The Working Holiday Visa for Denmark

You would think that Denmark, or the Kingdom of Denmark to be exact, is the smallest of the four countries that make up Scandinavia: Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. But you would be wrong! Or almost, since, with the Faroe Islands and Greenland, two autonomous Danish regions, Denmark becomes the 13th largest country in the world and the largest in the EU! However, its small population, a quarter of which lives in Copenhagen, certainly puts Denmark in the category of countries with vast, uninhabited landscapes.

Have you always dreamed of seeing Andersen's Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, taking a walk in Viking country, discovering the origins of the Lego (you could even find some unpublished Lego boxes!), getting on a cruise between the fjords and the islands, hopping on a getaway to the Faroe Islands, trying some exquisite Danish cuisine (we imagined that people in the Far North would eat smoked fish and boiled potatoes... Wrong. Nordic cuisine is inventive, innovative and, above all, locavore) and taking a bike ride to look at the beautiful architecture and splendid Danish nature?

Conditions to be met for obtaining the Working Holiday Visa in Denmark

Subject to certain conditions that vary according to the host country, the WHV is quite easy to get. The following are the conditions to be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa in Denmark:

1. Your nationality

The countries that have signed a WHV agreement with Denmark are:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Canada
• Chile
• Japan
• New Zealand
• South Korea

Good to know:

You actually need to be a national of one of these seven countries. Living in one of these countries does not mean that you are eligible for the program.

2. Your age

Age is an important factor when applying for the WHV in Denmark. To be eligible, you should be at least 18 years old, which is the legal age in most countries. For citizens of Argentina, Australia, Chile, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, the maximum age is 30 years old. This leaves them until the day before their 31stbirthday to request their WHV in Denmark. Canadians are a little luckier as the maximum age for them is set at 35 years old – which allows them to apply for the visa until the day before their 36th birthday!

3. Having a valid passport

In order to access the WHV in the Kingdom of Denmark, participants from the seven countries will need to hold a valid passport at the time of application to the Danish embassy. The passport will also need to be valid for a minimum of 12 months after they arrive in Denmark - i.e., for the whole duration of the time they are allowed to stay.

As for any trip you take, it is essential that the passport has blank pages — at least two pages — so that customs can stamp it when you enter and leave Danish territory and, in this case, so that the working holiday visa can also be added to it.

Good to know:

You are advised to pay close attention to your passport once you receive it with the new visa. Losing it could mean long and difficult formalities to replace it.

4. Having sufficient funds

If you have participated in a WHV program in the past or simply traveled abroad once in your lifetime, you will know that it is essential to have some savings to pay for accommodation, food, sightseeing, shopping, etc.

In the case of the WHV in Denmark, a compulsory sum will be required on your bank account for you to have the green light to enter the country. It is strongly recommended that participants have a minimum of 2,500 euros, which amounts to approximately 19,000 Danish Krones, in their bank account. Please note that you will need to present bank evidence in the form of an official statement to prove that you have this amount in your account.

5. Having a medical insurance policy

Each participant will be required to take out a health insurance policy before arriving in Denmark. Proof of the policy must be submitted with the application for the WHV and must include coverage for all risks related to hospitalization, illness, disability, maternity, and repatriation.

This is an essential condition to be met if you don't want to take the risk of not being accepted into the program. In general, health insurance is required for anyone traveling abroad. You wouldn't want to find yourself with a large bill to pay out of pocket during your stay, should an unforeseen medical event occur! You are therefore advised to choose a reputable health insurance company that will be reachable 7 days a week, 24 hours a day when you are in Denmark.

6. First-time participation

Have you participated in the WHV program in Denmark before? Unfortunately, your second application will not be accepted if the answer is yes. According to the agreement between Denmark and the seven countries mentioned above, only one participation per participant is accepted.

Good to know:

Have you ever participated in a WHV in another country before? Maybe in Belgium, Colombia, Hungary, Austria, Brazil, Mexico, or somewhere else? Then, there will be no problem at all.

7. The quota per country

To obtain a WHV in Denmark, you actually need to secure a spot! Indeed, when a country signs a work holiday agreement with another country, a quota is usually decided so that the receiving country has control over the number of visas granted per year and hence, the number of participants coming to their territory. In the case of Denmark, the annual quotas are as follows:

• Argentina = 100 places per year
• Australia = 100 places per year
• Canada = 350 places per year
• Chile = unlimited number of places per year
• Japan = unlimited number of places per year
• New Zealand = unlimited number of places per year
• South Korea = unlimited number of places per year

Good to know:

Since quotas are reset every year on January 1st, you'll have more chances of being selected if you apply at the beginning of the year.

