 days period.

However, the permit does not allow you to work in other Schengen countries

You must not give up your Danish address or stay abroad for more than 6 successive months. A violation of this rule will result in the lapse of your permit. This means that you will lose your right to stay in Denmark.

If you need to stay abroad for a longer period of time, you can apply for a dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing.

Read about permit lapse and dispensation options

Read about applying for dispensation and apply for dispensation 

As a student studying a master's degree programme for working professionals, you will be granted a limited work permit to a relevant part-time employment at a specific company, in addition to your residence permit.

This means that the work permit only gives you the right to work for the employer that your educational institution has approved. The work permit is valid within the same period in which you are studying and is not valid during the job-seeking period.

You are allowed to work:

  • 112.5 hours per month and 
  • full-time through June, July and August.

The work permit for the specific employer is not valid during the job-seeking period of 6 months that you are normally given if you complete an entire master's degree programme for working professionals.

This is because, along with your job-seeking permit, you will be given a work permit that allows you to work no more than 90 hours per month and work full-time in the months of June, July and August.

If you are going to be working full-time during your job-seeking stay, you must apply for a work permit without limitations. You can start working at your full-time employment as soon as you have applied for a work permit without limitations. 

Read more about how to apply for a work permit without limitations

It will be regarded as illegal work if you work more hours than you are allowed to. 

Read about illegal work 

Read more about working conditions in Denmark and 'The Danish labour market model'

However, you are allowed to do unlimited hours of unpaid voluntary work for an organisation or association if the work is a benefit to society. 

Read more about unpaid voluntary work

Hours spent on doing unpaid voluntary work do not count as part of your limited work permit. 

When you are studying a master's degree programme for working professionals, it is a requirement for your educational institution in Denmark to assess whether you are hired under terms of employment that meet the condtions for relevant part-time employment.

Therefore, if you change jobs while studying a master’s degree programme for working professionals, you must apply for a new work permit.

Apply for a work permit for students by using the application ST4:

Application for a work permit for students

When you have applied for a work permit for your new job, you are allowed to begin working until your case has been processed. You must apply for the work permit no later than the day you start working at your new job. 

You must be able to support yourself and your family members if they live with you in Denmark during your stay. Therefore, you are not allowed to apply for public benefits, e.g. benefits under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act and state study grants (in Danish: SU), including the public transportation pass "Ungdomskort".

If you receive public benefits for support, your permit can be revoked and you will lose your right to stay in Denmark. 

If an authority, e.g. a municipality, disburses benefits to foreign nationals, SIRI will be notified.

See a list of benefits that you are not allowed to receive

With a residence permit in Denmark, you are entitled to free Danish lessons. However, you must have turned 18 years and have your Danish address registered in the Danish National Register.

If you have a residence permit in Denmark based on work, study, etc. you have to pay a deposit before you can start receiving lessons. Be aware that you can lose your deposit if you do not pass the different modules within a specific timeframe.

Your municipality of residence is obliged to offer you Danish lessons and refer you to a language centre. If you have not been offered Danish lessons within a month after registering your address in Denmark, you can contact your municipality.

You will (typically) be taught with other foreign nationals who have arrived in Denmark recently.

If you are going to stay, study and work in Denmark, there are a number of things to acquaint yourself with. Depending on your personal situation, you might need other important types of information and options.
The portal lifeindenmark.dk provides you with information, links and in many cases also options concerning the most important topicssubjects such as:

  • MitID
  • The CPR register
  • Health card
  • Tax matters
  • Holiday entitlements
  • School and daycare
  • Housing
  • Danish lessons
  • Car registration and driver’s license

Read more on lifeindenmark.dk

How long can I stay in Denmark?

You can stay in Denmark for the standard (nominal) duration of your educational programme, provided that you are actively participating in the programme. 

If you do not complete your educational programme within the nominal period of study, it is important that you apply for an extension of your permit.

Your permit can be extended for a maximum of 1 year. As a rule, your permit cannot be extended further if you prolong your studies by more than a year.

However, if the prolonging of your studies is caused by pregnancy or parental leave, your permit can be extended by an additional year. In these cases, your permit can be extended for a maximum of 2 years in total.

You must apply for an extension no later than the day your permit expires - however, you must not apply for an extension earlier than 4 months before your permit for studying expires.

If you change your educational programme, you must apply for a new residence permit for the new programme. You are allowed to start your new educational programme while you wait for us to reach a decision regarding your case.

