Federal Republic of Germany vs Kingdom of Denmark
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Federal Republic of Germany
Germany offers one of Europe's widest work-migration toolkits after the 2023–24 Skilled Immigration Act reforms: the EU Blue Card, Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card), general skilled-worker visas, and recognition-partnership routes for non-EU professionals. Student and self-employment routes also lead to long-term residence.
- Languages
- German
- Currency
- Euro
Kingdom of Denmark
Denmark's immigration is administered by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) under the Ministry of Immigration and Integration. Key skilled-migration schemes include the Pay Limit Scheme (salary threshold), Positive List (shortage occupations), Fast-Track Scheme (certified employers), and Start-Up Denmark for entrepreneurs. Permanent residence requires 8 years of legal residence (reducible to 4 with full-time employment and Danish language).
- Official portal
- SIRI / Ministry of Immigration and Integration
- Languages
- Danish
- Currency
- Danish krone
How Federal Republic of Germany and Kingdom of Denmark differ
| Dimension | Federal Republic of Germany | Kingdom of Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 8 | 5 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 4 | 1 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 6 | 4 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | Arrival → Niederlassungserlaubnis (21-60 months depending on route and German level) → citizenship (5 years). | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | EU Blue Card (Germany) | Pay Limit Scheme (Beloebsordningen) |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | €48,300/year | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | EU Directive 2021/1883 sets a 90-day statutory maximum for an EU Blue Card decision. In practice, Make-it-in-Germany publishes 1–3 months for consular processing from abroad and 4–6 weeks for in-country conversions at the Ausländerbehörde. Vorabzustimmung (pre-approval) by the Foreigners’ Authority shortens consular timelines materially. | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | The EU Blue Card in Germany costs roughly €185 in government fees for a single applicant — one of the cheapest skilled-worker routes in the OECD. | — |
| Official languages | German | Danish |
| Currency | Euro | Danish krone |
| Primary regulator | BRAK | Advokatsamfundet |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Federal Republic of Germany
EU Blue Card (Germany)
- Salary minimum
- €48,300/year
- Government fees
- The EU Blue Card in Germany costs roughly €185 in government fees for a single applicant — one of the cheapest skilled-worker routes in the OECD.
- Processing time
- EU Directive 2021/1883 sets a 90-day statutory maximum for an EU Blue Card decision. In practice, Make-it-in-Germany publishes 1–3 months for consular processing from abroad and 4–6 weeks for in-country conversions at the Ausländerbehörde. Vorabzustimmung (pre-approval) by the Foreigners’ Authority shortens consular timelines materially.
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Kingdom of Denmark
Pay Limit Scheme (Beloebsordningen)
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Routes unique to Federal Republic of Germany
Visa routes side by side
Federal Republic of Germany (8)
EU Blue Card (Germany)
Sponsor · To settlement · 4 years (or duration of contract + 3 months, whichever is shorter).
Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card)
No sponsor · To settlement · Up to 12 months initial; one-time extension as Anschluss-Chancenkarte for up to 24 more months if a qualifying job offer is held but full recognition is still pending.
Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG)
Sponsor · To settlement · Usually up to 4 years or contract length plus 3 months.
Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft)
Sponsor · To settlement · Up to 3 years.
Freelance / Self-employment residence permit (§21 AufenthG)
No sponsor · To settlement · Initial 3 years typically; leads to settlement.
Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 6 months, non-renewable.
German Student residence permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · 1–2 years at a time; renewable for programme duration.
Family reunion residence permit
No sponsor · To settlement · Typically 1–3 years at a time; leads to settlement.
Kingdom of Denmark (5)
Pay Limit Scheme (Beloebsordningen)
Sponsor · To settlement · Up to 4 years; renewable if employment continues.
Positive List Scheme (Positivlisten)
Sponsor · To settlement · Up to 4 years; renewable.
Fast-Track Scheme (Fast-Track-ordningen)
Sponsor · To settlement · Up to 4 years.
Student Residence Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Duration of studies; renewable annually.
Family Reunification (Familiesammenfoering)
No sponsor · To settlement · Tied to the sponsor's residence status. Leads to permanent residence on the same conditions as work-permit holders.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Federal Republic of Germany or Kingdom of Denmark?+
Federal Republic of Germany’s EU Blue Card (Germany) requires a salary of at least €48,300/year; Kingdom of Denmark’s Pay Limit Scheme (Beloebsordningen) is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Federal Republic of Germany or Kingdom of Denmark have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Federal Republic of Germany has more: 4 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 1 for Kingdom of Denmark. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.