The Denmark working holiday visa allows you to travel and work in Denmark for up to one year. The primary purpose of your stay must be a holiday, and the second purpose can be working to supplement your travel funds. If you have already received a working holiday visa in Denmark, you will not be granted another one.
Note: The Working Holiday Agreement between Denmark and Argentina is currently suspended.
Who Can Apply for a Denmark Working Holiday Visa?
Countries eligible for a Denmark working holiday visa are:
- Australia
- Canada
- Chile
- Japan
- New Zealand
- South Korea
Denmark has a working holiday agreement with these countries. This agreement is dedicated to young citizens (aged 18-30) to allow them to learn about different cultures. The agreement allows you to work and attend an educational course within a period of one year.
Denmark Working Holiday Visa Eligibility Criteria
The conditions for being granted a working holiday permit depend on Denmark’s agreement with your home country. They are as follows:
- You should be at least 18 years old and not older than 31 years old at the time of application.
- You must have financial funds to pay for food and accommodation (DKK 15,000) and your returning ticket (DKK 5,000).
- You are allowed to work for six months, but not longer than three months for the same employer.
- You can attend courses or enroll in an educational program for 3-6 months of your stay in Denmark.
- Your family can not accompany you on your working holiday.
- You can not engage in independent business activities.
Note: The conditions listed above may not apply to every country.
How to Apply For a Denmark Working Holiday Visa?
You can apply for a Denmark working holiday visa at the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). On the website, select the type of visa you want to apply for (in this case, Working Holiday) and the specific Working Holiday Program (with your home country).
Then, you must:
- Create a Case Order ID. You must create a case order ID on the SIRI website, which requires you to provide your personal information. Once your ID is created, you are shown the fee you have to pay.
- Pay the fee. You must pay the fee of DKK 1,890 (appx. €250) the same year you submit your application, or the application will be rejected. Japanese citizens are exempt from paying a fee.
- Gather the required documents. You must collect all the documents that may be required.
- Complete the application form. Your next step is to complete the visa application form. You have two options: you can complete the application form online or manually. The online application form is the WH1. To manually complete the form, you must print it out in Word or PDF format. Both options are presented to you during the application process.
- Submit the application. You have three options for submitting a Denmark visa application, which are further explained below.
- Submit your biometrics. You must submit a photo and have your fingerprints recorded at a Danish diplomatic mission. If you apply in person, you can do this on the day you submit your application or at a later date, as instructed. For online applications, your biometrics need to be recorded no longer than 14 days after your submission. SIRI won’t start to process your application if you don’t record your biometrics thus, your application will be rejected.
- Wait for a response. The normal processing time for a working holiday visa is three months. SIRI will notify you about your application status and whether any extra information is required.
»Read this article for step-by-step instructions on applying for a Denmark visa.
How to Submit a Denmark Working Holiday Visa Application?
- If you applied online, your application will be directly submitted to SIRI. You still have to submit your biometrics to a Danish diplomatic mission (embassy/consulate) within 14 days.
- If you did not apply online, you can submit your application to a Danish diplomatic mission or an application center in the country you are residing.
- You can also submit your application directly to a SIRI branch in Denmark, provided you are living there legally.
Denmark Working Holiday Visa Requirements
The required documents for a working holiday visa include:
- A copy of your passport (all pages). Not older than ten years and valid for at least three months beyond the visa expiration date.
- Proof of paid fee. Provide the printed receipt of fee payment.
- Proof you have a return ticket or funds to buy a return ticket.
- Means of subsistence. A statement of your bank account.
- Insurance policy. Proof that you can cover your expenses.
Additional documents required for citizens of Japan:
- Copy of your passport. (include all pages, back, and front)
- Documentation that you have a return ticket or can afford to buy a returning ticket
- Documentation that you can support yourself during your stay in Denmark to the extent the agreement between your home country and Denmark requires it.
Your visa documents should be in English, Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish. If you can not do that, you must submit certified translations into Danish or English. Make sure you have all documents before starting the application.
Note: If you fail to submit all the required documents, your application will get rejected.
Denmark Working Holiday Visa Rules of Citizens of Chile
Citizens of Chile are subject to a yearly quota of 150 permits. So, as a Chilean citizen, before applying, you must enter the quota by filling in the mandatory gaps and attaching a copy of your passport.
You will be notified within 14 days by SIRI if you have been granted a place. If yes, you may proceed with the working holiday visa application.
Denmark Working Holiday Visa Fee
For a Danish working holiday visa, nationals from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, and Chile must pay a fee of DKK 1,890 (appx. €254). Nationals from Japan are exempt from the embassy fee, but may still need to pay a service fee at the visa application center (VFS).
Validity of Denmark Working Holiday Visa
If you qualify for the working holiday visa, you will be granted a residence permit to stay in Denmark for a maximum of 12 months (one year). You can apply for an extension as long as the extension does not exceed the one-year period.
Your working holiday visa can have a shorter validity in special cases, such as if:
- Your passport expires
- Your insurance expires
- The departure date on your return ticket is sooner than a year
Can I Extend a Denmark Working Holiday Visa?
You can apply for an extension only if you are granted a residence permit for less than a year based on the working holiday scheme. You will be allowed to continue your stay in Denmark during the time SIRI processes your extension application. You must submit your application for an extension before the residence permit expires, but no earlier than three months before.
What Jobs Are Available for Working Holiday Visa in Denmark?
You can get a salaried job, but you can not engage in independent business activities. The working holiday visa allows you to work for up to six months. However, you cannot work for the same employer for more than three months and can not take a regular job. You can get a fine or revocation of your residence permit if you work illegally.