Warning issued when you as a student has been working illegally

As a student enrolled in a PhD or a higher educational programme in Denmark, including a master's degree programme for working professionals, you have a limited work permit in addition to your residence permit.

Whether you are a student in a higher educational programme or a master’s degree programme for working professionals, there is a difference in how many hours the limited work permit allows you to work.

If you are a student in a higher educational programme, the work permit allows you to work 90 hours per month and full-time in June, July and August. Residence cards issued before 1 July 2024 will state that you have the right to work 20 hours per week. However, from 1 July 2024 onwards, you have the right to work 90 hours per month.

If you are a student in a master’s degree programme for working professionals, the work permit allows you to work 112.5 hours per month and full-time in June, July and August for a specific employer. The employer and number of hours will be stated on your residence card.

Your permit as a student in Denmark can be revoked if you work illegally. You work illegally if you work more hours than allowed, or if you work without a permit.

In case of minor violations, e.g. if you have only exceeded the work limit with a few hours or for a short period of time, your permit will not be revoked but you will receive a warning. A warning is valid for 2 years from the date SIRI decides to issue the warning. In addition, you can be fined for illegal work. 

If you continue to work illegally during the warning period, SIRI can revoke your permit, meaning that you will have to leave Denmark.

If you exceed the work limit to a significant extent, you will not receive a warning. SIRI will revoke your permit immediately, and you will have to leave Denmark. In this case, you can also be fined for illegal work.