- Denmark’s government announced that foreigners holding student residence permits in the country are barred from accessing a range of public benefits
- The Danish government issued an official statement outlining the specific benefits that student permit holders cannot receive
- The restriction covers nine categories of benefits, spanning financial support, housing, healthcare-related allowances, and educational grants
Denmark has barred foreign nationals on student residence permits from accessing nine categories of public benefits, the Danish government has confirmed.
The restriction applies to any foreigner residing in the country under a student residence permit or a permit obtained for the purpose of gaining a Danish professional authorisation. Such individuals are not permitted to draw on public assistance during their stay.
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Benefits banned for foreign students in Denmark
The Danish government made its position clear in an official statement, saying:
“You are not allowed to receive any public benefits. If you have a residence permit as a student or to obtain a Danish authorisation, you are not allowed to receive:”
The nine categories of benefits from which foreign students are excluded are:
1. Cash benefits
2. Self-sufficiency and return benefit as well as transition benefit
3. Sickness benefits
4. Maternity or paternity benefits
5. Unemployment benefits, including graduate allowances (in Danish, “dimittend-dagpenge”)
6. Housing benefits
7. Child support
8. State Educational Grant (SU), including the public transportation pass “Ungdomskort”
9. Danskbonus
What this means for foreign students
The list covers a broad range of support systems that Danish residents ordinarily have access to, from income replacement during illness and parenthood to housing assistance and child-related payments. Notably, the State Educational Grant, which is a form of financial support extended to students in Denmark and includes the youth transport pass known as “Ungdomskort,” is also off-limits for those on student residence permits.
The Danskbonus, a benefit tied to Danish language or integration milestones, rounds out the list of restricted allowances.
Foreign nationals considering or currently studying in Denmark under a residence permit are expected to be financially self-sufficient throughout their stay, without relying on the Danish welfare system for support.
Denmark limits recipients of public benefits
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that Denmark has identified five social benefits that foreign nationals living in the country on certain work permits cannot receive.
The restrictions also apply to accompanying family members of eligible work permit holders under Danish law.
Source: Legit.ng