🇩🇰Criminal Record Guide: Working Holiday Denmar

Redacción Volare | February 20, 2026

When preparing your document folder for the Danish immigration process, one of the most frequent doubts is whether you need to present a background check. Following a highly rigorous verification of the official manuals, here is the definitive technical information. This guide clarifies the exact requirements for applicants from eligible nations under the bilateral agreement: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.

📊 Summary Board: Criminal Record Regulations

To dispel internet myths and help you organize your budget effectively, we break down the official parameters established by the Danish authorities:

Immigration Requirement	Official SIRI Specification
📄 Physical Certificate	❌ Not required to process the visa
✍️ Sworn Declaration	✅ Mandatory (signed within the form)
🏛️ Processing Form	WH1 (Online or Printed)
💼 Labor Market Exception	Required for jobs in education, childcare, or security
🛂 Eligible Countries	Uniform rule for all partner nationalities

The Sworn Declaration (The Key to the Process)

For the Working Holiday visa process, SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) does not require attaching a physical criminal record certificate in the mandatory document checklist.

Instead of a physical document, the official WH1 form includes a specific section where the applicant must sign a sworn declaration stating they have not committed serious crimes. Denmark bases its initial decision on the good faith of this signature and internal European Union data cross-referencing.

Administrative Rigor at VFS Global

Conflicting information often circulates on non-official blogs, especially regarding the Argentine case. However, the administrative facts are completely uniform. When attending your biometrics appointment at VFS Global (whether in Buenos Aires or any other global center), the staff will only verify what SIRI explicitly demands in its official checklist. Therefore, obtaining your national background check is not a requirement for your visa approval.

When is the physical document actually necessary?

Although the immigration office does not request it for the initial visa application, there are two specific situations where you will need the physical document:

1. Positive Declaration: If you check "Yes" regarding criminal history on the WH1 form, SIRI will formally request the document (properly apostilled and translated) to evaluate your specific case.

2. Danish Labor Market: Once in Denmark, if you look for employment in sensitive sectors such as education, childcare, or security, your employer will legally request the certificate from your home country.

Volare Tip: Do not spend money on requesting, apostilling, and translating criminal records solely for the visa application; it is an unnecessary expense. However, always answer the declaration honestly, as Denmark has immediate access to Interpol and Europol databases. A false declaration leads to automatic rejection and a ban on entering the country.

📖 Complete Volare Guide

To ensure you have the proper guidance, resolve doubts about your document folder, and see the detailed step-by-step, we recommend checking our Official Denmark Working Holiday Visa Guide.