When you are starting a master's degree programme for working professionals in Denmark, you will, alongside your residence permit as a student, receive a residence permit of 6 months for when you have finished your educational programme, in order to search for employment. 

If your residence permit has been shortened because your passport has expired, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit. If your residence permit is extended, you will also receive a permit for a 6 months job-seeking permit

Apply for a 6 months job-seeking permit by using the application ST5: 

Application for a 6 months job-seeking permit

Alongside your residence permit for a 6 months job-seeking permit, you will also get a limited work permit. The permit gives you the right to work 90 hours per month in the job-seeking period and to work full-time in the months of June, July and August. 

If you are going to work full-time in your job-seeking period, you must apply for a work permit without limitations. 

With a work permit without limitations, it is not a requirement for you to work for a specific employer and there is no limit to how little or how much you can work.

You can start working full-time from the day you apply and while SIRI process your application.

Apply for a work permit without limitations with the application ST7:

Work permit during job-seeking stay

The purpose of the job-seeking period is for you to find employment in Denmark, after you have completed your educational programme. If you receive a job offer during your job-seeking period, you can apply for a new residence and work permit, based on the job you have been offered.

Apply for a residence and work permit on the basis of work

A residence permit can only be valid until 3 months before the expiry date of your passport.

If your passport has a shorter validity than theperiod of stay that is otherwise possible, your residence permit will be shortened. This means that the validity of your residence permit will be shorter than it could be. When you have renewed your passport, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit – however, this can only be done 3 months before your permit expires at the earliest.

Read about the passport requirements

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Can my family be granted a residence permit?

A residence and work permit as a student studying a master's degree programme for working professionals in Denmark allows your family to live with you in Denmark.

A permit can only be granted to your spouse, registered or cohabiting partner as well as children under the age of 18 living at home.

Read about accompanying family members

What more do I need to know before I apply?

An application for a residence permit on the basis of studies is processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). If you are in Denmark when submitting the application, you must be here legally.

Read more about legal submission

You must be admitted to a master's degree programme for working professionalsin Denmark to be able to apply.

Before submitting your application, you must create a case order ID for your application and pay a fee to cover SIRI’s case processing expenses.  You can do this on the “How to apply” tab to the right.

Here you also find the relevant application. You can choose between an online application or a paper application.

The educational institution must complete one of two parts of the application.

If you use the online application, the educational institution must complete their part first. We will let you know by e-mail when the educational institution has completed their part and you can begin your part. 

The educational institution must write your e-mail address in their part. You must use the link in the e-mail to sign up as a user with the same e-mail address to access your part.

Make sure that the e-mail address the educational institution writes is the same e-mail address as the one you intend to sign up with

If you use the paper application, the application process is generally initiated by the educational institution. 

Please note that, as a rule, SIRI will refuse your application for a residence permit on new grounds, if the application is submitted prematurely in relation to the wished for start date for your stay in Denmark.

If you submit such an application earlier than 6 months before your stay in Denmark will begin, you can expect a refusal to your application. If you have paid SIRI's case processing fee, you will not receive a refund of the fee.

SIRI will contact you or the educational institution if we need further information to process your case.

Below, you will find a step-by-step guide to submitting an application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

It is important that you have carefully read the conditions for being granted a residence permit before you begin step 1. You can do this on the tab “Need to know” on the left.

It is a good idea to gather the necessary documents before you start to complete the application.

You can use this check list and download the declartion you might need below.

If you submit documents not written in English or Danish, you must also submit certified translations into Danish or English.

Before you submit the application, it is important that you gather the following:

Download Sworn declaration and information (PDF) (sign and attach if you do not sign the application with MitID)

Expect to use

30-40 minutes

per person to complete the application

2 persons

You and your educational institution are each required to complete a part of the application form.

In this step you and your educational institution have access to the relevant application forms. You can choose between an online and a print application.

Make sure that you have read the instructions under the tab 'Need to know', and that you have completed all the proceeding steps under this tab before you begin.

You must fill out all of the sections in the application. Additionally, you must inform us of your previous place(s) of education and your previous work experience under the section concerning your qualifications. The instructions in the application will show you what documenation has to be attached to each section.

Read more about how we process your personal data

 

Online applications

If you apply online, you must choose the application ST1 below.

In the ST1 online form, your educational institution must complete the first of the two parts of the form.

Make sure that you have all documents ready in digital form, in order to attach them as you complete the application form.


