This route is for a doctoral researcher already enrolled in a PhD programme abroad who will complete part of that programme as a guest at a Danish educational institution.
You can be granted a Danish residence permit as a guest PhD if you are enrolled in a PhD programme abroad and wish to do a part of your programme at an educational institution in Denmark.
The applicant must be enrolled in the home-university PhD programme and be associated with an educational institution in Denmark during the stay. The Danish institution completes the first part of the application.
It is a requirement that you are enrolled in a PhD programme abroad and that you during your residence as a guest PhD are associated with an educational institution in Denmark.
The educational institution must complete the first of the two parts of the application.
The programme must be full-time. The applicant must speak and understand the language of instruction and understand Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German with reasonable proficiency. Sufficient funds are DKK 7,426 (2026 level) per month as a guest PhD, for a maximum of 12 months (maximum DKK 89,112, 2026 level); a bank statement can document support for the applicant and any accompanying family members. Public assistance such as maternity/paternity benefits, housing benefits or SU may not be received.
The educational programme must be a full-time study.
You must be able to speak and understand the language of instruction. You must be able to understand either Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German with a reasonable level of proficiency.
You have sufficient funds if your disposable amount corresponds to DKK 7,426 (2026 level) for each month you will be a guest PhD student in Denmark - only for a maximum of 12 months, however.
For example, if you wish to stay in Denmark for 1 year or longer, you must have a disposable amount corresponding to 12 times DKK 7,426 (2026 level). That means a maximum of DKK 89,112 (2026 level).
Documentation of your ability to support yourself and any family members accompanying you, can be in the form of a bank statement.
As a guest PhD student, you are not allowed to receive public assistance. For example, you are not allowed to receive maternity or paternity benefits, housing benefits or State Educational Grants (SU), and there might be other benefits that you are not allowed to receive.
The holder may work full-time at the university of enrolment, only on PhD-programme tasks and only while studying. A limited work permit additionally allows up to 90 hours per month September-May and full-time June-August; exceeding this is illegal work (warning, fine or revocation). Unpaid voluntary work is allowed; work in other Schengen countries is not. Spouse, registered or cohabiting partner and children under 18 living at home can be granted a permit.
You are allowed to work full-time at the university in which you have been enrolled. This only applies to work tasks that are part of your PhD programme and only for the period while you study.
The limited work permit allows you to work: for up to 90 hours per month during the normal period of study from September to May, and full-time through June, July and August
It will be regarded as illegal work, if you work more hours than you are allowed to. If you work illegally you can receive a warning, a fine or your residence permit as a student can be revoked.
Your residence permit also allows you to carry out unpaid voluntary work.
A Danish residence and work permit does not allow you to work in other Schengen countries.
A permit can be granted to your spouse, registered or cohabiting partner as well as children under the age of 18 living at home.
The permit normally covers the nominal duration of the PhD programme if the student participates actively. An extension should be requested if the programme takes longer; changing programmes requires a new permit, although the new programme may start while that application is pending. The page does not establish a post-study work or residence period.
You can stay in Denmark for the standard (nominal) duration of your PhD programme, provided that you participate actively in the programme.
If you do not complete your PhD programme within the nominal period of study, it is important that you apply for an extension of your permit.
If you change your PhD programme, you must apply for a new residence permit based on the new programme. You are allowed to start your new programme while you wait for us to reach a decision in your case.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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Not legal advice. No eligibility verdict or ranking. Check the linked sources before applying.