🇩🇰 Denmark Working Holiday: Is it mandatory to translate documents?

Manuel Moreira
Aug 23
3 min read

Volare Editorial | 23rd August 2026

Applying for the Working Holiday Denmark is one of the most exciting decisions you can make, but also one that requires the highest administrative precision. One of the most frequent doubts among travelers is whether they must incur translation costs or if they can present their papers in their native language. Below, we clear all your doubts based on the regulations of the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

Summary Board: Languages Accepted by SIRI

For an immigration officer to validly evaluate your case, the documents must comply with the following language rule:

Original Document Language	Required Action	Type of Translation Required
Danish, English, Norwegian, Swedish, German	❌ None (Accepted)	Not applicable
Spanish (or other languages)	✅ Mandatory translation	Public or certified translator

Is it mandatory to translate the documents

The short answer is: Yes, if your documents are in Spanish (or any other unlisted language).

SIRI establishes very clear rules regarding the language of the documentation. For an immigration officer to evaluate your case, the documents must be written in or translated into one of the following languages: Danish, English, Norwegian, Swedish, or German.

Since Spanish is not part of this list, any document issued in your home country (such as bank certificates or criminal records, if required) must be translated into English or Danish.

What type of translation is required? Normally, SIRI requires translations to be done by a public or certified translator. It is not necessary for the translations to be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Hague Apostille) unless otherwise specified, but they must have the stamp and signature of the professional validating the fidelity of the text.

The case of European passports

If you have Spanish nationality or nationality from any EU/EEA country, you do not need the Working Holiday Visa. You can enter Denmark and look for work under the right of free movement, registering once you find employment.

Summary Board: Checklist and Translations

Make sure you have the following documentation ready. Here we cross-reference the requirements with their actual need to go through a translator:

Required Document	Needs Translation?	Requirement Detail
Valid passport	❌ No	Color copy of ALL pages (including covers and blank pages).
Proof of funds	⚠️ It depends	Bank statement in your name. Tip: Ask for it in English to avoid translating.
Travel insurance	⚠️ It depends	Coverage of €30,000 (12 months). Usually comes in English by default.
Payment receipt (Fee)	❌ No	The Case Order ID receipt is issued from the official SIRI portal.

Checklist of essential documents

For your application to be successful, make sure you have:

Valid passport: Color copy of all pages (including the covers and blank pages).
Proof of funds: A bank statement in your name. Tip: If the bank can issue the certificate directly in English, you save the cost of the translation.
Travel insurance: Must cover the 12 months of stay and have a minimum coverage of €30,000 (including repatriation). The certificate usually comes in English by default.
Fee payment receipt (Case Order ID): The payment receipt to SIRI.

Expert tips and advice

Ask for your bank certificate in English: Many international banks (or digital banks) allow you to download the account statement or a certificate of ownership in English. This is 100% valid for Denmark and will save you time and money on translators.
Beware of passport validity: Denmark will not grant you a visa that exceeds the validity of your passport. If your passport expires in 6 months, they will only give you a 3-month visa (since it must be valid for up to 3 months after your departure).
Pay attention to quotas: Countries like Chile have very small quotas (150) that sell out in minutes. Have all your documentation translated and ready weeks before the opening.
Quality photos: If you are going to upload digital files, make sure they have no glare and that the text is perfectly legible. SIRI is very strict with the quality of PDF files.

Complete Volare Guide

Knowing how to present your documents is essential to avoid rejections. To learn about the rest of the financial details, how to create your Case Order ID, and the exact step-by-step, we recommend checking our Official Denmark Working Holiday Visa Guide.