What to know about the Denmark’s job seeking residence permit ???

After the completion of an educational program in Denmark, an applicant for the purpose of seeking a job can submit an application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). Now, if one is in Denmark while submitting the application, one must be residing there legally.

A candidate who has a hold of a residence permit as a student in a Danish professional bachelor, bachelor, master or PhD educational program approved by a state authority and has their education completed, for the purpose of seeking a job, can be granted a residence permit for up to 3 years. On the other hand, one can apply for a 6-month job seeking permit, if the education has been approved by an advisory statement by the Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA). For a student in a master’s degree program for working professionals, one will only be eligible for job seeking period for up to 6 months. A residence permit can provide a better clarification of whether the current residence permit already includes a job seeking period. 

Validity of the passport is one of the primary criterion as SIRI automatically grants a 3-year job seeking period along with ones study permit if the validity of one’s passport is up to the mark. Therefore, it is a must that the passport has an adequate validity period as shorter validity period of one’s residence permit as a student will ultimately lead to shortening of the residence permit all as a result of expiration before due time. An extension of residence permit, however, can be applied and submitted after the renewal of the passport which can only be done, at the earliest, 4 months before one’s permit expires.

Note: A residence permit can only be valid until 3 months before the expiry date of one’s passport.

Another factor to be taken into considering while applying for a job seeking permit is if one has been granted a 6-month job seeking period along with one’s residence permit, or have completed an educational program in Denmark after the prescribed period of study. However, if one has not completed an education yet and if the residence permit is about to expire, then one can apply for an extension of their residence permit as a student.

An individual, during the residence permit for job seeking, will have the same right to work that he/ she had during their stay as a student i.e.20 hours a week and full time in June, July and August. Now, if one wants to work more or are offered a job that requires one to work more than the 20 hours a week, one must apply for a ‘’work permit without limitations’’  or a “residence and work permit based on the job offered”.

Note: An extension of job seeking permit for up to 3 years can be applied no earlier than 4 months prior to the date of one’s residence permit expires.