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Establishment card

NOTE: The Establishment Card has been abolished as a scheme since 1 April 2023. However, it will still be possible to apply for an extension of an establishment card.
Establishment card has been replaced by a 3 year work permit without limitations for international graduates who have completed a Danish professional bachelor, bachelor, master or PhD programme.

As a foreign national who has completed a bachelor's, professional bachelor's, master's (candidatus) degree or PhD degree from a publically accredited educational institution in Denmark, you can be granted a residence permit with the aim of establishing yourself in Denmark after your Danish educational programme has been finished.

If you have been granted a residence permit under the Establishment card scheme, you do not need to obtain a work permit. A residence permit under the Establishment card scheme gives you the right to take up employment without it being necessary for you to apply for a new work permit if you change your job. In addition, a residence permit under the Establishment card scheme gives you the right to work as an entrepreneur (to run your own business).

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Conditions

Education
In order to be granted an establishment card, you must have completed a Danish bachelor's, professional bachelor's, master's (candidatus) degree or PhD degree.

A master programme (Danish: masteruddannelse) corresponds to a Danish master's (candidatus) degree.

If you have completed an advanced postgraduate (soloist) programme from the Danish Academies of Music and the Opera Academy, your educational level is considered to be equivalent to a PhD degree.

Apply within 1 year
It is a condition that the application for a residence permit under the Establishment scheme is submitted within 1 year of completing your educational programme.
With this, a foreigner who, after completing his Danish education and e.g. traveling back to the home country, could submit an application for an establishment card up to one year after the education has been completed.

Sufficient funds
In addition, it is a condition that you must document that you are able to support yourself during your first year in Denmark. The current rates (amounts) you need to document can be found on the website nyidanmark.dk. For example if you are in Denmark without any family you must have an amount corresponding to DKK 90,492 (2021 level).
Documentation can be a recent bank statement in your name which clearly states in which currency, and on which date, the statement was issued. The statement must not be more than 30 days old at the time when you apply. In addition, if you wish to apply for residence permits for accompanying family members, you must also document that you are able to support your family members.

No graduate benefits or cash benefits
Finally it is a condition that you do not receive unemployment benefits for new graduates (dimittenddagpenge) or any public assistance under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act (lov om aktiv socialpolitik) during your stay in Denmark.

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Duration

A residence permit under the Establishment scheme can be granted for a period of 2 years.
However it can be extended by 1 year (to total of 3 years), if you are employed in a job relevant to a completed educational programme, which can form the basis for an establishment card.

After having resided in Denmark for 2/3 years you can apply for a new residence permit using one of the other schemes including as an entrepreneur who wishes to run your own business.

A residence permit can only be granted or extended up until 3 months before your passport expires. In other words, if your passport expires in 12 months, your residence permit can only be extended by nine months. If you renew your passport after you have been granted an establishment card, you can apply for an extension of your permit for the full 2 year period. The application, which must include a copy of your new passport, can be submitted no sooner than 3 months before your current residence permit expires.

How to apply

An application for a residence permit under the Establishment card scheme must be submitted online. If the application is not submitted online it will be rejected.

Family members

If you have been granted a residence and work permit under the Establishment card scheme, you can bring certain family members.

This page was last modified 2024-12-01T09:51:42+01:00.

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Main topics about A-kasse

Transferring periods of work and insurance from another EEA CountryAs an EU citizen you can transfer acquired rights from Unemployment Insurance between EU contries. Be aware that there are some requirements and deadlines that are important to meet. And you have to use a PD U1 Form. Read more here..

Transferring unemployment benefitsUnder certain conditions you can go to another EU country to look for work and continue to receive your unemployment benefits from the country where you became unemployed. And you have to use a PD U2 Form. Read more here..

Unemployment benefits ("dagpenge")Remember you have to be member of an A-kasse for 1 year before you can claim Unemployment benefits ("dagpenge"). And you must meet the income-requirement. Read more here..

International graduatesGraduates in Denmark can get Unemployment benefits from the first day after graduation, if they have been member as student of an A-kasse for at least 1 year. Read more...

Residence CardIf you are a non-EU citizen you must have a residence Card which allows you to take any job with one day notice. This is because you must be available for the labor market for being eligible for unemployment benefits ("dagpenge").

Membership fee and taxYou will automatically get a deduction in your tax for your fee to the A-kasse and trade union. There is no ceiling on the amount you can get a deduction for when it comes to contributions to A-kasse, whereas you can get a maximum deduction of DKK 7,000 for a trade union.

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