Work & Settle in Denmark

About Denmark

Denmark, a small, Nordic country in Northern Europe, is known for its happiness, strong social welfare system, and its location on the Jutland Peninsula and surrounding islands. It’s the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries, bordering Germany to the south and Sweden to the east.
Denmark is renowned for its rich history, vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and innovative spirit, making it a popular destination for travelers and home to iconic elements like LEGO.
Denmark generally presents a positive environment for both work and settling, known for its high quality of life, strong social welfare system, and emphasis on work-life balance. Denmark saw 32.2 million tourists, with international arrivals reaching 31.53 million, and the tourism industry contributed over 180 billion Danish kroner to the GDP.

  • Official Language: Danish
  • Currency: Krone
  • Area: 16,638 square miles (43,094 square kilometers)

Denmark Permanent Residence

To obtain a permanent residence permit in Denmark, you typically need to have resided legally in the country for at least 8 years, though in some cases, 4 years is sufficient, and have regular employment or be self-employed for a certain period.
Benefits of Permanent Residency in Denmark:
1. Long-Term Stability:
Permanent residency allows you to live and work in Denmark indefinitely without the need for visa renewals.
2. Access to Danish Welfare System:
You gain access to free education, healthcare, and social benefits, which are integral parts of the Danish welfare system.
3. Family Reunification:
Permanent residency opens up the possibility of applying for family reunification, allowing you to bring your family to Denmark.
4. Freedom of Movement:
As a permanent resident, you can travel freely within the Schengen area without needing visas.
5. Job Opportunities:
You can work in any job in Denmark without the need for a work permit, and also in the Schengen zone.

How to Get Permanent Residence in Denmark?

General Requirements:
1. Legal Residence
2. Residence Permit
3. Clean Criminal Record
4. Danish Language and Culture Test
5. Self-Sufficiency
6. Integration
7. Adequate Housing

How to Apply:
1. Gather Documentation: Gather all required documents, including your passport, residence permit, proof of employment/self-sufficiency, and any other documents requested by the Danish Immigration Service.
2. Submit Application: Submit your application to the Danish Immigration Service.
3. Pay Fee: Pay the required application fee.
4. Biometric Data: You may need to have your biometric features recorded, including fingerprints and a photograph.
5. Attend Interview (If Necessary): You may be required to attend an interview with the Danish Immigration Service.
6. Wait for Decision: The Danish Immigration Service will review your application and make a decision.

How Is a Permanent Residence Permit Different from a Temporary Residence Permit?

Permanent residence is granted after residing in Denmark for at least eight years. Both types of residences have different requirements that the visa applicant must meet.

 
 
Temporary Residence

Permanent Residence 

Duration:
1-2 years Indefinite

Conditions:
You must be over the age of 18.You need to be over the age of 18.
You must have a letter of admission from your university (study permit) or an employment contract.You must have lived in Denmark for more than eight years.
You must afford to support yourself financially during your stay.You still need to meet the requirements of your current residence permit.
You must have a travel insurance policy.You must have a clean police record.
You must have a place to stay.You need to accept a declaration of residence and self-support.
You must have a clean police record.You must have a clean police record.
Language proficiency in Danish.You must be currently employed.
You must not have any overdue public debts.
You must not work against the establishment of your identity.
You must pass the Danish language test 2.
You must have been employed for the last three years and six months.

Benefits:
HealthcareFree Education
EducationFree Healthcare
TravelChild services
WorkWork
Travel

 

DENMARK IMMIGRATION 

Denmark, recognized for its high quality of life and strong economy, offers various benefits for immigrants, including a strong welfare system, high-quality education, and a good work-life balance, Denmark has a strict and increasingly restrictive immigration policy, focusing on integration and self-sufficiency for refugees, with a recent emphasis on facilitating return to their countries of origin rather than long-term integration.

Fast Track Scheme

Denmark Fast Track Scheme is an Immigration Programme designed for certified businesses to hire highly skilled international migrants who belong to countries other than those that are included in European union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. The residence and work permit visa granted through the Fast Track Scheme is issued for a maximum period of 4 years. The scheme includes public and private enterprises, along with academic institutions which primarily includes Universities. 

Pay Limit Scheme

The Pay Limit Scheme allows the eligible applicants to live and work across Denmark. The applicant should necessarily have the job offer from a Danish employer in order to apply for the work and residence visa under the Pay Limit Scheme. Applicants applying for residence and work visa under this scheme are not required to have any specific educational background or professional work experience. 

