Residence and work permits
Many foreign nationals are free to live and work in Denmark. However, some are required to hold a residence and work permit. Below you can read more about the specific requirements for residence and work permits depending on your nationality: Nordic citizen, EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, or non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen.
Nordic citizens
If you are a citizen from Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden, you are considered a Nordic citizen. As a Nordic citizen you are free to enter Denmark, work, live or study here. You do not need a passport to enter the country, but you must carry an ID card which must be shown upon request. If you are planning to bring your family, and some of your family members are non-Nordic citizens, you can read more about the rules for Nordic citizens.
EU/EEA citizens or Swiss citizens
EU/EEA citizens and Swiss citizens are free to stay in Denmark for up to three months. If you are an EU/EEA citizens and are seeking employment during your stay, you are free to stay in Denmark for up to six months. If you are staying for a longer period of time, you need to be registered as a resident of Denmark and obtain a social security number. Read more about EU/EEA citizens and Swiss citizens.
Non-EU/EEA citizens or Swiss citizens
The rules for citizens outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland are regulated with regards to work and residence permits. If you already hold a Danish residence permit on the grounds of family reunification or asylum, or hold a residence permit on humanitarian grounds, you do not need a work permit in order to work in Denmark.
Others will normally need to obtain a residence and work permit. When processing your application, the Immigration Service will pay particular attention to the following:
- Whether there are available professionals residing in Denmark or the EU/EEA who are qualified to carry out the job in question (applies only in certain fields)
- Whether the nature of the job in question is specialised enough to warrant a residence and work permit. Normally, you will not be granted a work permit in order to fill ordinary skilled-labour vacancies such as carpenters or bricklayers, or unskilled positions such as pizza makers, delivery people, cleaners, etc.
- Salary and other employment conditions must correspond to Danish standards
Special schemes
A number of schemes have been designed in order to make it easier for highly qualified professionals to get a residence and work permit in Denmark. Read more about special schemes.
Read general information about salaried work.