DenmarkStudy and training

Denmark researcher visa and residence permit

Residence and work permit as a researcher (forsker)

In short

Researchers offered a paid position at a Danish university, research institute or company can get a residence and work permit from SIRI when there are research-related reasons for hiring them. The fee is DKK 6,810 and SIRI normally decides within 1 month. Guest researchers and PhD students use separate schemes.

Apply on SIRI – Researchers checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Up to 4 years at a time, or the contract length
Validity
Ends 90 days before the passport expires; starts up to 1 month before the job when applying from abroad.
Fee
DKK 6,810Researchers and guest researchers, fee table of 1 January 2026; PhD students pay DKK 3,060.
Processing time
1 month, up to 2 months
Work
Research job with the named institution; sideline employment and examiner tasks at other universities are allowed without a separate permit.
Family
Spouse or partner and children under 18 can apply as accompanying family (DKK 3,080).
Path to permanent residence
Permanent residence after 8 years (4 years in some cases).
Where to apply
Online to SIRI; biometrics at a Danish mission or visa application centre

Short visits and alternatives

If you teach as an invited researcher or speaker for less than 90 days, or your whole stay as a researcher is 90 days or less, you may be exempt from a work permit but still need a Schengen visa for the full stay. If the employer is certified, the Fast-Track researcher track offers Quick Job Start and lapse-rule exemptions for your family.

Conditions

There must be particular research-related reasons for the offer: the post must be closely linked to you personally and research must be the main purpose of the stay. Salary and terms must match Danish standards, counting only cash salary and pension contributions; housing, per diems, a car or phone do not count. Full-time employment is not required. A copy of the contract or job offer with all terms must be attached.

How to apply

Create a case order ID, pay DKK 6,810 and complete the online form together with the employing institution. 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. Get a signed offer from the Danish university, institute or company.
  2. Create a case order ID and pay DKK 6,810.
  3. Complete the online application with the employer.
  4. Give biometrics at a Danish mission or visa application centre within 14 days.
  5. Travel after the decision, register for a CPR number and add family members if they come later.

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.

Changes and extension

You may change position or research project within the same university or company without a new permit, but must tell SIRI if salary or conditions get worse. A new workplace needs a new permit, and you can start on the day you apply. Apply for an extension before expiry; a timely application lets you keep working.

Refusal

Appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board within 8 weeks, paying DKK 1,040 under a new case order ID.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Copy of all passport pages

Work

  • Contract or job offer as a researcher with salary, terms and research description

Study

  • PhD diploma or other documentation of research qualifications

Other

  • Receipt for the DKK 6,810 fee

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Other

  • Translations into Danish or English where needed

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to work full time as a researcher?

No. Full-time employment is not required, but pay and terms must match Danish standards.

Can I teach at another university on the side?

Yes. Researchers are exempt from the sideline work permit and may act as external examiners elsewhere.

Can my family come with me as a researcher?

Yes. Your spouse, registered or cohabiting partner and children under 18 can apply as accompanying family for DKK 3,080, at the same time as you or later; no financial requirement applies to the family of a salaried researcher.

Is a PhD position a researcher permit?

No. PhD students apply under the separate PhD scheme, with a fee of DKK 3,060.

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)
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: 1 year at a time, at most 24 months in total
  • 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