Denmark PhD studies

Residence permit for a full-time PhD programme linked to a Danish educational institution, with or without a salary from the university or an affiliated company. ^{1 2}

What you must show and pay

• Savings of at least DKK 7,426 a month (≈ $1,110) · Only for unsalaried PhD students: per month of study in Denmark, documented for at most 12 months (DKK 89,112, (≈ $13,300) 2026 level). A salary from the university or an affiliated company covers self-support. ^{1 2}
• A fee of DKK 3,060 (≈ $460) · Processing fee; normal processing 1 month, up to 2 months. ¹

Requirements

• The applicant is enrolled in a full-time PhD programme at a Danish institution. ¹
• The applicant can speak and understand the language of instruction and understands Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German reasonably well. ¹
• A salaried PhD student shows the employment contract instead of funds. ¹
• An unsalaried PhD student shows DKK 7,426 (≈ $1,110) per month of study (2026 level), for at most 12 months (DKK 89,112 (≈ $13,300)). ¹
• The processing fee is DKK 3,060 (≈ $460). ¹
• A bank statement shows the date, the name, the balance and the currency and is no more than 30 days old. ¹
• On a flexible PhD model (3+5 or 4+4) the applicant chooses one permit for the full programme or two separate permits. ¹
• The permit does not lapse if the holder gives up the Danish address or stays abroad more than 6 successive months. ¹
• A 3-year job-seeking permit is generally granted with the permit; the limited work permit also applies in that period, and the official page gives its limit once as 90 hours a month and once as 20 hours a week, with full-time work in June, July and August. ¹
• To work more than the limited hours in the job-seeking period, the holder applies for a work permit without limitations after finishing the programme. ¹

Stay

• For the nominal length of the PhD programme; a 3-year job-seeking permit is generally granted for after the degree.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Third-country nationals; EU/EEA and Swiss citizens apply for an EU residence document instead. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

Full-time work at the university or affiliated company for tasks that are part of the PhD, plus a limited permit for extra work: 90 hours per month from September to May and full time in June, July and August; extra work naturally related to the PhD is not limited. The limited work permit also covers the 3-year job-seeking period; the official page gives the limit there once as 90 hours a month and once as 20 hours a week (full time June to August).

Family

Spouse, registered or cohabiting partner and children under 18 living at home can get residence permits as accompanying family members.

Fine print

The official PhD page states the work limit in the job-seeking period in two ways (90 hours a month in the work section, 20 hours a week in the job-seeking section); checked 12 October 2026.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. PhD studies (full degree) · Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) · checked 2026-10-11
2. Financial self-support on specific SIRI schemes · Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) · checked 2026-10-11
3. Permanent residence permit · Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) · checked 2026-10-10
4. Conditions for foreign citizens' acquisition of Danish citizenship · Life in Denmark (borger.dk), Danish public sector portal · checked 2026-10-11
5. Researcher · Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) · checked 2026-10-10