2.5 Cross-border mobility programmes
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EU programmes
The European Solidarity Corps (ESC)
For young Danes planning to complete a volunteering placement abroad, the The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is relevant.
In Denmark, the National Agency for Higher Education and Science administers the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). The agency coordinates and monitors young people's participation in ESC in accordance with the European Commission’s guidelines.
Volunteers to and from Denmark 2018-2022
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Total 2018-2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Total 2021-2022 | Total 2018-2022 | |
| Incoming (including in-country) | 42 (3) | 126 (1) | 149 (7) | 317 (11) | 123 (9) | 116 (2) | 139 (11) | 556 |
| Outgoing | 21 | 87 | 78 | 186 | 52 | 48 | 100 | 286 |
Source: National implementation report – Denmark 2024, p. 45. Brackets contain the numbers of in-country volunteers
Since Denmark does not have a national strategy for youth volunteering, there are no national targets or objectives set in legislation regarding young people’s participation.
Denmark participates in the centralized action Volunteering under the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (Humanitarian Aid Volunteering). The Danish National Agency does not monitor participation in this programme, since
EACEA is in charge of the life-cycle management of the programme, including analysis of grant requests and monitoring of projects.
Three Danish organisations have been awarded a Quality Label under the programme. Dansk Folkehjælp and Dansk Flygtningehjælp serve as host organisations, while Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke operates as a sending organisation.
Other Programmes
Denmark does not have a national programme for international voluntary work.
Legal framework applying to foreign volunteers
Denmark allows foreign nationals to engage in unpaid social or humanitarian volunteer work. Volunteers coming to Denmark are subject to the general Danish Aliens Act (Udlændingeloven, LBK nr. 1205 af 25/08/2022).
Citizens of a Nordic country (Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden) can enter, live, study and work in Denmark without a visa, work permit, or residence permit. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa but must apply for an EU residence document upon arrival. Non-EU/EEA nationals must obtain a residence permit before arriving in Denmark.
To qualify, applicants must be 18 to 30 years old and volunteer full-time in activities benefiting society, excluding ordinary paid jobs. If accommodation and meals are not provided, volunteers must prove financial self-sufficiency, currently DKK 7,086 per month. The hosting organisation must also provide liability and health insurance.
The residence permit is tied to a specific volunteer position and organisation. Paid work or switching roles without a new permit is prohibited and may result in fines, imprisonment, or permit revocation.