Denmark upholds regulations for non-EU/EEA student visa holders to prevent labor migration abuse

These measures, which were implemented in previous years, seek to ensure that foreign students are in Denmark primarily for educational purposes rather than to seek employment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark reports that the government has been addressing concerns about a trend where international students are enrolling in Danish institutions primarily to enter the labor market.

These students often take up low-wage jobs, such as cleaning in hotels or restaurants, instead of focusing on their academic work.

As part of the ongoing policy, non-EU/EEA students do not have automatic rights to work in Denmark while holding a student visa. Previously, students could work part-time without additional permissions.

However, under current regulations, students must meet specific conditions to work during their studies.

The policy also restricts the ability of spouses or partners of non-EU/EEA students to work in Denmark. Partners of student visa holders are no longer eligible for a work permit based on their relationship with the student.

This regulation aims to prevent non-students from entering Denmark under the guise of accompanying students for work purposes.

The Danish Immigration Service continues to conduct rigorous assessments to confirm that students are genuinely pursuing education rather than using their student visas to gain employment.

This screening process is designed to ensure that student visas are not used as a means of entering the labor market.

Despite these restrictions, Denmark still offers various types of study visas for international students. These options include residence permits for higher education programs, preparatory courses, and PhD programs.

PhD students in Denmark may work full-time if their PhD is classified as employment or up to 20 hours per week if it is not.

While the regulations may limit work opportunities for international students, those who are focused on their studies can still benefit from Denmark’s educational offerings.

The regulations, as stated, ensure that Denmark’s educational system remains a priority, while also preventing the exploitation of student visas for labor migration. The government continues to maintain a system that allows genuine students to study while balancing the needs of the labor market.