Denmark Student Visa Rules: Job-Seeking Cut to 1 Year in 2026

New Denmark student visa rules took effect on 1 October 2026, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) announced on 30 September 2026. For students who apply on or after that date, the post-study job-seeking permit is cut from 3 years to 1 year, and accompanying family members can no longer be granted residence permits.

Key facts

• In force: 1 October 2026. Announced by SIRI on 30 September 2026.
• Job-seeking permit after graduation: reduced from 3 years to 1 year for new applicants.
• New applicants cannot get residence permits for accompanying family members.
• Applies to bachelor’s, professional bachelor’s, part-time master’s and master’s students, including Erasmus Mundus and Nordic Master programmes.
• PhD students are not affected.
• The date your application is submitted decides which rules apply.

What changed in Denmark student visa rules

SIRI’s notice covers third-country nationals (people from outside the EU/EEA, such as Nepali and Indian citizens) who study on state-approved higher education programmes in Denmark.

There are two main changes.

1. Shorter job-seeking period after study. Under the old rules, a graduate could get a residence permit to look for work in Denmark for up to 3 years after finishing. SIRI says this period “will be reduced from 3 years to 1 year” for those covered by the new rules.

2. No permits for accompanying family. Under the new Denmark student visa rules, a student who applies on or after 1 October 2026 cannot have a family member granted a residence permit as an accompanying family member. This covers spouses, cohabiting partners, registered partners and children.

SIRI says the application date is what matters. If you applied before 1 October 2026, you can still be granted a job-seeking permit of up to 3 years after you complete your programme.

For students who applied before 1 October 2026, family rules depend on who applies when. A spouse or partner can still get a permit only if the partner’s own application was also submitted before 1 October 2026. A child under 18 can still get a permit even if the child applies on or after 1 October 2026.

Who is affected

The new rules apply to third-country students on:

• professional bachelor’s programmes
• bachelor’s programmes
• part-time master’s programmes
• master’s programmes, including Erasmus Mundus and Nordic Master joint programmes

Two groups keep the old terms:

• PhD students keep the 3-year job-seeking permit and the right to bring family.
• Turkish citizens covered by the EU-Turkey Association Agreement may still qualify for the 3-year permit and family rights.

What it means for Nepali and Indian students

For Nepali and Indian students, two of Denmark’s main attractions were the chance to bring a partner and a long window to look for work after graduating. The new Denmark student visa rules reduce both of those benefits for anyone applying from 1 October 2026.

If you were planning to bring a spouse to Denmark during your master’s, that will not be possible under the new rules. The same applies to children: SIRI says children of students who apply on or after 1 October 2026 cannot get a residence permit as accompanying family members. If your plan was to graduate and spend two or three years finding a skilled job, you now have one year.

Compare the full cost and the post-study options before you choose a country. Our student visa money calculator can help you estimate total costs in Nepali rupees.

What to do now

1. If you already applied before 1 October 2026, keep proof of your submission date. If your spouse or partner has not yet applied, note that SIRI says their application also had to be submitted before 1 October 2026.
2. If you have not applied, read SIRI’s notice and your university’s guidance before paying tuition.
3. If you hoped to bring a spouse or partner, discuss alternatives with your family before you commit.
4. Plan your job search to start well before graduation, since you will have only one year afterwards.
5. If you are considering a PhD, check whether your programme is covered by the PhD exception.

What we don’t know yet

• The bill name and the date it passed. SIRI’s notice gives the legal basis as the Danish Aliens Act (2025/1183) and the Executive Order on Study (2026/829).
• Whether students who change programmes after 1 October 2026 will be treated as new applicants.

Frequently asked questions

Do the new Denmark student visa rules apply if I applied in September 2026?

According to SIRI, the application date decides the rules. If you applied before 1 October 2026, you can still get a job-seeking permit of up to 3 years after your programme.

Can PhD students still bring family to Denmark?

Yes. SIRI says PhD students are not affected and keep the 3-year job-seeking permit and family rights.

Does this apply to EU citizens?

No. The rules are for third-country nationals, meaning people from outside the EU/EEA.

Can I bring my child to Denmark as a student?

Not if you apply on or after 1 October 2026. SIRI says children of these students cannot get a residence permit as accompanying family members. If you applied before 1 October 2026, a child under 18 can still get a permit, even if the child applies later.

Sources

• SIRI: New rules for third-country students in state-approved higher educational programmes – New to Denmark (nyidanmark.dk)

Last checked: 4 October 2026. This is general information, not immigration advice.