· 6 min read
Learn Danish for Free: Who Gets Free Lessons
By Language Lab editorial team
Learn Danish for free: people who move to Denmark are entitled to free Danish lessons from their municipality. See who qualifies, the deposit and the tests.
The main free route into Danish runs through Denmark itself. People who move to Denmark are entitled to free Danish lessons, and the local municipality has to make sure every new resident gets the chance to learn the language, according to Info Norden, the Nordic Council's information service. The lessons are free, but foreign workers and students pay a deposit of DKK 2,000 when they are referred to a module, refunded when they pass the module tests in time. Teaching is divided into three programmes by educational background, each ending in its own test. EU cross-border workers who work in Denmark and live abroad are entitled to lessons too. If you are outside Denmark, start with first phrases and expect a short course: the US State Department lists Danish at 24 weeks of classes.
Free Danish lessons at a glance
| Danish lessons for newcomers | |
|---|---|
| Offered by | Your municipality in Denmark |
| Cost | Free; some participants pay a refundable deposit |
| Who | Newly arrived foreigners aged 18 or over with legal residence who are registered as resident in Denmark |
| Also entitled | EU cross-border workers who work in Denmark without living there |
| Deposit | DKK 2,000 for foreign workers, students and similar, per referral to a module |
| Structure | Three Danish programmes, chosen by educational background |
| Final tests | Danish 1, Danish 2 or Danish 3; at a higher level, Studieprøven |
Who is entitled
Info Norden sets out the group. Danish lessons are offered to newly arrived foreigners aged 18 or over who have a residence permit or otherwise have permanent, legal residence in Denmark and are registered as resident there, or who have residence under the EU's rules on free movement and live in a municipality. EU cross-border workers, people who work or are self-employed in Denmark without being resident, are entitled to lessons as well.
The deposit
The Danish Language Classes Act separates two kinds of participant. I-course participants are refugees and family members reunited with refugees. S-course participants are foreign workers, students and similar; they are offered lessons as part of an introductory course and are not obliged to accept. S-course participants must pay a deposit of DKK 2,000 when they are referred to a module. The deposit is refunded if they pass the module tests within the stipulated deadlines, and when they pass the final examination. In practice: the lessons cost nothing if you keep up.
The three programmes
| Programme | Who it is for | Ends with |
|---|---|---|
| Danish programme 1 | People who cannot read and write their native language, or who do not master the Latin alphabet | The Danish 1 test |
| Danish programme 2 | People with a short school and educational background from their home country | The Danish 2 test |
| Danish programme 3 | People with a medium-length background, such as vocational training, secondary school or higher education | The Danish 3 test, or at a higher level Studieprøven |
Studieprøven, the Higher Education Examination, is a requirement to study at a Danish university. Info Norden also notes that several municipalities offer Danish courses aimed at people who are fluent in Norwegian or Swedish.
If you are not in Denmark yet
The entitlement above depends on living or working in Denmark. This guide did not find an official free online Danish course for learners abroad to recommend, so it does not name one. What you can do for free today is learn the first phrases and get used to the sound of the language before you arrive.
| Danish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Goddag. | Hello. |
| Farvel. | Goodbye. |
| Tak. | Thank you. |
| Ja. | Yes. |
| Nej. | No. |
| Jeg hedder ... | My name is ... |
| Undskyld, jeg kan ikke tale dansk. | I'm sorry, I don't speak Danish. |
These come from the BBC's archived list of essential Danish phrases.
How to get your free lessons
- Register as a resident in your municipality.
- Contact the municipality about Danish lessons; it is responsible for the offer.
- Expect to be placed in one of the three programmes according to your schooling.
- If you are a worker or student, pay the DKK 2,000 deposit when you are referred to a module.
- Pass each module test within its deadline to get the deposit back.
How far it takes you
Danish is a short course by official measures: the US State Department lists it in Category I, languages close to English, at 24 weeks of classes for English speakers. It also opens its neighbours. The Nordic Council describes Danish, Norwegian and Swedish as so closely related that, with a little effort, most people understand each other. Classes give you structure and tests. Speaking still needs daily practice. Language Lab's Danish course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, which supplies spoken practice between classes.
Frequently asked
Can I learn Danish for free?
Yes, if you move to Denmark. People who move there are entitled to free Danish lessons arranged by their municipality, according to Info Norden. Foreign workers and students pay a refundable deposit.
How much is the deposit for Danish lessons?
DKK 2,000 for foreign workers, students and similar participants, paid when they are referred to a module. It is refunded if the module tests are passed within the deadlines.
Who can get free Danish lessons?
Newly arrived foreigners aged 18 or over with legal residence who are registered as resident in Denmark, and EU cross-border workers who work in Denmark.
What is the Danish 3 test?
The final test of Danish programme 3, the programme for people with a medium-length educational background. At a higher level the programme can end with Studieprøven.
What Danish do I need for university in Denmark?
Studieprøven, the Higher Education Examination, is a requirement to study at a Danish university, according to Info Norden.
Is Danish easy for English speakers?
The US State Department places it in Category I, languages close to English, at 24 weeks of classes.
Sources: Info Norden (Nordic co-operation, norden.org), Language courses for migrants to Denmark, and The Nordic languages (read on 13 October 2026); BBC Languages, Quick Fix essential Danish phrases (archived); US Department of State, National Foreign Affairs Training Center, Foreign Language Training. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: Frederiksborg Castle across its lake, Hillerød, Dennis G. Jarvis / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
