Sideline activities for non-EU/EEA citizens

As a non-EU/EEA citizen working at Aarhus University, your ability to engage in sideline activities—such as voluntary work or participation in associations—depends on the type of residence and work permit you hold. This page outlines which activities require a permit and which do not, helping you stay compliant.

Non-academic free time activities you take part in as a private person, as a rule, are not considered as work. Some activities do however require a permit for sideline activities depending on the type of your main permit.

Type 1: Researcher permit, guest researcher permit and PhD permit. Unpaid voluntary work in your free time does not require a permit for sideline activities.

Type 2: Guest PhD permit, Pay Limit permit, Positive List Permit, Trainee Permit. Several free time activities are characterized as work and will require a permit for sideline activities.

Voluntary work in an association 

Type 1: No permit is normally required.

Type 2: A permit is required.

What is an association?

An organization is a group with: 

• a common purpose
• public financial support
• an elected board
• people employed
• membership fee

Voluntary work in an interest group

Type 1: No permit is normally required.

Type 2: A permit is required. 

What is an interest group?

An interest group is a group of people who meet around a common interest with:

• No public financial support (small tokens of appreciation by members and members paying for specific activities is ok)
• No people employed
• No membership fees
• No elected board 

Other types of activities

• Coach, teach, etc. in your child’s sports club
• Be a professional board member
• Help-out in NGO shops

Type 1: No permit is normally required.

Type 2: A permit is required. 

Examples of non-accepted activities – permit is needed

• Join a class trip with your child’s school
• Volunteer in your child’s sports club or school (set up for events, launder sports uniforms, stand in booths at events, etc.)
• Be active in a student association and organize Friday bars or debate clubs
• Be on the school board in your child’s school/institution or house-owners’ association
• Volunteer collector in an NGO

Please note that these are only examples and not a complete list of types of activities that do not require a permit for sideline employment.