Non EU/EEA Citizens
Short-term stay (less than 3 months)
Depending on your citizenship, you might need a short term visa to enter Denmark. Here you can find a list of visa-free countries and countries with visa requirements.
If you are from a visa-free country you can work for 90 days within a 180 days period without a work or residence permit as either a researcher or only visiting CBS as a guest researcher (unpaid without a letter of employment). You can read more about visa-free travel on New to Denmark.
Please note: If your stay in Denmark is shorter than three months, you will not be able to register as a resident in Denmark (and get a CPR number) and you will not be covered by the Danish health insurance.
Long-term stay (more than 3 months)
If you plan to stay longer than three months, you must have a residence and work permit in order to reside and work in Denmark.
Employed at CBS
CBS will initiate the application process for your residence and work permit.
Accompanying family
Accompanying family members also need a residence permit to reside in Denmark. This permit will also allow the accompanying family member to work or study in Denmark. It is yourself who apply for this permit.
Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner as well as your children under the age of 18 still living with you can be granted this permit. To be regarded as cohabiting partner, you must have lived together for at periode of at least 18-24 months. Read more about accompanying family member.
CBS will initiate the application process for your residence and work permit.
Accompanying family
Accompanying family members also need a residence permit to reside in Denmark. This permit will also allow the accompanying family member to work or study in Denmark. It is yourself who apply for this permit.
Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner as well as your children under the age of 18 still living with you can be granted this permit. To be regarded as cohabiting partner, you must have lived together for at periode of at least 18-24 months. Read more about accompanying family member.
Guest Researcher and guest Ph.D.
A guest is an unpaid researcher without a letter of employment from CBS. If you have been invited to do research at CBS we can help you apply for your residence and work permit. There are different types of work permits for different types of guests.
- A guest researcher with a master's degree: You need an invitation letter from your host department and you must be able to prove that you can support yourself financially during your stay in Denmark. Please read more about applying for a residence and work permit as a guest researcher.
- A enrolled guest Ph.D who does not recieve salary from CBS: You need an invitation letter from your host department and you must be able to prove that you can support yourself financially during your stay in Denmark. Please read more about the self-support requirement.
Accompanying family
Accompanying family members also need a residence permit to reside in Denmark. This permit will also allow the accompanying family member to work or study in Denmark. It is yourself who apply for this permit.
Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner as well as your children under the age of 18 still living with you can be granted this permit. To be regarded as cohabiting partner, you must have lived together for at periode of at least 18-24 months. Read more about accompanying family member.
A guest is an unpaid researcher without a letter of employment from CBS. If you have been invited to do research at CBS we can help you apply for your residence and work permit. There are different types of work permits for different types of guests.
- A guest researcher with a master's degree: You need an invitation letter from your host department and you must be able to prove that you can support yourself financially during your stay in Denmark. Please read more about applying for a residence and work permit as a guest researcher.
- A enrolled guest Ph.D who does not recieve salary from CBS: You need an invitation letter from your host department and you must be able to prove that you can support yourself financially during your stay in Denmark. Please read more about the self-support requirement.
Accompanying family
Accompanying family members also need a residence permit to reside in Denmark. This permit will also allow the accompanying family member to work or study in Denmark. It is yourself who apply for this permit.
Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner as well as your children under the age of 18 still living with you can be granted this permit. To be regarded as cohabiting partner, you must have lived together for at periode of at least 18-24 months. Read more about accompanying family member.
Enrolled Ph.D. (not employed)
CBS will initiate the application process for your residence and work permit as an enrolled Pd.D student.
A permit for an enrolled Ph.D requires an enrolment letter from the Ph.D school. You will have to prove that you can support yourself financiallly during your stay in Denmark. Please read more about the self-support requirement.
Accompanying family
Accompanying family members also need a residence permit to reside in Denmark. This permit will also allow the accompanying family member to work or study in Denmark. It is yourself who apply for this permit.
Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner as well as your children under the age of 18 still living with you can be granted this permit. To be regarded as cohabiting partner, you must have lived together for at periode of at least 18-24 months. Read more about accompanying family member.
CBS will initiate the application process for your residence and work permit as an enrolled Pd.D student.
A permit for an enrolled Ph.D requires an enrolment letter from the Ph.D school. You will have to prove that you can support yourself financiallly during your stay in Denmark. Please read more about the self-support requirement.
Accompanying family
Accompanying family members also need a residence permit to reside in Denmark. This permit will also allow the accompanying family member to work or study in Denmark. It is yourself who apply for this permit.
Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner as well as your children under the age of 18 still living with you can be granted this permit. To be regarded as cohabiting partner, you must have lived together for at periode of at least 18-24 months. Read more about accompanying family member.
