Denmark's immigration authority, the Danish Immigration Service (SIRI), has published the complete list of documents that foreign nationals must submit when applying for a student residence permit in 2026. The requirements apply to all nationalities seeking to study at higher education institutions in Denmark.
Key Documents Required for All Applicants
According to SIRI's official guidance, every student applying for a Danish residence permit must gather the following before submitting their application:
- Proof of payment of the case processing fee to SIRI. Applicants must attach a bank receipt or statement; a payment status displayed on a website is not accepted as valid proof.
- Copies of all pages of the applicant's passport, including blank pages and both the front and back covers.
- Proof of enrolment at an educational institution in the applicant's home country, required for guest or exchange students.
- Documentation showing the applicant has sufficient funds to support themselves financially throughout their stay in Denmark.
Applicants may also be required to have their documents translated before submission, as per SIRI's guidance.
Additional Requirements for Applicants Under 18
Students below the age of 18 must submit a separate set of documents in addition to the standard requirements:
- A declaration of consent from both parents, permitting the applicant to study in Denmark. Both parents must sign the document.
- A copy of the applicant's birth certificate, along with copies of the data pages in both parents' passports.
Educational institutions enrolling applicants under 18 must also submit a signed and stamped declaration confirming that the student will have proper housing and study conditions in Denmark.
Availability of Declaration Forms and Next Steps
SIRI provides downloadable versions of all required declarations, including a sworn declaration, the parental consent form, and the school's declaration of proper residence and study conditions. The last of these is currently available only in Danish.
SIRI advises all prospective students to review the full documentation checklist on its official portal and ensure every item is in order before lodging an application.
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that Denmark had outlined the financial requirements foreigners must meet to qualify for a student visa. Additionally, Legit.ng previously reported that Denmark had highlighted the categories of foreigners who can seek citizenship without being employed. Under Danish law, most applicants must demonstrate that they have worked full-time or run their own business for at least three years and six months within the four years immediately preceding their application, and they must be actively connected to the labour market at the point when a citizenship bill is submitted on their behalf.