ST1

 

Printable applicatios

In the printable application ST1 your educational institution must complete part 2 of the form. When your educational institution has completed their part, you must complete your part. Once parts 1 and 2 have been completed, they must be submitted together – read more in the next step.

You must submit the necessary documents with the application.

The printable application in Word format can be completed on screen before you print. The application form in pdf format must be printed first and then completed by hand.

Download the printable form ST1 (Word format) 

Download the printable form ST1 (Pdf format)

You can find your ongoing and completed applications for 30 days from your last login.

Log in to see your applications

You have applied online

If you have applied online, your application has already been submitted. Read more about having your biometrics recorded in the next step.

You are submitting the application abroad

The application can be submitted to a Danish diplomatic mission or an application centre in the country where you are residing.

See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ list of diplomatic missions or application centres where you can hand in your application (opens in a new window)

In certain countries Denmark does not have a diplomatic mission or application centre. In these instances the list will refer you to one of the Norwegian missions with which Denmark has made an agreement or to the nearest Danish diplomatic mission or application centre in the region.

We recommend that you visit the local diplomatic mission’s webpage to get more information before you submit the application. The individual diplomatic mission can have additional requirements regarding payment of additional fees, submission of additional passport photos or additional copies of the application.

You are submitting the application in Denmark

If you are residing legally in Denmark, you are normally able to submit the application in Denmark. This is the case, if you:

  • hold a valid visa
  • are exempt from the visa requirement or
  • already hold a valid residence permit.

Read more about the legal residence requirement and submission of your application in Denmark. 

You can submit the applicaton in one of SIRI’s branch offices.

If you plan to submit your application in one of SIRI’s branch offices, you must remember to book an appointment. 

You can also send the application to SIRI.

When you apply for a residence permit, you must have your biometric features recorded. This means that you must have a facial photo taken and your fingerprints recorded. The facial photo and your fingerprints will be stored on a microchip embedded in the residence card, which will be issued to you if you are granted a permit.

If you do not agree to have your biometric features recorded, your application will be rejected. This means that your application will not be processed.

Read more about biometrics here

You have applied online

If you have submitted an online application form, you must have your biometric features recorded no later than 14 days after you submitted your application.

Your biometric features can be recorded at

If you are unable to have your biometric features recorded within the time limit of 14 days, because you are unable to book an appointment at a Danish diplomatic mission, you can inform us by email of the appointed time you will have your biometrics recorded. This way you can avoid having your application rejected.

You are are submitting the application abroad

If you submit an printable application form, you can have your biometric features recorded at a Danish diplomatic mission or an application centre in the country, where you reside.

See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ list of diplomatic missions or application centres where you can have your biometric features recorded (opens i a new window)

In certain countries Denmark does not have a diplomatic mission or application centre. In these instances the list will refer you to one of the Norwegian missions with which Denmark has made an agreement or to the nearest Danish diplomatic mission or application centre in the region.

If you submit your application to a Norwegian diplomatic mission, you must also submit one passport photo. If you are granted a residence permit based on your application, you must within a specific time frame after your entry to Denmark have your biometric features recorded.

We recommend that you visit the local diplomatic mission’s webpage to get more information before you submit the application. The individual diplomatic mission can have additional requirements regarding payment of additional fees, submission of additional passport photos or additional copies of the application.

You are submitting the application in Denmark

If you are residing legally in Denmark, you are normally able to have your biometric features recorded in Denmark. This is the case, if you:

  • hold a valid visa

  • are exempt from the visa requirement or

  • already hold a valid residence permit.

Read about the legal residence requirement and submission of your application in Denmark

You can have your biometric features recorded in one of SIRI’s branch offices. 

If you plan to have your biometrics recorded in one of SIRI’s branch offices, you must remember to book an appointment

You have submitted your application succesfully if you have:

  • created a case order ID
  • paid the fee
  • submitted the application
  • had your biometric features recorded

You can see the normal case processing time to the right on this page. When we make a decision in your case, you will receive an answer.

SIRI will contact you or your employer/educational institution if we need further information to process your case.

Your residence card will automatically be sent to the address that has been registered under your name in the Civil Registration System (CPR). It is important that your name is written on your mailbox. If your name is not written on your mailbox, there is a chance that the residence card will not be delivered to you, and that it will be sent back to SIRI instead.

Read about what you can expect while you are waiting for an answer

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Last updated 01-07-2025 - Published by: SIRI