🇩🇰Is it Mandatory to submit Criminal Records for Denmark Working Holiday Visa?

Volare Editorial | August 25, 2026

When preparing your document folder for the Danish immigration process, one of the most frequent doubts that generates the most confusion on the internet is whether or not you need to present a criminal record certificate. Following a 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 youth mobility agreement, so you don't spend extra money on unnecessary procedures.

📊 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 initial visa
✍️ Sworn Declaration	✅ Mandatory (signed within the form)
🏛️ Processing Form	WH1 (Online or Printed, depending on your nationality)
💼 Labor Exception	Required if you will work in education, healthcare, or security

The Sworn Declaration (The Key to the Process)

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

Instead of requiring a physical, apostilled document, the official WH1 form includes a specific section where the applicant must sign a sworn declaration. By signing it, you legally affirm that you have not committed serious crimes. Denmark bases its initial decision on the good faith of this signature and on cross-referencing internal data with European Union security databases.

Administrative Rigor at VFS Global

Contradictory information often circulates on non-official blogs, but the administrative facts are completely uniform. When attending your biometrics appointment at VFS Global (whether in Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, or another global center), the staff will only verify what SIRI explicitly demands in its official checklist.

Therefore, if you present a national criminal record certificate at the counter, the VFS officer will likely return it to you, as it is not part of the requirements for your visa approval.

📊 Summary Board: When the physical document is necessary

Although the immigration office does not request it for the initial Working Holiday Visa application, there are two specific situations where you will need to issue and translate your physical certificate:

Specific Scenario	Required Action by Authorities
⚠️ Positive Declaration	If you check "Yes" in the crimes section of the WH1 form, SIRI will pause your process and formally request the translated document to evaluate the severity of the case.
💼 Special Labor Market	Once in Denmark, if you look for employment in sensitive sectors (daycares, schools, elderly care, or security), your employer will legally require the certificate from your country.

Volare Tip: Do not spend money on requesting, apostilling, and translating your criminal records solely for the visa application; it is an unnecessary bureaucratic expense. However, always respond honestly to the declaration, as a false statement leads to automatic rejection, cancellation of the Working Holiday Visa, and a ban from entering the Schengen Area.

📖 Complete Volare Guide

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