Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to sanctions from the world community.
On March 1st, 2022, Aarhus University announced that it would suspend its collaborations with Russian and Belarusian institutions.
A bill on temporary residence permits for displaced persons from Ukraine (the Special Act) was adopted in the Danish Parliament on 16 March 2022 to be enforced by the 17 March 2022.
Read more about the special act, who qualifies and how to apply on New to Denmark
Please be aware that it is difficult to get appointments for biometrics with the Danish Immigration Service. If it is not possible, you can try one of SIRI’s (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) branch offices in Copenhagen or Aarhus. See how on the above New to Denmark website.
It has been decided that as of 22nd April 2022 Ukrainian citizens are allowed to start working before the permit has been granted as long as the application under the Special Act has been submitted and biometrics recorded and the employment contract has been forwarded to immigration. Please refer to the official Danish website for detailed information in that respect. Details are explained under the headline “Am I allowed to work in Denmark”.
The current sanctions are not aimed at Russian/Belarusian citizens but at Russian/Belarusian institutions.
Russian/Belarusian citizens are therefore still able to:
Participation in events
Representatives from Russian/Belarusian institutions may not participate in events, meetings or conferences at AU.
Similarly, AU employees may not participate in events, meetings or conferences at Russian/Belarusian institutions.
AU is suspending institutional collaborations and terminating agreements with Russian/Belarusian institutions.
It is therefore no longer possible to enter into new visiting scholar or research stay agreements for staff or PhD students who are employed at or in any way affiliated with Russian or Belarusian universities. Research stay agreements that are currently in preparation will be suspended.
Staff and PhD students from Russian/Belarussian institutions who are currently at AU will be allowed to remain and complete their research stay. However, it will not be possible to extend this stay beyond the period stated in the current agreement.
Participation in events
Representatives from Russian/Belarusian institutions may not participate in events, meetings or conferences at AU.
Similarly, AU employees may not participate in events, meetings or conferences at Russian/Belarusian institutions.
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly recommends Danish citizens in these regions to arrange travel back to Denmark as soon as possible. The security levels in these regions are red. Refer to the following webpages for further information:
AU strongly recommends following the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affair’s guidelines to travel home. However, this is an individual decision.
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Global Call Center can be contacted 24/7 at +45 3392 1112 if further advice is needed.
Ukrainian citizens outside Denmark
As Ukrainian citizens you have possibilities to enter Denmark. Please refer to Information from SIRI to Ukrainian citizens about possibilities.
Ukrainian citizens who have already been granted a permit for Denmark, but are not able to travel to Denmark to start their employment or research stay, should be aware that their entry visa or work and residence permit might expire or be canceled before being able to enter Denmark. In this case, please contact SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration)
Inge Aachmann Pedersen, International Staff Office AU HR, can be contacted for advice and guidance concerning work and residence permits.
Ukrainian citizens already in Denmark
Ukrainian citizens may not be able to return home due to resrictions, such as no fly zones. Special attention should be paid to the validity of the work and residence permit for Denmark. If the permit is due to expire, contact SIRI before expiry.
If you have already been granted a permit for Denmark, but have not been able to travel to Denmark to start your employment or research stay, please be aware that the entry visa or work and residence permit might expire or be canceled before being able to enter Denmark. In this case, please contact SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration)
Inge Aachmann Pedersen, International Staff Office AU HR, can be contacted for advice and guidance concerning work and residence permits.
Other citizens already in Denmark
Other citizens may not be able to return home due to restrictions, such as no fly zones. Special attention should be paid to the validity of the work and residence permit for Denmark. If the permit is due to expire, contact SIRI before expiry.
The sanctions the world community has imposed on Russia might impact the ability to transfer money from Russia. This can affect Russians currently living in Denmark, especially if their primary income is being paid from Russia.
AU does not have the ability to compensate money transfers affected by sanctions. Russian citizens affected by the sanctions are advised to contact the Russian Embassy in Denmark
AUFF - Ukraine Research Fellowship
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Aarhus University Research Foundation have donated funding to research fellowships for researchers affected by the war in Ukraine.
The fellowships allows Aarhus University to support researchers who are at risk and unable to continue their work due to the war in Ukraine by offering 6 to 12 months fellowships at Aarhus University Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS).
Read more about the fellowships
Read news item and statement by AIAS Director, Professor Søren Rud Keiding
Scholars at Risk
Aarhus University supports researchers at risk – regardless of nationality – through the Scholars at Risk Program
Statement on Ukrainian crises by Executive Director, Robert Quinn
Euraxess support for researchers of Ukraine
The European Union, its Member States and Europeans across the continent are mobilised in support of people fleeing the war in Ukraine on all fronts with assistance, humanitarian aid and civil protection. This specific initiative wants to support researchers of Ukraine by providing them with an overview of all existing actions at European and national levels.
Staff members, including Ph.D. students, employed in a Ukrainian Higher Education Institution (HEI) who have fled Ukraine due to the Russian aggression are eligible to apply for an Erasmus+ grant of up to 60 days’ duration at Aarhus University.
Read more about Erasmus+ grants for higher education staff members affected by the war in Ukraine
AU staff and PhD students facing problems or a crisis during the current situation can contact their immediate manager/management, union representative or work environment representative. Psychological advice or talks are available through AU's Psychological Counselling Service.