Denmark Post-Study Work Visa Cost in 2026: Fees and Total Expenses

For international students planning to remain in Denmark after graduation, understanding the Denmark post-study work visa cost is an important part of financial planning. The Danish system can be slightly confusing because what many students call a “post-study work visa” is officially a job-seeking residence permit.

In 2026, the official application fee for a job-seeking residence permit after completing an educational programme is DKK 3,060. However, many graduates may not need to submit a new application at all because Denmark often grants the job-seeking period together with the original student residence permit.

This guide explains the main fees, possible additional work permit costs, and when graduates actually need to pay.

How Much Does the Denmark Post-Study Work Visa Cost in 2026?

The official SIRI fee for a separate application for a job-seeking residence permit after a completed educational programme is:

• Job-seeking residence permit: DKK 3,060
• Official euro equivalent published by Danish authorities: approximately €410.19
• Work permit without limitations during an eligible job-seeking period: DKK 840
• Official euro equivalent: approximately €112.40

These are the official 2026 fees published by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, commonly known as SIRI.

Denmark Post-Study Visa Fees at a Glance

The DKK 6,810 figure applies to many SIRI work cases in 2026, including several commonly used employment schemes. The exact cost after receiving a job offer depends on the residence and work scheme used for the new application.

Do You Always Have to Pay DKK 3,060 After Graduation?

No.

This is one of the most important points for international graduates in Denmark.

If you are admitted to an eligible full state-approved higher education programme, SIRI will generally grant your 6-month or 3-year job-seeking period together with your student residence permit.

Therefore, if your existing residence permit already includes the full job-seeking period, you normally do not have to submit another job-seeking application — which means there is no new DKK 3,060 application fee simply because you graduated.

Before paying anything, check:

• Your residence permit decision letter
• The expiry date of your residence permit
• Whether a job-seeking period is already included
• Whether your passport validity caused your permit to be shortened

Paying for an unnecessary application can create avoidable costs.

Who Can Get a 3-Year Job-Seeking Permit?

Graduates may qualify for a job-seeking residence permit of up to 3 years if they have completed an eligible Danish programme approved by a state authority.

Qualifying levels include:

• Professional bachelor’s degree
• Bachelor’s degree
• Part-time master’s degree
• Master’s degree
• PhD degree

SIRI states that the 3-year job-seeking period is normally granted automatically with the study permit when the conditions are met and passport validity allows it.

A separate application may be necessary, for example, when:

1. The original permit was shortened because the passport expired earlier.
2. The graduate initially received a shorter job-seeking period.
3. The student completed the programme later than the prescribed study period.

In these situations, the Denmark post-study work visa cost is DKK 3,060 in 2026.

What About the 6-Month Job-Seeking Permit?

Some graduates qualify for a shorter 6-month job-seeking residence permit instead.

This can include certain graduates from:

• Danish Academy Profession programmes
• Master’s degree programmes for working professionals
• Certain educational attachment or change-of-education situations
• Eligible non-state-approved programmes where the residence application was submitted before 2 May 2025

The separate application fee is also DKK 3,060 in 2026.

Rules differ depending on the programme and when the original residence application was submitted, so graduates should check their exact category before applying.

Is There an Extra Fee to Work During the Job-Seeking Period?

Your existing job-seeking permit may already give you limited work rights.

Students in eligible state-approved higher education programmes can generally work:

• Up to 90 hours per month from September through May
• Full-time during June, July and August

Those limited working rights can continue during the job-seeking period.

However, eligible graduates who want a work permit without limitations during the job-seeking period can apply separately.

The 2026 fee is:

DKK 840

You do not necessarily need to have a job offer before applying for this unrestricted work permit, provided you satisfy the relevant educational and residence requirements.

What Does It Cost After You Find a Full-Time Job?

Finding employment does not always mean that your immigration costs are finished.

Depending on your job and qualifications, you may later switch to a Danish residence and work scheme such as:

• Positive List for People with a Higher Education
• Pay Limit Scheme
• Fast-Track Scheme
• Researcher Scheme
• Other eligible SIRI employment routes

For 2026, many standard SIRI employment applications carry a DKK 6,810 processing fee.

The correct immigration route depends on the salary, occupation, employer and type of employment, so graduates should not assume that every job uses the same work permit.

Are EU, EEA and Swiss Graduates Subject to the Same Fee?

Generally, no.

Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland follow EU residence rules rather than the standard SIRI student residence permit system described in this article. The Denmark post-study residence fees discussed here are therefore most relevant to non-EU/EEA international students.

How to Avoid Paying More Than Necessary

Before submitting a post-study residence application, take a few minutes to check your current immigration status.

A useful checklist is:

1. Check whether your current residence permit already includes job seeking.
2. Confirm whether you qualify for a 6-month or 3-year period.
3. Check your passport expiration date.
4. Determine whether limited working rights are sufficient.
5. Apply for the DKK 840 unrestricted work permit only if you qualify and need it.
6. Check the correct work scheme before paying a new employment-permit fee.

Also remember that SIRI generally updates its application fees each year. The DKK 3,060 fee applies to 2026, so applicants submitting later should verify the current rate before payment.

Is the Denmark Post-Study Work Visa Expensive?

For a graduate who already has the job-seeking period included in their student residence permit, the immediate immigration cost after graduation may be very low because a separate application may not be required.

For someone who must submit a new job-seeking application, the main government fee in 2026 is DKK 3,060.

The possible immigration costs can therefore look like this:

• Already granted job-seeking period: no new job-seeking application fee
• Separate job-seeking application: DKK 3,060
• Optional unrestricted work permit: DKK 840
• Later employment residence/work application: potentially DKK 6,810 depending on the scheme

Checking your existing permit before applying is the easiest way to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Official Sources

• New to Denmark – Official 2026 Fee Overview
• SIRI – 3-Year Job-Seeking Residence Permit
• SIRI – Work Permit During the Job-Seeking Period