Internship - extension

You wish to extend your residence permit, and you are still working as an intern for the same internship host.

Normal processing time
3 months

Processing fee
DKK 4,210,-

Can I extend my permit?

You can extend your residence permit if you are still working as an intern for the same internship host, and if you have not exceeded the maximum period permitted for your type of internship.

You can read more about the validity of your permit here

It is very important that you apply for extension before your current permit expires.

If you do not apply for extension before your permit expires, you no longer have the right to stay in Denmark – and an application submitted in Denmark will usually be rejected.

If you submit your application for an extension in time, you can stay in Denmark while SIRI is assessing you application for an extension – even if your permit expires.

You can apply for extension of your residence permit no earlier than 3 months before your permit expires.

What are the conditions for extending a permit?

You can apply for extension of your residence and work permit if no changes have been made to your employment. This means that you must be employed in the same position, in the same workplace and under the same terms.

It is a condition that you have received salary in accordance with your contract during the full period of your employment. 

Among other things, this means that you must not have taken holiday or leave without pay for more than 5 weeks.

 

Your internship must still supplement the educational programme you have begun or completed in your home country or another country where you have been a legal resident.

If you are an intern in architecture your education must not be completed.

If you are an agricultural or horticultural intern, you must not have completed your education either.

If your internship is unpaid you must still be able to document that you can support yourself when applying for an extension.

You must have an amount at your disposal corresponding to DKK 7,086 (2025 level) for each month you will be staying in Denmark.

Documentation can be in the form of a bank statement or a copy of a scholarship certificate. It is important that the documentation is in your name. You will not meet the requirement if someone else supports you.

You can read more about the requirement for self-support here.

You must not have been receiving public benefits under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act, e.g. social security benefits.

What rights does a permit give me?

What can you do with Danish residence permit as an intern? – and what can you not do?

 

You can only work in the position and for the internship host that you have been granted a permit to work for.

If you are offered a new job, you must apply for a new permit. This also applies if you are offered a new position, e.g. as a herdsman, in the same workplace. 

A Danish residence and work permit does not allow you to work in other Schengen countries.

A residence and work permit allows you to stay in Denmark for the period when your permit is valid. 

Moreover, a permit allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within the past 180 days. 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 longer than 6 successive months. A violation 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, i.e. if you are stationed abroad for a period of time by your employer, you can apply for dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing.

You can read more about permit lapse and dispensation options here.

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 together with other foreign nationals who have arrived in Denmark recently.

When living in Denmark, there are a number of things to acquaint yourself with. Depending on your personal situation, you might need other important information and options.

You might already have done what is necessary, but if you still have any questions, the portal lifeindenmark.dk provides you with information, links and in many cases also options concerning the most important subjects such as:

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

For how long time can I stay in Denmark?

If you are an intern within the green sector, you can be granted a residence and work permit valid for up to 18 months – however, the validity period cannot exceed the contract period. If you attend a Danish agricultural school or technical school for a period of 6 to 8 months as a supplement to your internship, you can be granted a residence permit for up to 24 months in total.

If you are an intern within the health sector, within architecture or an intern within the field of ‘other interns’, you can be granted a residence and work permit valid for up to 18 months - however, the validity period cannot exceed the length of the internship.

If you find a new job, you must submit a new application based on the new job – it can again be as an intern or it can be via another of our work schemes. 

You must not begin working in your new job before you have been granted a new residence and work permit.

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 the otherwise possible period of stay, 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 more about the requirements on your passport

Can my family’s residence permits be extended?

Normally, it is not possible for your family members to accompany you to Denmark when you have a residence permit as an intern. Read more about accompanying family members here

What more to know before I apply?

An application for extension of a residence permit as an intern is processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

You are only able to extend your permit if you are still working as an intern for the same internship host.
Before submitting your application, you must create an SB-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 forms.

Please note that Turkish citizens applying as interns and receiving salary from the place of internship, are exempt from paying the fee. Applicants who instead do not receive salary but receive, for example, a scholarship must pay the fee. Also note that a case order ID must always be created.

Your place of internship must fill in their part of the form first. When your place of internship has completed their part, you will receive an email with a link to your part.

SIRI will contact you or your place of internship 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.

Please note that Turkish citizens applying as interns and receiving salary from the place of internship, are exempt from paying the fee. Applicants who instead do not receive salary but receive, for example, a scholarship must pay the fee. Also note that a case order ID must always be created

It is a good idea to gather the necessary documents before you start to complete the application. You can use the check list below.

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

 

If you are doing an internship in the green sector (the agricultural, veterinary, forestry or horticultural field), you must also submit:

If you are doing an internship in another sector, you must submit:

Expect to use

30-40 minutes

completing the application

2 persons

You and your place of internship are each required to complete a part of the form.

In this step you and your place of internship have access to the relevant application form.

Make sure that you have completed all the preceeding steps before you begin.

All our application forms contain careful instructions on how to complete the form and what kind of documents you must submit along with the form.

Your place of internship must fill in their part of the form first. When your place of internship has completed their part, you will receive an email with a link to your part.

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

If you need to start a new application, use the updated PR2:
Updated PR2
If you have started an application before 2 April 2025 that you want to complete and send to us, use the original PR2. Please note that the original PR2 will not be available after 25 April 2025 and you will then have to start over with the updated PR2.

Original PR2

Please note that it is mandatory to use this application form. Under special circumstances, you can be exempted from the requirement to use an online application form. You can read more here.

Please note that it is mandatory to fill in your passport number in this application form. If you are not in possession of a valid passport, you can contact us for guidance. You can find our contact information here.

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

Log in to see your applications

When you apply for an extension of your 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.

SIRI can, as a rule, only start processing your application once you have had your biometric features recorded. This must happen  no later than 14 days after you submitted your application.

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 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 if we need further information to process your case.

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

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Last updated 02-04-2025 - Published by: SIRI