New to Denmark

If you are going to work in Denmark you can be

exempt in general
exempt for a maximum of 40 days per year if you are member of a board
exempt for a maximum of 90 days for special work assignments
exempt for up to 5 days as a guest teacher

from the requirement of a work permit. These rules are called the rules of exemption.

General exemptions from the requirement of a work permit

The following persons are exempt from the requirement of a work permit:

Foreign diplomats, living in Denmark, and others with similar diplomatic rights – including their family members and staff employed in their personal household. Contact the Diplomatic Section in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
Staff on board foreign trains and motor vehicles in international traffic
Staff on board Danish commercial ships sailing in international traffic, which within any 12-months period make calls at Danish ports or shipyards no more than 25 times per year and in addition make calls at Danish shipyards no more than 3 times. For more information see legal guidelines regarding personnel on Danish commercial ships sailing in international traffic (In Danish only).
Foreign nationals who, as part of the American forces in Denmark, are covered by Annex 1 to the Act on Defence Cooperation between Denmark and the United States, and the family members of these foreign nationals.

Exemption for up to 5 days as a guest teacher

Guest teachers do not need a work permit if they, within a period of 180 days, will be teaching for up to 5 days at an educational institution under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science or the Ministry of Culture.

Exemption for up to 3 days as a professional model

Professional models who work in Denmark for a short period of time in connection with companies holding significant and international fashion shows and fashion fairs are exempt from the work permit requirement for up to 3 working days within a period of 180 days. The 3 working days can be used together or in 3 separate working periods of 1 day durations.

Exemption from the requirement of a work permit for artists, musicians, performers, etc. and associated staff in connection with a short-term artistic event

As a rule, a foreign national, who will be working in Denmark, must have a work permit. However, artists, musicians, performers, etc. and associated staff can be exempted from the requirement of a work permit, if they are of importance for a significant artistic event.

The artist, musician, performer etc. must, as a rule, be the focal point or main attraction of the event, or at least be of major significance for the artistic event.

The artistic event must be a public event, i.e. it must be possible for anyone to buy a ticket or through other means gain access to the event.

The artistic event can be part of a tour or take the form of one or more single events.

The event must have a short-term character, normally with a duration of less than 14 days.

Necessary staff may also be exempt from the requirement of a work permit. This includes staff that often follows the artist, e.g. a manager, make-up artists and dressers, sound and light staff and tour bus drivers, etc.

Staff normally made available by the organiser of the event, will not be considered as necessary staff. For example, staff handling security, wardrobe, bar, admission or stagehand workers will therefore not be able to work without a work permit.

An example

A music venue has arranged a single concert with a band from a third country (a country outside the EU/EEA). The band appears on the music venue's website, where you can buy a ticket for the event as well. The band will be exempted from the requirement of a work permit in connection with the concert.

If you have any questions, you can contact SIRI

If you have any questions on whether or not you are exempted, you can submit a written request via SIRI's contact form.

Based on this written request SIRI will assess whether or not you are exempted from the requirement of a work permit. Please note that SIRI cannot make any statements on whether or not you are exempted from the requirement of a work permit if you contact us by phone.

Based on your written request SIRI will issue a guiding statement on whether or not you are exempted from the requirement of a work permit.

We ask you to include the following information in your request:

Information about the artistic event, including information about the type of event, where it will take place, period of the event and whether a ticket to the event can be bought. You may also insert a link to the event website
Information about who will be going to Denmark to participate in the artistic event and what they will be performing

You can access SIRI's contact form here

Exemption for a maximum of 40 days (board members)

Professional board members do not need a work permit if they are in Denmark for a maximum of 40 days within a calendar year to perform their duties as members of a board.

Exemption from the requirement of a work permit for employees within affiliated companies

Foreigners can be exempt from the requirement of a work permit if they are employed in a company established abroad that is affiliated with a company established in Denmark.

In order to allow such an exemption, it is a requirement that the company established in Denmark must have a minimum of 50 employees. Furthermore, the foreigner is allowed to work in Denmark for up to 2 separate working periods, consisting of a maximum of 15 working days each within the span of 180 days.

The rule on exemption is created in order to provide a flexible framework for the business sector.

Among other things, the rule aims to support affiliated companies’ need for flexible access to shared knowledge across the group. Therefore, the rule is not intended for skilled or unskilled manual labour.

General conditions for the use of the Exemption Scheme for affiliated companies:

The foreigners must be employed in a company established abroad that is affiliated with a company established in Denmark which has a minimum of 50 employees.
It is a prerequisite that the foreigner must work at the company established in Denmark with which the foreigner's employer abroad is affiliated.
The foreigner can work in Denmark for 2 periods, consisting of a maximum of 15 working days each within 2 separate periods within the span of 180 days. These 2 working periods must be separated by a stay outside of Denmark which must last at least 14 days.
The scheme does not apply to the following industries; construction, agriculture, forestry and horticulture, cleaning (including window cleaning), hotel and catering as well as carriage of goods by road – unless the foreigner in question is travelling to Denmark to carry out work at management level or work requiring knowledge at intermediate or the highest level.

