Not all Danish-international couples are ready to get married in order to live together in Denmark. On this page we describe the residence permits most often granted to foreign nationals. The requirements for applying through work, study and similar routes are high, so these options may not be relevant for you.
Unfortunately, ÆUG cannot give detailed guidance on the different options. Instead, see nyidanmark.dk. If your partner is from the EU/EEA, or if you have lived in another EU/EEA country yourself, also read about family reunification under the EU rules.
All the schemes charge a fee when you apply. For most work schemes the fee is DKK 6,8102026, for study and working holiday DKK 3,0602026, and for au pairs DKK 4,3052026. The amounts change every year, so check them on nyidanmark.dk before you apply.
Work permit
The options depend mainly on your qualifications. Here is a short introduction to the schemes that most often give foreign nationals a residence and work permit.
The Pay Limit Scheme
Foreign nationals who are offered a job with an annual salary of at least DKK 552,0002026 before tax can get a residence permit. The pay limit is adjusted every year on 1 January. There are no requirements for education, field of work or the type of position. As a general rule, you must have an employment contract with a company registered in Denmark and work at least 30 hours a week, and the pay and conditions must match normal Danish standards. The salary must be paid into a Danish bank account in your own name. In some cases Danish authorisation is required. Read more.
The supplementary pay limit scheme
There is also a scheme with a lower pay limit of DKK 446,0002026 a year. Here the position must have been advertised on Jobnet and EURES for at least two weeks, and you must work full time. The scheme can only be used when unemployment in Denmark is low (no more than 3.75 per cent on average over the last three months). Read more.
The Fast-track scheme
The scheme makes it quicker and more flexible for certified companies to bring foreign employees to Denmark. It can be used by foreign nationals who have been offered a job with a certified company, and it is the employer who applies. The scheme has several tracks, including a pay limit track (the same salary requirement as the Pay Limit Scheme), a supplementary pay limit track, a short-term track, a researcher track and an educational track. Read more.
The Positive Lists
There are two Positive Lists of professions with a shortage of labour in Denmark: one for people with a higher education and one for skilled work. If you are offered a position on one of the lists, you can apply for a residence and work permit. You must have an education that qualifies you for the position, and be able to show an employment contract or a job offer where the pay and conditions match normal Danish standards. The lists are updated twice a year, on 1 January and 1 July. In some cases Danish authorisation is required. Read more about the Positive List for People with a Higher Education and the Positive List for Skilled Work.
Researchers
If you are offered a position as a researcher, you can apply for a residence and work permit. There must be research-related reasons why you in particular have been offered the position, the pay and conditions must match normal Danish standards, and you must be able to show an employment contract or a job offer. The position does not have to be full time. Read more.
Students
You can be admitted to a Danish education programme or take part of your education in Denmark. You must be able to speak and understand the language of instruction, and you must usually be able to support yourself. The requirement is DKK 7,4262026 a month, but for no more than 12 months. Read about the conditions.
PhD students
You can get a residence permit as a PhD student if you are enrolled on a full-time PhD programme in Denmark, either paid by the university or by a company connected to the programme, or without pay. If you are enrolled without pay, you must be able to support yourself. You must understand the language of instruction and Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German to a reasonable level. Read more.
Higher education
You can get a residence and work permit as a student if you have been admitted to a full-time higher education programme. Students on state-approved programmes may work 90 hours a month from September to May and full time in June, July and August. If the programme is not state-approved, stricter rules apply, for example no work permit. Read more.
Primary and secondary education
You can get a residence permit if you have been admitted to an approved primary, lower secondary or upper secondary education programme in Denmark. You must be able to support yourself, and if you are under 18, both your parents must give their consent. Read more.
Trainee
If you are offered employment with a Danish company for a shorter period in order to be trained or learn on the job, you can apply for a residence and work permit as a trainee. The trainee period can last no more than 24 months in total. Read more.
Folk high schools
You can get residence to take a course at a folk high school if you have been admitted to an approved folk high school. You can stay in Denmark at folk high schools for no more than 18 months in total. Read more.
Au pair
You can get a residence permit as an au pair for a host family in Denmark. As an au pair you live with the host family and help with the household chores for 18 to 30 hours a week. You must be at least 18 and under 30 when you apply, and you can be an au pair in Denmark for no more than 2 years in total. The host family must pay at least DKK 5,2502026 a month in pocket money. Read more.
Working holiday
Young citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea can get a residence permit under a working holiday agreement. They can stay in Denmark for up to 1 year, take paid work for part of the period and follow a course of study or training of limited duration. The age limit and the rules on work and study depend on the country. Read about the conditions.
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