In addition, in case the applicant has requested for asylum from the Government of Denmark and have been offered a job with lucrative salary package then also they can apply for the visa based on this scheme. Some important conditions that are needed to be met under this scheme are listed here:

  1. The applicant should have the required job offer with an annual salary equivalent to DKK 426,985.06 or more than that (2019 level).
  2. The salary and job contract being offered to the candidate should comply with Danish standards. The applicant would be required to provide a copy of their job offer along with the visa application with a clear description of your working hours, holidays, salary along with other important terms included in the contract. 
Positive List Scheme

The Positive List Scheme enables the applicants that have been offered a job offer from the Positive List proposed by the Denmark Government. The positive list contains list of occupations that have been recognized to have shortage of skilled individuals and therefore are required to hire international skilled workers in order to fill the gap. Therefore, an applicant holding a job offer from the Positive List would be eligible to apply for Immigration to Denmark using the Positive List Scheme. 

Why Immigrate to Denmark?

Here’s a more detailed look at why people might choose to immigrate to Denmark:
1. High Quality of Life: Denmark consistently ranks high in global quality of life indices, offering a comfortable and secure environment for residents.
2. Strong Economy: Denmark boasts a modern, service-oriented economy with a high standard of living.
3. Free Education: Public education, from primary to higher levels, is free for Danish citizens and residents.
4. Technologically Advanced: Denmark is a technologically advanced nation with a strong focus on innovation and research.
5. Lucrative Salary Packages: Skilled individuals from India are applying for Denmark immigration as it is offering lucrative salary packages along with other public services.
6. High Taxes: Taxes in Denmark are relatively high, but they fund the country’s extensive social welfare system.
7. Integration Challenges: While English is widely spoken, learning Danish can be beneficial for full integration into Danish society.
8. Potential for Social Isolation: Some expats have reported finding it difficult to make new friends, as Danes can be reserved.

Work in Denmark

Working in Denmark is often considered positive due to factors like a strong work-life balance, high job satisfaction, and a focus on employee well-being, with a standard workweek of 37 hours and generous vacation time.

Jobs in Denmark

Denmark has a high employment rate and a low unemployment rate, making it generally easy to find work, especially for skilled and educated workers, with a current unemployment rate of 2.6%.

  • Unemployment rate in 2023: 2.3%
  • Employment rate in 2023: 68.4%

POPULAR GRADUATE JOBS

1. Information technology
2. Commercial marketing
3. Engineering
4. Finance
5. Health care
6. Education
7. Management
8. Mechanical Engineering
9. Research
10. Human Resources
11. Law
12. Manufacturing
13. Sales and business development
14. Web Developer.
15. Psychologist

Skills shortages

The government maintains a Positive List of shortage occupations – if you have the right qualifications to fill any of the roles that appear on this list, you should find securing a job relatively simple.

The Danish workforce is currently facing skills shortages in certain areas, such as science and engineering, teaching, management, finance, medicine and healthcare, IT and law.

Jobs in demand for people with a higher education degree include:

  • architect
  • biochemist
  • chief accountant
  • civil engineer
  • dentist
  • doctor
  • electronics engineer
  • IT project manager
  • lawyer
  • librarian
  • marketing manager
  • midwife
  • music teacher
  • nurse
  • pharmacist
  • psychologist
  • sales manager
  • secondary school teacher
  • web developer.

Summer jobs

There are plenty of opportunities for seasonal work in Denmark’s tourist sector in the bars, hotels and clubs of Copenhagen and other cities. There’s no official application process for these kinds of roles, so try approaching establishments directly to discover opportunities.

Teaching jobs

The public education system is strictly regulated in Denmark. If you’re hoping to teach, you’ll first need to ensure that your qualifications are recognised and approved by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science. In some cases, you might have to undergo additional training to teach in a Danish school.

Danish visas

If you’re from outside the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland – this now applies to UK citizens – you’ll need to apply for the appropriate residency permit, which you can do through New to Denmark.

To make this application, it’s likely that you’ll need a written contract of employment or evidence of your job offer, outlining your salary and employment conditions.

Citizens of the EU, EEA countries and Switzerland won’t need a residence or work permit to enter Denmark and look for work. However, if you’re planning to stay for longer than three months you’ll need to apply for a registration certificate on your arrival.

This certificate enables you to receive a civil registration number (CPR), health insurance card and tax number, all of which you’ll need to access public services and get paid.

If you’re from one of the Nordic countries – Norway, Finland, Iceland or Sweden – you can reside and work in Denmark without this certificate, but you’ll still need to register for a CPR, health insurance card and tax number.

Coraledu is dedicated to empowering international individuals to excel in their lives abroad. Through our tailored work and settlement services, we assist both individuals and employers globally, facilitating successful transitions and thriving experiences, particularly in Denmark. Contact us today to unlock opportunities and ensure success in both professional and personal endeavors abroad.

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