An example

An employee from an international department of a contracting company (within the construction industry) is travelling to Denmark to participate in the group's tax planning for the upcoming fiscal year (management work or work that requires knowledge at the highest level).

Therefore, the foreigner in question can enter Denmark on a business visa or a visa free stay which can last for up to 15 working days. The foreigner is thereby able to perform management work without a work permit.

The employer and the foreigner are both responsible for documenting that the foreigner is subject to the rule on exemption for affiliated companies. Therefore, SIRI recommends that companies and foreigners familiarise themselves with the practice note below which reviews the conditions of the scheme in great detail.

Read the practice note on the rule on exemption for affiliated companies

Read about business visit invitations and download the printable invitation form for affiliated companies (VU5)

Exemption for event and conference employees

It is a clearly stated rule that a foreign national who is going to be working in Denmark, must have a work permit. However, certain event and conference employees can be exempt from the requirement of having a work permit. This can occur if the employees are an established part of an international event team and are employed by a foreign organiser or a foreign supplier, and if they are working in Denmark short term in relation to the organisation of an international closed indoors congress, trade fair, conference or a company event with the possibility of having at least 400 registered participants attend.

An international event team means that the employees in question must be hired by the foreign company that is hosting an event in Denmark, or by a subcontractor to the company. The foreign company that functions as the employer, must be established outside of Denmark. The employment does not necessarily have to be a permanent position, which means that freelancers and self-employed people in temporary jobs, such as employments for projects, or other types of employments similar to this, are also included in the exemption. However, these types of employments are only included as long as there is a contract that foregrounds the collaboration between the employees and the foreign company, which must be valid during the period that the employee in question is working in Denmark. As such, there are no special demands to the employment of the employee, including the length of the employment.

When stated that the job must include fixed teams, this means that the roles of the employees of the team must be customary to the type of event that is being held. This can for instance be leaders, including owner-managers, planners, liquidators, coordinators, contractors, technicians, communication officers and hosts (in a broader sense). The staff is not included in the exemption. The staff that is usually available at the venue of the event includes security guards, drivers, ticket inspectors, chair setters, cleaners, waiters, chefs, kitchen assistants, caterers, dishwashers, watchmen, receptionists and scaffolding workers.

The requirement stating that there must be a possibility of at least 400 registered participants attending the event in question, means that there must be at least 400 participants invited to the event, who can register to attend if they choose to do so. The requirement can also be met if there is a small number of participants that have withdrawn their attendance, e.g. due to illness, as long as the total number of participants who are invited to, and can register for, the event is at a minimum of 400 people. Similarly, the requirement can also be met if the event in question is a two day-event, where there are, for instance, 250 participants registered to attend the first day and 150 (other people) the next day. However, the basic condition that the occasion itself must be classified as an event will not be met if the event is a smaller affair and only has, for instance, 100 participants a day over the course of 4 days.

In addition to this, the event must also be a closed function, which means that it is exclusively for people with a professional, academic, business or educational attachment to the event. Invitations for the event do not need to be sent out individually, but can be sent out to a certain demographic. An open event where the public is also allowed to attend or has the option to register or buy a ticket, is not viewed as a closed function and is thereby not included in the exemption.

The requirement stating that the event must take place indoors, does not exclude the use of moveable outdoor constructions in relation to the indoor event, such as gazebos or the like. The use of such outdoor constructions is thereby allowed as long as the primary program for the event takes place inside an established indoor venue, such as a trade fair-center or a conference center. In relation to this, the venue in question must meet the requirement of being able to house a minimum of 400 registered participants. As such, the outdoor construction must be an extension of the indoor venue and must function as a supplementary addition to the event. Additionally, the outdoor construction is not allowed to be accessible to the public.

Each work-related stay may last a maximum of 10 work days, which may be before, during or after the event. It is expected that the first and last work day are both included in the calculations of the 10 work days. The day of arrival and the day of departure are not included in the 10 work days, unless the employee carries out work that is related to the event during those days. As a rule, it is expected that the 10 work days are placed in succession. However, it must still be possible for the employee to take the usual number of days off (for instance 2 days that correspond to a weekend). If an employee works during the weekend, the weekend days are now seen as work days. For instance: If a foreign national starts working 3 days before the event begins and takes 2 days off which are the same 2 days during which the event is being held, the foreign national is then allowed to work for up to 7 days after the event has ended, because the foreign national thereby meets the requirements for the exemption rule. There are no demands to how the days without work that occur during the event are placed within the time period. Similarly, there are also no demands to where the foreign national resides during those days. Therefore, the foreign national will be able to travel to another country to work during those days or take a tourist trip to Malmø.

