Short answer: If you apply for a Danish study residence permit on or after 1 October 2026, you can no longer bring your spouse, partner or children to Denmark on a family (accompanying) permit. The job-seeking period after graduation has also been cut from up to 3 years to up to 1 year. Students on programmes that are not state-approved already lost family and work rights from 2 May 2025.

Last checked: 20 October 2026, against the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) and university websites. Rules can change, so always confirm on nyidanmark.dk before you apply.

What changed for students going to Denmark

  • No accompanying family: for applications submitted on or after 1 October 2026, a spouse, cohabiting partner or children cannot get a residence permit as the accompanying family of a student.
  • Shorter job-seeking period: after you graduate, the establishment card / job-seeking permit is now up to 1 year instead of up to 3 years.
  • Non-state-approved programmes: since 2 May 2025, students on programmes that are not approved by the Danish state cannot bring family and do not get the right to work while studying.
  • Applications before 1 October 2026: applications submitted before the cut-off are assessed under the earlier rules. Check your own case on nyidanmark.dk.

Does Denmark accept PTE?

Not at most universities. The University of Copenhagen, for example, lists IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT and Cambridge English as accepted tests, and PTE is not on its list. Most partner universities ask for IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0. If you have only a PTE score, check the specific university before you apply, or plan to take IELTS.

Who should still consider Denmark?

  • Single students who want a high-quality, English-taught Master's or Bachelor's in Europe.
  • Students who plan to work in the EU and can find a job within the 1-year job-seeking window.
  • Students interested in universities such as the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Aarhus University, Absalon University College and VIA University College.

Denmark has one main intake, in September, so applications usually open months in advance.

Who should look at other countries?

If you are married and want your spouse to join you while you study, Denmark is no longer the right fit. Lithuania and some other EU destinations still allow family members in many cases, subject to their own rules. Our counsellors can compare options for your profile.

Frequently asked questions

Can my wife or husband come with me to Denmark on a student visa?

Not if your study permit application is submitted on or after 1 October 2026. Your spouse would need to qualify for a residence permit on their own basis.

How long can I stay in Denmark after my studies?

Up to 1 year to look for a job, under the new rules. After you find a qualifying job, you move to a work-based permit.

Is PTE accepted for Denmark?

Most Danish universities, including the University of Copenhagen, do not accept PTE. IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge English are the usual options.

Official sources

Talk to a counsellor

Win Your Visa is a Punjab Government licensed consultancy (Licence No. 908) with offices in Jagraon and Ludhiana. We help students from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and across India choose the right country and university. See our Study in Denmark page or call +91 76578 91191 to book a free counselling session.