Under the scheme, foreign workers must earn at least DKK 322,000 a year, based on the 2026 salary level. Their jobs must be covered by a collective agreement, which sets employment terms and pay through arrangements between employers and trade unions.
However, workers cannot apply through this route unless their employer has first obtained certification.
Foreign workers must have a job offer or employment agreement with a certified company. Their position must fall under a collective agreement approved by the relevant minister, and their annual salary must meet the minimum threshold.
Applicants must also be citizens of a country included on the Danish government's official list of eligible countries.
Applications will be subject to an additional condition linked to Denmark's seasonally adjusted gross unemployment rate, averaged over the previous three months. The rate must remain within the threshold set by the minister.
Employers must submit a declaration confirming that the job is covered by an approved collective agreement, is full-time under that agreement and will be subject to ongoing checks to ensure compliance.
Eligible Countries and Selection Criteria
The Danish government has not yet published the list of eligible countries. According to SIRI, the list will include citizens of 16 countries and will be issued by the Minister for Immigration and Integration.
Countries may qualify if they are among the top 10 non-EU countries based on the combined value of Danish investments abroad and foreign investments in Denmark, are negotiating to join the European Union, or have signed a bilateral mobility agreement with Denmark.
The minister can exclude countries for specific foreign policy reasons. Certain visa-required nationals classified under visa groups 4 or 5 will not qualify.
Trade Union Involvement and Workplace Monitoring
The scheme includes checks to ensure that employers comply with collective agreements.
SIRI can share an employer's declaration with the relevant trade union without requiring the company's consent. The union then has 10 working days to object if it believes the information is false.
If a provisional work permit has been issued and a union objects, SIRI has six weeks to determine whether false information was provided. If the matter is not resolved within that period, the provisional permit is withdrawn.
Employers must also allow workplace monitoring. Where there is an elected union representative, the representative must be informed about such hires and can meet workers and inspect relevant information, including pay arrangements. Where no representative exists, the union must be informed and can meet workers and the employer twice a year.
Companies may lose their certification for breaching the collective agreement or obstructing monitoring, subject to the applicable procedures.
Timeline for Implementation
SIRI expects employers to be able to apply for certification from early December 2026. Applications for residence and work permits under the scheme will be processed from January 1, 2027.
New application pages for employer certification and work permits are expected to be available on SIRI's website.
Practical Impact for Foreign Workers
Denmark's new work permit scheme, starting 1 January 2027, could have significant consequences for foreign workers. However, the most important point is that this is not an open work permit scheme for foreigners from every country. It is designed for citizens of 16 selected countries who secure employment with qualifying Danish companies.
The changes are generally positive for eligible foreign workers because Denmark is substantially lowering the salary requirement.
Let's look at what this means in practice, particularly for people hoping to move to Denmark for employment.
Which Foreigners Will Benefit?
Currently, the scheme covers citizens of these 16 countries:
- India
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
- China
- Japan
- Singapore
- Brazil
- Malaysia
- Albania
- Serbia
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Ukraine
- Moldova
The list may change in the future.
There are also three important conditions:
- The applicant must have a full-time job offer.
- The job must be covered by a relevant Danish collective bargaining agreement.
- The employer must be certified by Denmark's immigration authorities (SIRI).
The scheme will also only be available during periods when Denmark meets the specified low-unemployment condition.
Lower Salary Threshold Analysis
Previously, the DKK 552,000 salary threshold made it difficult for many foreign professionals to qualify under the general Pay Limit Scheme.
With the new DKK 322,000 threshold, eligible applicants may qualify for jobs paying approximately DKK 26,833 per month.
This could benefit:
- Technicians and skilled tradespeople.
- Hospitality and service-sector employees.
- Manufacturing workers.
- Agricultural workers.
- Certain administrative and professional employees.
The job must still meet the relevant collective agreement and other requirements.
Opportunities for Danish Employers
Danish employers will have a new opportunity to recruit workers from overseas at lower salary levels.
This could mean:
- More international applicants competing for Danish jobs.
- More recruitment from India, Ukraine, Serbia and other eligible countries.
- Greater competition for entry-level and mid-skilled positions.
- More pressure on employers to recruit internationally.
However, this does not mean employers can freely hire unlimited foreign workers.
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