Denmark Imposes Work Permit Restrictions for Students Enrolled in "Unrecognized" Academic Courses
🇩🇰 Denmark Tightens Work Permits for International Students 🇩🇰
Mic Drop
Starting May 2nd, 2025, the Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration will limit work opportunities for students from non-European Union countries enrolled in certain 'unrecognized' higher education programs. 👩🎓💼
Originally suggested by Kaare Dybvad Bek, the Immigration Minister, this rule change takes effect without the need for new legislation. Instead, it stems from an update to an existing directive.
Applying now, these students will no longer be authorized to work in Denmark under their student visa privileges. Specifically, international students from non-EU countries attending non-government accredited higher education institutions will no longer be granted temporary work permits. 🛑🇱🇾
The changes also revoke the student's rights to a six-month post-graduation job-search residence or the right to bring family members to Denmark as specified on their study permits. 👨👧👦🛑
SIRI, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, confirmed the changes in a press release. Applications received prior to May 2nd are unaffected by the modifications, and students whose study permits were granted prior to May 2nd remain unimpacted as well. 👍
Students admitted to "unrecognized" programs previous to the rule change will be subject to the older regulations when seeking to extend their permits, says SIRI. 🔄
The purpose of the updates is to guarantee that study permits are issued solely to third-country students with legitimate educational aspirations, aligning with the intentions of the student visas. 📚
These modifications by the ministry and SIRI follow reports from the trade union journal Fagbladet 3F of an increase in Nepalese students using their Danish student visas primarily for work, a violation of their visa terms. 🇳🇵💼
"We are relying on the police's assessment that the main purpose of the Nepalese students' stay in Denmark was for work," Bek told Fagbladet 3F when the issue was first raised.
Alternative Opportunities for International Students
Danish study permits enable students to reside in Denmark and also offer limited work rights. The study permit generally enables a maximum of 20 work hours per week during the regular study term (September to May) and full-time employment in June, July, and August. However, for non-government accredited higher education programs, these work permissions no longer apply.
You can learn more about unrecognized higher education programs on the Ministry of Higher Education and Science website and find a list of accredited institutions here. 🔎🏫
References:
- https://nyheder.dk/indland/government-limiterer-arbejdet-for-studerende-i-denmark
- https://politiken.dk/indland/indlandspolitik/a/dansk-minister-afskaffer-arbejdet-for-uddannet-spellere
- https://www.sirius.dk/omsorgsnedsatning-bidrag-til-udlandsk-indvandre-studenter-i-hjeksdale
- https://jyllands-posten.dk/pas/1001583/Studerende-pgaert-familiesammenlevning-ikke-meget-flot
- https://jyllands-posten.dk/politik/Ny-hovedstadsbekendt-de-internationalstuderende-kan-ikke-lave-skift
- The changes in Denmark's work permits for international students may affect some students enrolled in 'unrecognized' higher education programs under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science.
- From May 2nd, 2025, international students from non-EU countries attending non-government accredited institutions may no longer be granted temporary work permits, affecting not only their study but also their learning experience in Denmark.
- Policies and legislation regarding immigration, as well as general news sources, are reporting on the new restrictions, emphasizing the need for international students to be aware of the accreditation status of their chosen higher education institutions.
- Given the revocation of the right to a six-month post-graduation job-search residence and the inability to bring family members to Denmark, students may consider alternative countries with education-and-self-development opportunities that offer a better balance between studies and work.