A previous legal stay in Denmark based on different grounds for residence is not included in the calculations of the 10 work days. A previous visa stay is not included in the calculations of the 10 work days if the purpose of the stay has been something other than work.

The work stay must be followed by a period of at least 60 days starting from the last day the foreign national uses the exemption rule for event and conference employees before the foreign national can use the exemption rule again. This does not prevent the foreign national from being able to apply for a residence and work permit if the foreign national wishes to work in Denmark during the period of 60 days in question.

An example

A Danish conference center has won an international supply by providing a venue to a company event that is organised by a foreign union for a special medical field. This company event is expected to gather members and business professionals from the world of research and the medicinal industry across the globe.

The event is being held over the course of 5 days and requires 3 days to set things up, as well as 2 days to take things down, requiring the organisers to be physically present in Denmark during these days.

The union has contracted with a supplier who will be in charge of running the event. The employees of the union and the employees of the supplier, who are all required to carry out different work tasks in relation to the event, will be exempt from the requirement to have a work permit.

Please note that foreign nationals can be exempt from the requirement of having a work permit under other rules as well, including the EU regulations for freedom to provide services.

You can contact SIRI if you have any questions

You can send a written inquiry to SIRI via our contact form if you are unsure whether you are exempt from the requirement.

Based on your written inquiry, SIRI will determine whether you are exempt from the requirement for a work permit. Please note that SIRI cannot determine whether you are exempt from the requirement based on a telephone call.

Based on your written inquiry, SIRI will issue an advisory statement on whether you are exempt from the requirement for a work permit.

We advise you to include the following information in your inquiry:

The international congress, trade fair, conference or company event in question and the number of participants, as well as what kind of participants are allowed to register for the event
Where the event will take place and the period of the event, as well as any surrounding work days
Your own terms of employment during your stay in Denmark and what work tasks you are expected to carry out in relation to the event

Go to SIRI’s contact form

Exemption for a maximum of 90 days for special work assignments

The following professionals can carry out specific types of work without a work permit if the stay lasts no more than 90 days fra the date of entry:

Researchers and lecturers invited to teach or lecture in Denmark
Foreign nationals who are to work as researchers or guest researchers in affiliation with a university or company in Denmark
Potential PhD students who are to participate in a screening process to enable the university in Denmark to determine whether the foreign national should begin a PhD programme at the university
Representatives of foreign companies or organisations which do not have a branch office in Denmark who are on business trips in Denmark. Representatives on business trips should normally be taken to mean representatives of foreign companies or organisations who are visiting Denmark with the intention of entering into contracts to buy or sell products or services. However, if a representative of a foreign company or organisation is firmly attached to a Danish company or organisation and is carrying out work for it, a residence and work permit is required - even for a short stay in Denmark
Fitters, consultants or instructors hired to fit, install, inspect or repair machines, equipment, computer programmes or similar items, or provide information on the use of such items, provided the person is employed by the firm that manufactured the equipment. Read more about the 'fitter rule'
Individuals employed in the household of foreign nationals visiting Denmark for up to three months
Professional athletes and coaches, as well as associated personnel who will participate in a single major sporting event. Associated personnel, who may be exempt from the work permit requirement, are defined as personnel who will perform tasks at a specialized level of knowledge to support the sporting event as a whole. Professional athletes can participate in trial training in a Danish sports club without a work permit until an employment contract is signed. If an employment contract has been signed, a residence and work permit is always required before work can begin. Training after an employment relationship has started is considered work that requires a permit.

Exemption from the residence and work permit requirement does not waive the requirement for a visitor's visa. Consequently, you must hold a visitor's visa if you are a citizen of a country with a visa requirement to enter Denmark.

You can see a list of countries with a visa requirement here

Examples of situations where you are encompassed by the rules of exemption:

Example 1: researchers on a short stay

A foreign national, who is going to do research in Denmark for up to 90 days, is exempted from the requirement of a work permit.

Researchers includes: scientific staff such as scientific assistants, lecturers, associate professors, and professors who are invited to teach or similar activities, and participation in research projects.

There must be specific research related reasons for the job to be performed by the foreign national in question.

If the stay is less than 90 days counted from the date of entry, a university or company in Denmark can therefore employ and pay the foreign national without having to apply for a work permit. If there is any doubt whether the stay will be of a longer duration than 90 days, you must have been granted a residence and work permit valid for the entire period including the first 90 days before you enter Denmark.