8. The airline tickets

In addition to the required proof of funds that you will need to submit, you will also need to prove that you have enough money to purchase a return ticket. If you are purchasing a single ticket, you have to prove that you have enough to purchase a return ticket to your home country or any other country at the end of your allowed 12 months in Denmark.

9. Having a clean criminal record

To get the green light to enter Denmark, you will need to provide a clean criminal record, proving that you have never committed a crime. This record is usually fairly easy to obtain — contact your country's ministry of justice or the federal police.

10. Duration and price of the visa

The WHV visa for Denmark is valid for twelve months! The visa is free of charge, and the processing time is approximately 3 months, so ensure you are ahead of time. The WHV visa in Denmark will allow you to work for a maximum of six months. However, you are not allowed to work for the same company/boss/employer for more than three months! Taking a regular job in Denmark under this specific visa could get you deported. You will also be allowed to study in Denmark for a maximum of three months during your stay.

Read also Studying in Denmark

Important:

The WHV visa applies to only one person — the applicant. You cannot be accompanied by a dependant. If you wish to go on a WHV to Denmark as a couple or with more than one person, they will have to make a separate application which will be assessed separately from yours. They will also need to be eligible for all the conditions mentioned above!

How to apply for a Working Holiday Visa in Denmark?

Please note that the list of supporting documents you need to submit with your application may vary depending on the country you are from. But in general, to apply for a WHV permit for Denmark, you will need to provide the following documents:

• The completed visa form,
• a copy of your valid passport (copies of the first three pages which contain your basic info),
• two recent passport photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm), preferably with a white background, obviously frontal, with the face clearly visible,
• a birth certificate,
• a return air ticket from Denmark or proof that you have sufficient funds to purchase one,
• a certificate of insurance,
• a medical certificate proving that you are in good health,
• proof that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses,
• a clean police certificate - in other words, a clean criminal record not older than three months.
• a full resume
• a letter of motivation, preferably in English, in which you explain why you want to go on a WHV to Denmark.

Useful addresses:

Embassy of Denmark in Buenos Aires - Argentina

Avenida Leandro N. Alem 1074,

Piso 9, C1001AAS

Buenos Aires

Argentina

Embassy of Denmark in Canberra - Australia

15 Hunter Street Yarralumla,

ACT 2600.

Canberra

Australia

Embassy of Denmark in Ottawa - Canada

47 Clarence St., Ottawa,

ON K1N 9K1,

Canada

Embassy of Denmark in Santiago - Chile

Jacques Cazotte 5531, Casilla 19002,

Correo 19, Vitacura,

Santagio,

Chile

Embassy of Denmark in Tokyo - Japan

29-6 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku,

150-0033

Tokyo,

Japan

Royal Danish Consulate General in Auckland - New Zealand

47A Normanby Road,

Mount Eden,

Auckland 1024,

New Zealand

Embassy of Denmark in Seoul - South Korea

Nam Song Bldg., 5th Floor, 260-199,

Itaewon-dong,

Yongsan-ku, 140-200

Seoul,

South Korea

Read also Visas for Denmark

Things to consider before moving to Denmark

The cost of living in Denmark

Before traveling to Denmark, we recommend that you have an idea of the cost of living in order to prepare your budget.

Here is a table that will give you an idea of the cost of living in Denmark - (Information source from Numbeo; as of August 2022)

Looking for accommodation in Denmark

If we had to advise you to prepare one thing, it would definitely be proper accommodation. You wouldn't want to reach Denmark and have no idea where you will be staying. Airbnb remains a popular website for searching for accommodation in Denmark — it allows you to find the kind of place you like, with a choice of different budgets!

Some commonly used platforms in Denmark are Aspire Mobility, Balder, Charlies Roof, Copenhagen Homes, Copenhagen Expats, City Apartment, Relohagen, Custom Bolig, Housing in Copenhagen, Gateway to Denmark, Housing Company, and Housing Denmark.

For those who have a limited budget, we strongly advise taking a look at couch surfing and hostel options!

Read also Accommodation in Denmark

Looking for work in Denmark

As mentioned above, you can only work for one employer for 3 months and are allowed to work for 6 months in total during your stay in Denmark.

To look for work in Denmark, Google is your best friend! Websites such as job.jobnet.dk and workindenmark.dk are very popular in Denmark.

Are you bilingual? Do you have skills that could help you find a job? Do not hesitate to offer your services to locals!

Useful link:

Denmark's website for the department of Home Affairs