Denmark Positive List Work Permit Guide: Requirements in 2026
Denmark's Positive List for People with a Higher Education offers a residence and work permit route to applicants who have a qualifying job offer in an occupation where Denmark is experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals. The route is administered by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), and applicants must meet the conditions attached to both the listed occupation and the offered employment.
Published: 11 October 2026. Official guidance checked: 11 October 2026.
SIRI updated this Positive List on 1 October 2026, adding midwife as a regional occupation. The current occupation entry specifies the RBR Capital region, a professional bachelor's degree and Danish authorisation. Applicants must check the geographical limitation in the live occupation entry; this addition does not apply nationwide.
Who can use Denmark's Positive List route?
The official scheme is designed for people who have been offered a job that appears on the current Positive List for People with a Higher Education. The applicant must also have an educational background that qualifies them for the job. SIRI's list shows the education requirement and the DISCO-08 occupational code for each listed position.
A job title may be listed because Denmark has identified a national shortage or because a Regional Labour Market Council has identified a shortage in its area. When a position is added regionally, eligibility is limited to the municipalities covered by that council. Applicants should therefore check both the occupation and any geographical restriction before relying on the list.
Employment conditions SIRI will assess
A listed occupation is only the starting point. SIRI states that salary and employment conditions must correspond to Danish standards. The employment contract or job offer should set out the relevant terms, including salary, holiday entitlement and notice conditions.
Working hours must also be usual for the occupation. SIRI explains that full-time work is normally 37 hours per week, although fewer hours may be usual in some industries. Salary assessment includes eligible cash salary, guaranteed fixed supplements and pension contributions. SIRI distinguishes the 1% supplement for monthly-paid staff from the 12.5% holiday allowance for hourly-paid staff, which it does not add to basic salary for this assessment. Benefits such as housing, a car, phone, internet or other services are not treated as salary for this assessment.
Education and professional authorisation
The applicant's education must meet the level stated for the occupation and be relevant to the offered role. Some regulated professions also require Danish authorisation or official recognition. SIRI advises applicants in such occupations to apply for the relevant authorisation before submitting the residence and work permit application, because evidence of authorisation or an application receipt may be required.
Bank account, fee and processing time
SIRI currently states a normal processing time of one month for first-time applications under the Positive List for People with a Higher Education. If more information is needed, processing can take up to three months. The displayed processing fee is DKK 6,810. Fees are regulated annually, so applicants should verify the amount on the official page before creating a case order ID and paying.
The salary must be paid into a Danish bank account in the applicant's own name. In a typical first-time case, that account must be opened within 180 days after the permit is granted or within 180 days after entry to Denmark when the applicant enters later. If you already hold a Danish residence permit valid for at least 180 days, SIRI requires payment into that account from your first salary payment.
Practical checks before applying
- Confirm that the exact job title appears on the current official Positive List.
- Check whether the listing is national or restricted to a particular Regional Labour Market Council area.
- Match your education to the requirement shown for that occupation.
- Confirm whether Danish professional authorisation is required.
- Review the employment contract for salary, working hours, holiday and notice terms that meet Danish standards.
- Use the current SIRI fee, form and document checklist rather than relying on an older guide.
Check the live occupation entry before you act
The Positive List is updated periodically and each occupation can carry its own education, authorisation and regional conditions. Before accepting an offer or paying a fee, read the current SIRI Positive List and application guidance and the official 1 October 2026 update.
Discuss your Denmark work permit plan
PEERLESS IMMIGRATION SERVICES can help you review your proposed occupation, education documents and application preparation. Our consultancy is independent of the Danish government and cannot guarantee a visa or a job.
Speak With Our Immigration Team on WhatsApp
Call +91-8595010514, email info@peerlessimmigration.com, or visit https://www.peerlessimmigration.com/.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The official route is based on an offered job that appears on the current Positive List and for which the applicant has the required educational background.
No. Some occupations are added because of a regional shortage and apply only within the municipalities covered by the relevant Regional Labour Market Council.
No. The applicant must also meet the education requirement and the employment must satisfy SIRI's conditions, including Danish-standard salary and terms. Regulated professions may require Danish authorisation.
SIRI currently publishes a normal processing time of one month, with up to three months when further information is required. These are official service estimates rather than guarantees.
The official page checked on 11 October 2026 displayed DKK 6,810. Because SIRI regulates fees annually, applicants should verify the live amount before payment.
Yes. Midwife was added from 1 October 2026. The current occupation entry limits it to the RBR Capital region and requires a professional bachelor's degree plus Danish authorisation. Verify the live entry before applying.
