Applying for a residence permit for Denmark

Former Danes
If you have been a Danish citizen in the past, but taken out citizenship in another country, you are legally entitled to a Danish residence permit, unless your Danish citizenship was revoked by a judgement under section 8 of the Danish Citizenship Act.

A residence permit does not entitle you to work in Denmark.

If you wish to apply for a residence permit on the basis of your former Danish citizenship, you will be required to submit proof of this, either through a Danish birth certificate or a Danish passport.

People of Danish descent
A child or grandchild of a person who is/was a Danish citizen by birth may be granted a residence permit for a limited period, subject to assessment in each case.

If you wish to apply for a residence permit on the basis of your Danish descent you must submit proof of this, e.g. a copy of the birth certificate or the passport of the parent or grandparent who had Danish citizenship.

Working in Denmark

New Zealand citizens who wish to work in Denmark may apply for a working holiday visa (available to persons between the ages of 18 and 30), or for a work and residence permit. There are also special arrangements for people who wish to work as au pairs in Denmark.

For more information about working holiday visas, please click here.

How to apply for a work permit

New Zealand residents who wish to work in Denmark may apply for a variety of visas.
The information on this page is intended for those who wish to work in Denmark on the basis of having a skill or profession in which there is a shortage of workers in Denmark.
For other types of applications, please contact the nearest Danish Consulate (click here).

Please note that the application process begins with the employer in Denmark. The employer can download the appropriate form from www.nyidanmark.dk. When they have completed their part of the application form, they send it to you. If you are relocating with your family on the basis of a job offer, children under 15 years of age should be included in your application, but your spouse and children over 15 years of age should complete their own application form as accompanying family. If you and your partner are not married, you must document co-habitation for at least 18 month previous to the time of submitting the application.

Please contact your nearest Danish Consulate to ensure that you receive the correct application forms for spouses, partners and children over 15 years (click here).
Please note that the application form must be signed by the applicant and witnessed by a Danish consular officer. The application cannot, therefore, be submitted by mail.
The documentation required is as follows:

• two application forms duly completed and signed (one can be a copy).
• your passport
• One copy of your passport (all pages including the front page)
• two passport photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm. photo quality - please no home made digital prints).
• The application fee of AUD 170.00 (AUD 18.00 extra for faxing the application to Denmark) is payable in cash, cheque or money order issued to Royal Danish Consulate General. The application fee for the accompanying spouse and for children over 15 year is AUD 154.00 pr. person.
• a self addressed Registered Post return envelope if you wish the passport to be returned by mail within Australia. If you are applying from New Zealand, please add AUD 10.00 extra to the application fee and this will cover the postage for returning the passport to New Zealand.
• two copies of documentation of skills (diplomas or academic transcripts)
• two copies of the job contract incl. gross salary and a job description (if the job description is not in the contract please enclose a separate description)

Please ensure that we have two sets of all papers and application forms and refrain from using staples. Please also ensure that your passport, and those of anyone accompanying you, are valid for at least three months longer than your intended stay in Denmark.
As your application will be forwarded to the Immigration Service in Denmark it may take up to 3 months before a reply is received.

For more information on work permits, please go to www.newtodenmark.dk and www.workindenmark.dk.

BACK TO TOP