Many students in Denmark have a part-time job. As an international student in Denmark, you too will have the right to work while you are living here. You will also have the opportunity to look for full-time employment when you have completed your studies. Read more.
Hours and Legalities
If you are a Nordic, EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, there are no restrictions to the number of hours you can work in Denmark while you study.
Students from the rest of the world may work in Denmark for up to 15 hours a week, as well as full-time during the months of June, July and August. However, it requires a work permit sticker in your passport. If you were not granted a work permit when you received your permission to study in Denmark, you can apply for it at the Danish Immigration Service. Read about how to apply.
If you are under 18, you are only eligible for a work permit if you have a written offer or contract for a specific position. The employer must also confirm to the Danish Immigration Service that he or she upholds workplace environment legislation.
Please note that if you work illegally in Denmark - for example by working more than 15 hours a week as a non-EU/EEA student - the Danish Immigration Service will revoke your residence permit or refuse to extend it. You risk deportation. Also, both you and your employer could be imprisoned or fined.
Student Jobs
Some international students find work in bars or restaurants. Others distribute newspapers, work in telemarketing or get jobs where certain language skills are required. A few find employment relevant to their studies. You should not, however, count on obtaining a part-time job nor plan your finances accordingly. It is not always easy to find a student job in Denmark if you don't speak Danish.
Certain academic institutions have online job banks or a careers centre that can assist you in finding a student job. Please enquire at your host institution.
For more information and tips on finding a student job in Denmark, please visit these websites:
www.workindenmark.dk
www.projektzone.dk
Related link:
New to Denmark
Taxes
Denmark has a well-developed welfare state. This means that many things that people in other countries pay for are free, like healthcare. But such an extensive public sector requires a lot of taxes to fund it. As a result, the tax rate in Denmark is one of the highest in the world.
However, the system is fair and progressive. Not everybody pays
the same amount of tax. The
higher your income, the more you pay.
How do I pay tax in Denmark?
All residents and everyone earning salary in Denmark are liable for Danish taxation. As a rule you must pay tax on all your earnings in Denmark - and on those you would potentially earn abroad. The amount of tax will depend on your annual income and status of tax liability.
What is a tax card?
If you have an income in Denmark, you must apply for a tax card from your local tax centre. A tax card is an official document which indicates how much tax you have to pay.
How do I get a tax card?
Once you have received your civil registration number (CPR-number), you must contact SKAT (Danish Tax and Customs Administration) and inform them how much you expect to earn for the year in question.
Note: contact SKAT on tel.: +45 72 22 18 18 or find the address of your nearest tax centre at www.skat.dk
In order to obtain your tax card you must complete a special
form called "04.063".
You can download the form here:
Danish/English version
Danish/German version
Danish/Polish version
The completed form must be sent to the local tax center in the region in which you work. The Danish Tax and Customs Administration will then generate your tax card.
Your employer will obtain your tax card digitally from SKAT.
Your tax is then automatically deducted at
source from your wages by your employer before you receive your
pay.
Leaving Denmark
If you leave Denmark, your taxability has to be determined. Therefore you must remember to inform SKAT before you're moving abroad (incl. Greenland/Faroe Islands).
When you leave Denmark, you must complete a special form, 04.029E, and send it to your local tax center. You can download the form here.
Useful links
For more information on the Danish tax system,
please visit.
After graduation
In Denmark, all international students have the opportunity to stay on after their studies to seek a job. After all, once you have been through our free-thinking education system, we know you will thrive in our innovative workplaces.
Here's how different nationalities can go about this post-graduation job-hunt:
- Nordic citizens of Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are free to enter, reside, study and work in Denmark. You do not need a visa or residence or work permit.
- EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not need to apply for a work permit either. You may stay in Denmark under the EU rules on free movement of people and services. But if you want to stay for more than three months, you must apply for a registration certificate under EU rules. The application must be submitted within three months of entering Denmark. Please note: the special interim arrangement concerning employees from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia ended on 1 May 2009.
- If you are from a country in the rest of the world your residence permit should remain valid for an additional six months after you graduate so you can look for a job. If you haven't previously been granted this extra six months, you can apply for an extension to your permit. For more information on how to extend your residence permit, please go to.
In terms of finding work, some educational institutions offer alumni networks to their graduates. This is a valuable source of information about job opportunities and networking. You can find out more on your host institution's website.
