Denmark relaxes work visa requirements for sixteen non-EU nations
In a move aimed at addressing labor shortages, the Danish government has announced plans to widen work permit eligibility for 16 key non-EU countries. The updated requirements, set to be presented on Monday, will lower the annual salary requirement for foreign workers from these countries, making it easier for skilled and mid-level workers to work in Denmark.
The 16 non-EU countries whose nationals will benefit from the relaxed rules are the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, India, Brazil, Malaysia, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Ukraine, and Moldova.
Currently, a job offer must meet a minimum annual salary of 514,000 Danish kroner (approximately 44,000 Euros) to qualify for a work permit. Under the new plan, this threshold will be reduced to 300,000 kroner (around 26,000 Euros) per year for citizens from these 16 countries. This significant reduction allows foreign workers to access a wider range of job sectors, including lower-paying ones, facilitating an increase in the foreign workforce.
EU citizens continue to work freely without permits in Denmark, a policy that remains unchanged.
The changes revolve around the "Pay Limit Scheme," which sets a minimum salary threshold for Danish work permits. Companies using this scheme will be obliged to sign a collective bargaining agreement with a trade union to prevent social dumping. This measure is intended to ensure fair working conditions for all employees.
Troels Blicher Danielsen, CEO of employer organisation TEKNIQ, stated that the agreement is important for meeting the increasing demand for qualified workers and that foreign workers are crucial to this. He emphasised that the reform is part of a coalition agreement aimed at attracting more foreign workers to Denmark.
It is anticipated that the reform will increase the number of foreign nationals working in Denmark by 550. The Danish government is also expected to present a plan on Monday to increase the size of the foreign workforce further.
This reduction in the salary requirement will potentially expand the range of jobs and sectors on the Danish labour market open to foreign workers. However, it is important to note that the lowered salary requirement only applies to nationals from the specified 16 countries, while other non-EU nationals must still meet the higher salary threshold.
Denmark updates its income statistics quarterly to assess salary eligibility for various permit schemes, starting July 1, 2025. Similar rules apply to other permit categories like the Fast-track Scheme and Positive List jobs, ensuring salaries align with Danish standards.
Foreign nationals working under certain conditions (e.g., employed by a foreign company connected to a Danish firm with at least 50 employees) may also work without a permit in some sectors, but these regulations are separate from the salary threshold changes.
People granted work permits under the revised "Pay Limit Scheme" will be required to carry an ID.
Thousands of Danes are attending a wholesome festival this week, while a Palestine demonstration was made known to organisers at Denmark's Roskilde Festival, though this fact is not related to the main topic of the article.
[1] https://www.regeringen.dk/aktuel/nyheder/2023/januar/ny-arbejdspermit-regler-for-16-lande/ [2] https://www.regeringen.dk/aktuel/nyheder/2022/december/arbejdspermit-regler-for-udenlandske-ansatte-i-danmark-fra-2023/ [3] https://www.regeringen.dk/aktuel/nyheder/2022/december/ny-arbejdspermit-regler-for-16-lande/ [4] https://www.regeringen.dk/aktuel/nyheder/2023/januar/ny-arbejdspermit-regler-for-16-lande/
- The new work permit policy for 16 non-EU countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and India, involves lowering the annual salary requirement for foreign workers, allowing them to access a wider range of job sectors in the art, news, policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news industries.
- The relaxation of work permit eligibility for 16 key non-EU countries is expected to increase the number of foreign nationals working in Denmark, potentially opening up opportunities in various sectors such as art, news, policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news, thereby strengthening the workforce.
