Denmark Work Visa Guide for Skilled Professionals (2025)

Denmark, which is always listed among the happiest countries in the world is not only providing an outstanding work-life balance, but also a dynamic and well paid employment market. As an outside EU/EEA Skilled Professional, the first step that is important is Opholdstilladelse (Residence Permit).

Work visa streams Two Main Visa streams of Skilled Professionals

In Denmark, there are two primary accelerated schemes to receive your Arbejdstilladelle (Work Privilege), both of which are directly dependent on the existing demands of the Danish labour market. The process of picking the appropriate scheme determines your pay needs and time taken.

The Pay Limit Scheme (Belosbgransen)

This plan is the Fast-track plan of high-earners regardless of the job title.

Critical Salary Requirement: You should be given an employment that will have a minimum gross salary of DKK 514,000 per annum.
This is a mandatory amount that should be ensured in your Job Offer/Employment Contract.
Key Benefit: Speed. This complete application would take SIRI only Sagsbehandlingstid (processing time) of 1 month as the high salary is a demonstration of your worth.

Positive List (Positivlisten)

This programme is aimed at particular occupations in which Denmark has a shortage of skilled professionals. In the event that your job title is on this list, you are able to have a salary requirement that is not fixed (just as long as it is in accordance with the standard Danish collective agreement).

List Updates: The list of Vacancies of People with A Higher Education and the list of Skilled Work are updated twice annually (1 st January and 1 st July, 2025).6 There are already more than 160 job titles in the Higher Education list (e.g., Engineers, IT Specialists, Doctors).
Qualification Check: You should show that your education (e.g., graduate, Degree or Erhvervsuddannelse for proficient trades) compliments the job requirement mentioned in the Positivisten.

Another parallel scheme, the Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme, has a lower annual minimum salary rate at DKK 415,000 in 2025.9, but must be applied to slightly lower-paid professional positions with the employer publicly advertising the position at least two weeks before doing so.

Work Permit Application Process- 5 steps

Residence and work permit application is an online process which is handled by SIRI.

Obtain a Competitive Employment Proposal

You also need a signed Job Offer/Employment Contract with a Danish employer before you can apply (this must specifically guarantee the amount of salary you need at the selected scheme, e.g., 12$\text{DKK 514,000}$ with the Pay Limit Scheme).

Activate the Online Application and Fee Payment

The employer is normally required to submit the application through SIRI Application Portal.14 The employer will submit his or her part and you will be provided with a link to fill the remaining information and pay the application fee to the government (around 2025 15 6,055$\text{DKK 6,055}$).

Biometrics and Document Submission

After filling the online Sogndad, you are to schedule a visit to the Danish Embassy, Consulate, or Visa Application Centre with the biometric features (photo and printed fingerprints) and original documents in the nearest country where you live.

Udenrigsministeriet & SIRIs Processing

SIRI 4 reviews the application.18 The target Sagsbehandlingstid (processing time) is usually 1 month since the date of all documents and biometrics were received in the case of schemes such as the Pay Limit or Positive List.

Approval and Arrival of Permits

After giving your consent, you are given Opholdstilladelse (Residence Permit) and Arbejdstilladelse(Work Permit).20 and are free to travel to Denmark.21

Life in Denmark Your CPR-number and NemID

Getting your work permit is only the beginning. There are two important documents that play a crucial role in the everyday life in Denmark:

Central Person Register Number (CPR-nummer)

This 10-digit CPR-nummer is a lifetime national identity number, which is issued by Skatteforvaltningen (Danish Tax Administration) when you have registered your address ( folkeregistrering ).

Purpose: It is necessary to open a bank account as well as the public health system or get a library card.

Digital Signature (MitID/NemID)

To access any of the online services of a public service or bank, you will require a Digital Signature (the existing one being MitID, which has replaced the previous NemID). And this is the main key to enter digital Denmark.

Extension and Permanent Residence

The first permit is issued of a Varighed (Duration) of your employment agreement (4 years maximum).

Foreseeing (Extension): Your employer should apply to a Forlængelse before your permit runs out. This is achieved in a span of three months.
Permanent Opholdstilladelse: After a period of 8 years of legal residence in Denmark, you can usually apply to permanent Op hold still ad-else (Permanent Residence Permit). This is mandatory sometimes to four years provided you can satisfy higher requirements with regard to language skills, working experience, and income.

Final Thoughts

Denmark has been proactive in establishing visa facilitation channels such as the extremely desirable Pay Limit Scheme and the regularly revised Positive List to ease the Denmark Work Visa Guide to Skilled Professionals.23 Denmark is an ideal destination to the best talent in the world with an ease of doing business with fast processing time under the Fast-track Scheme.

Disclaimer

This article is an informative and educative article. The work visa procedure of Denmark, i.e., Pay Limit Scheme minimum salary ((\text{DKK 514,000}) and contents of the Positive List) is prone to constant changes which have been enacted by SIRI (Styrelsen for International Rekruttering og Integration). It is highly recommended that the reader should always check all the present requirements, charges and service objectives with the New to Denmark official site or a licensed immigration advisor in Denmark before initiating any sort of application.