Denmark

Work permit in Denmark.

To work in Denmark without EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship you need a residence and work permit from SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration). The main routes are Residence and work permit (opholds- og arbejdstilladelse), Residence and work permit: Pay Limit Scheme (beløbsordningen), Residence and work permit: Positive List (positivlisten), Residence and work permit: Fast-Track Scheme (fast track-ordningen). Pay Limit Scheme: the pay limit (DKK a year, guaranteed pay): DKK 552,000 a year since 1 January 2026. Permanent residence is possible after 8 years on most routes.

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Permit types

The permits Denmark issues

Residence and work permit (opholds- og arbejdstilladelse)
Residence and work permit: Pay Limit Scheme (beløbsordningen)
Residence and work permit: Positive List (positivlisten)
Residence and work permit: Fast-Track Scheme (fast track-ordningen)
Residence and work permit: researcher (forsker)
Job-seeking permit after the employment ended
EU residence document (registreringsbevis)
Permanent residence permit (tidsubegrænset opholdstilladelse)
Social-security certificate (A1 or under an agreement)

Salary levels

What the permit has to pay

Each figure with its legal basis and the official page it comes from.

Pay Limit Scheme: the pay limit (DKK a year, guaranteed pay)

DKK 552,000 a year · from 1 January 2026

Official source

Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme: the pay limit (DKK a year, guaranteed pay)

DKK 446,000 a year · from 1 January 2026

Official source

Researcher tax scheme: guaranteed salary a month for a highly paid employee (before the labour-market contribution)

DKK 65,400 a month · from 1 January 2026

Official source

SIRI fee: Pay Limit schemes, Positive Lists, Fast-Track, researcher (first application or extension)

DKK 6,810 · from 1 January 2026

Official source

SIRI fee: certification of a company under the Fast-Track Scheme

DKK 6,810 · from 1 January 2026

Official source

SIRI fee: accompanying family member of an employee (first application or extension)

DKK 3,080 · from 1 January 2026

Official source

Fee to appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board (all case types)

DKK 1,040 · from 1 January 2026

Official source

Fee: permanent residence on the grounds of work and study

DKK 7,570 · from 1 January 2026

Official source

Staying longer

Faster routes and settling

Fast-Track certification (SIRI)

a company SIRI has certified under the Fast-Track Scheme: it files online for its employees, and the employee may start work on a quick job start before the permit

Permanent residence: after 8 years

Eight years of lawful residence in Denmark without interruption on a residence permit (four years where the supplementary requirements are met)
Regular full-time employment or self-employment for at least three years and six months in the four years before the decision

Citizenship: after 9 years

Nine years of continuous residence in Denmark (two for Nordic citizens)
Danish language test 3 and the citizenship test passed
Self-support over the last years, as the conditions set out

Authorities

Who does what in Denmark

SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration)

Decides work and residence permits and certifies Fast-Track companies (Styrelsen for International Rekruttering og Integration)

Official website

Skattestyrelsen (Danish Tax Agency)

The tax card, the preliminary income assessment and the researcher tax scheme

Official website

Other countries

Official sources

Settio's dashboard (settio.io): every case, deadline and client in one place.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

What is the minimum salary for a work permit in Denmark?

Pay Limit Scheme: the pay limit (DKK a year, guaranteed pay): DKK 552,000 a year (from 1 January 2026). Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme: the pay limit (DKK a year, guaranteed pay): DKK 446,000 a year (from 1 January 2026). Researcher tax scheme: guaranteed salary a month for a highly paid employee (before the labour-market contribution): DKK 65,400 a month (from 1 January 2026).

Who issues work permits in Denmark?

SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration): Decides work and residence permits and certifies Fast-Track companies (Styrelsen for International Rekruttering og Integration).

When can someone get permanent residence in Denmark?

After 8 years on most routes. Eight years of lawful residence in Denmark without interruption on a residence permit (four years where the supplementary requirements are met). Regular full-time employment or self-employment for at least three years and six months in the four years before the decision.

When can someone get citizenship in Denmark?

After 9 years on most routes. Nine years of continuous residence in Denmark (two for Nordic citizens). Danish language test 3 and the citizenship test passed. Self-support over the last years, as the conditions set out.

How does Settio help with work permits in Denmark?

Settio builds the step-by-step plan for each person moving to Denmark, checks documents before filing, tracks deadlines and gives the person a portal in their own language.

Informational only. This guide is not legal advice. Always verify requirements with official government sources before acting. Facts checked 3 October 2026. About this information