Working Holiday
To qualify for the Working Holiday permit you must be a Canadian citizen between 18 and 35 years of age, both ages inclusive. Your passport must be valid 3 months after your planned departure from Denmark and you will also need to provide proof of sufficient funds and valid travel insurance.
If you qualify for the working holiday permit, you can be granted a residence permit for a maximum of 12 months. The primary purpose of your stay must be a holiday, but you may work during your stay in Denmark to earn extra funds to support yourself. You are allowed to study for a maximum of 6 months, and work part time or full time for a maximum of 6 months during the 12-month period.
Please click here for more information on the Working Holiday permit .
STEP 1: Start the Application and Pay Application Fee
Start by filling out the application form:
Note that you can only apply three months before your entry date.
Pay the fee for the Embassy online via the following link and ensure to include the receipt with your application:
Important: Please read this explanation regarding the fee structure for the permit you're applying for.
STEP 2: Collect Documents
Please click here for the document checklist.
Please note: The document checklist found within the application form will be slightly different from the Embassy checklist. Please follow the Embassy checklist carefully.
For quick and efficient processing you must collect all the required documents in the mandatory checklist before you submit the application. Failure to submit all the required documents may result in unnecessary delays or rejection.
Your original passport will be shipped to the Royal Danish Embassy in Ottawa for verification, but will be returned to you via courier (prepaid at VFS), usually within a week.
Step 3: Submit Application
Applications for residence permits for Denmark must always be made in person as biometric features (digital photo, fingerprints and signature) are mandatory requirements for permit applications.
Applications are submitted through our outsourcing partner, VFS Global. Please visit their website to book an appointment.
Addresses for the VFS Global Application Centres can be accessed here.
Please do not show up for your appointment more than 10 minutes in advance.
Please note that documentation is accepted only in the following languages:
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English
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Danish
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Norwegian
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Swedish
Documentation in French is unfortunately not accepted.
Failing to submit all relevant documentation will result in unnecessary delays or rejection.
All residence permit applications are handled by the Royal Danish Embassy in Ottawa. Application are forwarded to the Danish Immigration Service or Danish Agency for Labour Retention and International Recruitment (SIRI).
After processing the application, the Danish Immigration Service or Danish Agency for Labour Retention and International Recruitment forwards the decision to the Embassy.
If a permit has been granted, the Embassy will notify you directly. You can then travel to Denmark to have the permit issued. Please note that if you are not visa exempt for Denmark, an entry visa will need to be issued for you.
If your application has been refused, the Embassy will send you a refusal letter.
The Embassy will not contact the authorities for status updates until the regular service goal for processing has been surpassed, however you are welcome to forward your status request directly to SIRI. Contact information can be found here.
important notice
Denmark offers a wide range of residence permits. For a complete overview, please visit NewToDenmark. We have created checklists for the most common applications types, which you can access via the menu on the left.
Processing Times
The processing time varies by the type of residence permit you are applying for. Find the service goals for processing here and here. The Royal Danish Embassy cannot provide status updates to your application. Please contact the responsible agency directly.
Appointment Booking
All residence permit applications, without exception, must be submitted via our outsourcing partner, VFS Global. You can book your appointment here.
For assistance:
Call VFS Global: 1-866-978-5904 (Live agent Monday to Friday 8am-5pm EST)
Email VFS Global: [email protected]
Please note
Neither the Embassy nor our consulates can be held responsible for technical difficulties, human errors or shipping delays in the processing of passports, permits and visa applications.