DenmarkStudy and training

Denmark trainee and internship permit

Residence and work permit as a trainee (praktikant/trainee)

In short

Denmark’s trainee permit lets you work at a Danish company for a limited period when the purpose is training, typically within an international group or a strategic partnership with a company abroad. Permits are issued for up to 1 year at a time and 24 months in total; the SIRI fee is DKK 6,810 and processing takes about 2 months.

Apply on SIRI – Trainee checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
1 year at a time, at most 24 months in total
Validity
Cannot exceed the contract; from abroad it starts up to 1 month before work.
Fee
DKK 6,810Trainee fee shown by SIRI in 2026; interns in healthcare, agriculture and architecture use a separate intern scheme with a DKK 4,305 fee.
Processing time
2 months, up to 3 months
Work
Only at the host company; sideline work needs a separate permit.
Family
Accompanying family possible under SIRI’s family rules.
Where to apply
Online to SIRI; biometrics at a Danish mission or visa application centre

When a trainee permit fits

There must be a verified strategic cooperation or partnership between an organisation abroad and the Danish employer, and labour-market and educational considerations must justify the stay. Typical cases: you work for a parent, sister or subsidiary company of an international group and come temporarily to improve your skills before returning; a Danish company trains you before employing you at a subsidiary it is setting up abroad; or a Danish company trains you to look after its clients in your home country.

Training plan and pay

You must follow a training course relevant to the job you will return to abroad, and a description of the course goes with the application. Pay and terms must match Danish standards and appear in the contract; SIRI can ask a Regional Employment Council to assess them.

Required documents

Identity

  • Copy of all passport pages

Work

  • Trainee contract with salary and terms
  • Description of the training course in Denmark
  • Documentation of the cooperation or group relationship with the employer abroad

Other

  • Receipt for the DKK 6,810 fee

How to apply

Create a case order ID, pay DKK 6,810 and submit the online application with the Danish employer. Biometrics are compulsory: after submitting online you have 14 days to give fingerprints and a facial photo, at a Danish mission or at the visa application centre that serves your country of residence. If no slot is available in time, tell SIRI the appointment date so the case is not rejected.

  1. Agree the training plan with the Danish company and your employer abroad.
  2. Create a case order ID and pay DKK 6,810.
  3. Submit the online application with the contract and course description.
  4. Give biometrics at a Danish mission or visa application centre within 14 days.
  5. After approval travel, register for a CPR number and return to the job abroad at the end.

After arrival

After arrival you register your Danish address in the Civil Registration System to get a CPR number, at the latest 5 days after moving in, at the municipality or an International Citizen Service centre. The residence card is posted to your CPR address, so put your name on the mailbox. You must not give up your Danish address or stay abroad for more than 6 consecutive months, or the permit lapses.

Extension and new jobs

Permits run 1 year at a time and the total cannot exceed 24 months. Apply for an extension in time to keep working. Any new position, even in the same company, needs a new permit; you may start on the day you submit it.

Refusal

Refusals can be appealed to the Immigration Appeals Board within 8 weeks for DKK 1,040.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a trainee stay in Denmark?

Up to 24 months in total, with permits issued for 1 year at a time.

Must the trainee be paid?

Yes, pay and terms must correspond to Danish standards and be stated in the contract.

Can I change company during the trainee stay?

Any new position, even within the same company, needs a new permit, and the trainee stay may not exceed 24 months in total; you may start the new position on the day you apply.

Can a student intern use this permit?

Students whose programme includes a mandatory internship get a full-time work permit for it under their study permit; the trainee scheme is for company training stays.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Denmark

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: The standard length of the programme; extendable by up to 1 year (2 years after pregnancy or parental leave)
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: Up to 4 years at a time, or the contract length
  • Au pair visa Maximum stay: Maximum 2 years in total, also if you change host family

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Up to 4 years at a time, or the length of the contract if shorter; renewable
  • Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Up to 4 years at a time, or the contract length if shorter
  • Job seeker visa Maximum stay: 6 months, 1 year or 3 years depending on the degree and the date of the study application

Family

Residence

Faster processing

Protection

  • Asylum and international protection Maximum stay: Convention status: permits extended up to 2 years at a time; protected status: first up to 1 year; temporary protected status: up to 1 year at a time for the first 3 years

Denmark visa guide