Denmark Post-Study Work Visa Documents Checklist 2026
Denmark Post-Study Work Visa Documents Checklist 2026
Preparing the correct documents is essential if you need to apply for Denmark’s post-study job-seeking residence permit after completing higher education. For eligible graduates of state-approved Danish professional bachelor’s, bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes, the job-seeking period can last for up to three years.
Many students receive this job-seeking period automatically together with their original study permit. You should therefore first check your current residence card and decision letter before submitting another application. A separate application is normally necessary only in certain situations, such as when your permit was shortened because of passport validity or when you completed your programme later than expected.
This Denmark post-study work visa documents checklist explains what you need for the three-year job-seeking permit and the separate unrestricted work permit.
Denmark Post-Study Work Visa Documents Checklist
For a separate application for the three-year job-seeking residence permit, SIRI currently requires three core supporting documents:
- Proof that you paid the application fee.
- Copy of all pages of your passport, including blank pages and the front and back covers.
- Proof that you completed an eligible Danish higher-education programme.
You must also complete the appropriate application procedure, including the ST6 form and biometrics.
1. Proof of Payment of the Application Fee
The first document is proof that the required application fee has been paid.
For 2026, the fee for a separate three-year job-seeking residence application is:
DKK 3,060
SIRI currently lists a normal processing time of approximately 3 months, which may increase to four months if additional information is required.
Keep your payment receipt and include it with the application.
You will normally create a case order ID before making the payment, and the ID used in your application must correspond with the payment.
2. Complete Passport Copy
Denmark requires considerably more passport documentation than some immigration systems.
You must provide a copy of:
- Personal information page.
- Pages containing visas.
- Pages containing entry or exit stamps.
- Pages containing other immigration information.
- Every blank page.
- Front cover.
- Back cover.
Do not upload or submit only the photo page.
A missing blank page can technically make your passport documentation incomplete under SIRI’s checklist.
3. Proof That You Completed Your Degree
You need documentation confirming completion of your qualifying Danish programme.
For the three-year route, eligible programmes include:
- Professional bachelor’s degree.
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Part-time master’s degree.
- Master’s degree.
- PhD degree.
The programme must be approved by a Danish state authority.
Evidence can normally consist of official documentation from your educational institution confirming that you completed and passed the programme.
Do not submit only proof of enrolment because the post-study permit requires completion of the programme.
4. ST6 Application Form
The application for the three-year job-seeking permit uses:
Form ST6 — Application for a 3-year job seeking residence permit after a completed educational programme.
SIRI currently provides ST6 as a printable Word or PDF form rather than a standard digital application form.
The process generally involves:
- Creating a case order ID.
- Paying the fee.
- Gathering documents.
- Completing ST6.
- Submitting the application.
- Recording biometrics.
Make sure information in ST6 matches your passport and education documents exactly.
5. Biometrics
Documents alone do not complete the application.
If you apply for an extension of your Danish residence permit, you must have your biometric features recorded.
Biometrics include:
- Fingerprints.
- Facial photograph.
SIRI currently requires biometrics to be recorded within 14 days after submitting the application. Failure to provide biometrics can result in the application not being processed.
You can generally have biometrics recorded at a SIRI branch office after booking the required appointment.
Do Documents Need Translation?
Possibly.
SIRI states that applicants may need to have documents translated before submission.
This is particularly relevant when supporting documentation is issued in a language that Danish authorities cannot use for processing.
Check SIRI’s documentation rules before paying for translations because not every document automatically requires one.
Do You Need Bank Statements?
SIRI’s current official checklist for the three-year post-study job-seeking application does not list bank statements among the three core documents.
The listed supporting documents are:
- Fee receipt.
- Complete passport copy.
- Proof of completed education.
Do not confuse this application with your original Danish student residence application, where documentation concerning financial self-support may be required.
SIRI can still request additional information if necessary for an individual case.
Do You Need a Job Offer?
No.
The three-year job-seeking residence permit exists specifically to allow graduates to remain in Denmark while searching for employment.
You therefore do not need an employment contract simply to obtain the job-seeking period.
However, your normal work rights during the job-seeking period are limited to:
- 90 hours per month from September through May.
- Full-time work during June, July and August.
Eligible graduates wanting unrestricted full-time employment can apply for a separate work permit.
Documents for the Unrestricted Work Permit
If you want to work without the normal 90-hour monthly restriction, you may qualify for a work permit without limitations during your job-seeking period.
This uses:
Form ST7
The official checklist requires:
- Proof of payment of the fee.
- Copies of every passport page, including blank pages and covers.
- Proof that you completed the eligible state-approved Danish programme.
The 2026 application fee is:
DKK 840
and SIRI currently lists a normal processing time of approximately 2 months.
Importantly, you do not need to already have a job offer to apply for this unrestricted work permit.
What Does the Unrestricted Work Permit Allow?
Once eligible and after submitting the application, SIRI states that you can begin working full-time while the application is being processed.
The permit allows you to:
- Work full-time.
- Work for any employer.
- Change employers.
- Work for several employers.
- Work as self-employed.
Its validity follows the validity of your job-seeking residence permit.
Check Whether You Already Have the Job-Seeking Period
Before collecting documents and paying DKK 3,060, check your existing permit.
SIRI normally grants the three-year job-seeking period together with the original study permit when the passport is valid long enough.
A separate ST6 application may mainly be necessary if:
- Your original permit was shortened because your passport expired sooner.
- You originally received only six months of job seeking.
- You completed your programme after its standard completion period.
Checking first can prevent an unnecessary application.
Final Checklist Before Submission
Before submitting an ST6 application, confirm that you have:
- Created the correct case order ID.
- Paid the DKK 3,060 fee.
- Saved the payment receipt.
- Copied every page of your passport.
- Included front and back passport covers.
- Obtained official proof of graduation.
- Completed ST6 accurately.
- Submitted any necessary translations.
- Submitted the application while legally staying in Denmark if applying there.
- Arranged biometrics within 14 days.
Keep copies of your complete application and every supporting document.
Final Thoughts
The Denmark post-study work visa documents checklist is relatively straightforward.
For the three-year job-seeking route, the core documents are essentially proof of fee payment, a complete copy of your passport and proof that you completed an eligible Danish degree.
The important details are easy to miss, however. Denmark requires copies of all passport pages, including blank pages and covers, uses the ST6 application form and generally requires biometrics within 14 days after submission.
Graduates who want unrestricted work during the job-search period should separately review the ST7 work permit, which currently costs DKK 840 and does not require an existing job offer.
Official Sources
- New to Denmark / SIRI — 3-Year Job-Seeking Residence Permit
- New to Denmark / SIRI — ST6 Application Form
- New to Denmark / SIRI — Unrestricted Work Permit During Job Seeking