When you have your residence and work permit
HR International Support will inform you once your residence and work permit has been issued.
After you have been granted a residence and work permit, you might - depending on your citizenship - be asked to visit the Danish Embassy/Consulate again to have an entry visa sticker inserted in your passport.
You can apply for your Danish CPR number (civil registration number) once you arrive in Denmark. Read more about registering for a Danish CPR number.
HR International Support will inform you once your residence and work permit has been issued.
After you have been granted a residence and work permit, you might - depending on your citizenship - be asked to visit the Danish Embassy/Consulate again to have an entry visa sticker inserted in your passport.
You can apply for your Danish CPR number (civil registration number) once you arrive in Denmark. Read more about registering for a Danish CPR number.
Do you need an extension of your residence- and work permit
Please make sure you note the date of when your work permit expires, in case you need to extend it. Please note: there are two dates on your work permit. One is the date your work permit expires, the second is the day your residence permit expires. If you need to extend your work permit, this should be done before your work permit expires. Please contact HR international support or your department, if your work permit is expiring soon and you need an extension in relation to your work at CBS.
Your residence and work permit may not automatically be as long as your employment at CBS. Therefore, it is important to note the expiry date. A residence permit can only be valid until 3 months before the expiry date in your passport.
The extension of your work and recidence permit should be applied for within 3 months before your current permit expires. Please contact HR International support 3-4 months before your permit expires, if you continue your employment at CBS, so we can help you get started on the extension application. There is a fee for applying for the extension.
Please note that you must always have a valid work permit as long as you are employed at CBS.
Please make sure you note the date of when your work permit expires, in case you need to extend it. Please note: there are two dates on your work permit. One is the date your work permit expires, the second is the day your residence permit expires. If you need to extend your work permit, this should be done before your work permit expires. Please contact HR international support or your department, if your work permit is expiring soon and you need an extension in relation to your work at CBS.
Your residence and work permit may not automatically be as long as your employment at CBS. Therefore, it is important to note the expiry date. A residence permit can only be valid until 3 months before the expiry date in your passport.
The extension of your work and recidence permit should be applied for within 3 months before your current permit expires. Please contact HR International support 3-4 months before your permit expires, if you continue your employment at CBS, so we can help you get started on the extension application. There is a fee for applying for the extension.
Please note that you must always have a valid work permit as long as you are employed at CBS.
If you want to stay beyond your employment at CBS
If you have been awarded a Danish PhD, master's, professional bachelor's or bachelor's you can apply for an establishment card.
The establishment card gives you the right to work full time from the day of the submission of your application for an establishment card in Denmark. You are allowed to work in any company in any position and you do not need to apply for a new permit if you change job. You are also allowed to run your own business.
An establishment card is initially granted for 2 years with the possibility of extension by an additional 1 year if you can prove that you are employed in a position that is relevant in relation to your completed education.
You must apply within 1 year of completing your education. It is the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) that will process the application for an establishment card.
Read more about the establishment card and application process.
Permanent residence permit
If you wish to stay in Denmark permanently, there is the possiblity of permanent residence.
A permanent residence permit entitles you to reside in Denmark indefinitely, if you have maintained a temporary residence permit for a minimum of 8 years (in some cases 4 years) and you fulfill other certain criteria.
You can apply for a permanent residence permit, given that you fulfill the criteria, at any time. You do not need to wait until your residence permit expires. It is likewise the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) that process' the application for permanent residence permit.
Read more about the permanent residence permit including the application process.
If you have been awarded a Danish PhD, master's, professional bachelor's or bachelor's you can apply for an establishment card.
The establishment card gives you the right to work full time from the day of the submission of your application for an establishment card in Denmark. You are allowed to work in any company in any position and you do not need to apply for a new permit if you change job. You are also allowed to run your own business.
An establishment card is initially granted for 2 years with the possibility of extension by an additional 1 year if you can prove that you are employed in a position that is relevant in relation to your completed education.
You must apply within 1 year of completing your education. It is the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) that will process the application for an establishment card.
Read more about the establishment card and application process.
Permanent residence permit
If you wish to stay in Denmark permanently, there is the possiblity of permanent residence.
A permanent residence permit entitles you to reside in Denmark indefinitely, if you have maintained a temporary residence permit for a minimum of 8 years (in some cases 4 years) and you fulfill other certain criteria.
You can apply for a permanent residence permit, given that you fulfill the criteria, at any time. You do not need to wait until your residence permit expires. It is likewise the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) that process' the application for permanent residence permit.
Read more about the permanent residence permit including the application process.
The page was last edited by: HR // 07/03/2023
HR International Support
HR International Support
HR Services
Copenhagen Business School
Solbjerg Plads 3
2000 Frederiksberg
Email: i-staff.hr@cbs.dk