Working in Denmark

The short answer

Main routes	Pay Limit Scheme, Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme, Positive Lists, Fast-track scheme, EU Blue Card
Pay Limit Scheme 2026	DKK 552,000 a year; supplementary scheme DKK 446,000
Positive Lists (January 2026)	183 titles for people with higher education; 57 titles for skilled workers
Language	English widely used at work; Danish needed for many public-sector jobs
Who decides	SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration)

The main schemes

Pay Limit Scheme

If your job pays at least DKK 552,000 a year (2026), you can qualify regardless of your job title. Only base salary, employer pension contributions and holiday allowance count; bonuses do not.

Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme

A lower threshold of DKK 446,000, but the job must have been publicly advertised and national unemployment must be below a set level.

Positive Lists

If your job title is on one of the Positive Lists and you have the matching education, you can qualify at the usual salary for the role. The lists are updated each January and July. Check the exact job title carefully: misclassification is a common reason for refusal.

Fast-track scheme

Employers certified by SIRI can bring in staff faster, and employees can start work while the case is processed.

Where the opportunities are

Copenhagen and Aarhus have strong IT, life sciences, green energy and shipping sectors. Danish wind, pharmaceutical and engineering companies have large Indian operations and often move staff between the two countries.

Life in Denmark

Taxes are high but so are salaries and public services. Register for a CPR number on arrival. Housing in Copenhagen is tight; start searching before you move.