Kingdom of Denmark · work sponsored · Leads to settlement
Positive List Scheme (Positivlisten)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Guidance updated 10 September 2026. Full-review date shown above.
Source check: all 14 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026
Work permit for occupations on Denmark's shortage list — lower salary threshold than the Pay Limit Scheme, but occupation-restricted.
- Processing time
- Higher-education list: normally 1 month, up to 3 months if further information is needed. Skilled-work list: normally 3 months, up to 4 months if further information is needed. The applicable clock depends on which list and application type covers the job.
- Government fees
- DKK 6,810.
- Typical duration
- Up to 4 years; renewable.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
Work permit for occupations on Denmark's shortage list — lower salary threshold than the Pay Limit Scheme, but occupation-restricted. Guidance updated 10 September 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/denmark/positive-list-dk#answer
What is the Positive List Scheme (Positivlisten) in Kingdom of Denmark?
Positive List Scheme (Positivlisten) is a sponsor-led Denmark route. Indicative government fees are DKK 6,810; indicative processing time is Higher-education list: normally 1 month, up to 3 months if further information is needed. Skilled-work list: normally 3 months, up to 4 months if further information is needed. The applicable clock depends on which list and application type covers the job; typical duration is Up to 4 years; renewable. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Primary guidance checked with SIRI on 1 July 2026.
Overview
The Positive Lists are curated lists of occupations experiencing documented labour shortages in Denmark. Workers offered a position in a listed occupation can obtain a work permit at a lower salary threshold than the Pay Limit Scheme — the salary must meet Danish standards for the occupation but does not need to exceed the Pay Limit threshold. There are two separate lists: (1) the Positive List for People with a Higher Education, and (2) the Positive List for Skilled Work. The lists are updated regularly, with the main updates on 1 January and 1 July, and the higher-education list can also receive regional or unemployment-insurance-fund additions. The permit leads to permanent residence on the same terms as the Pay Limit Scheme.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Additional sources
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Job offer in an occupation on the current Positive List for People with a Higher Education or Positive List for Skilled Work.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
- ✓For the higher-education list, a completed higher-education programme meeting the education level specified for the job title; some roles also require Danish authorisation or official recognition.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
- ✓Salary, working hours, holiday entitlement, notice terms, and other employment conditions must correspond to Danish standards for the occupation.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
- ✓Salary must be paid into a Danish bank account in the applicant's own name within the official deadline after permit grant or entry.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
- ✓For Skilled Work applications, the employer must meet its Læreplads-AUB educational obligations where the rule applies.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
- ✓Employer registered in Denmark.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
Common blockers
- !Occupation not on the current list or limited to a regional area where the offered job is not located.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
- !Qualifications below the level specified for the occupation on the list.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
- !Salary or terms below Danish standards for the occupation — even though the Pay Limit threshold does not apply, SIRI still assesses the offer.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
- !Missing Danish authorisation/official recognition for regulated roles, or employer not meeting educational-obligation rules for Skilled Work.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Employment contract specifying the occupation matching a Positive List entry.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
- ·Degree or qualification certificates proving eligibility for the listed occupation.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
- ·Authorisation or official-recognition evidence where the listed role requires it.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
- ·Employer's CVR number.
- ·Passport.SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) ↗
Application pathway
Check the current Positive List
Verify your occupation appears on the current higher-education or skilled-work Positive List. Both are published on nyidanmark.dk and updated regularly.
Secure a qualifying job offer
The offer must be for a position matching a listed occupation, at normal Danish salary levels, and you must hold the specified qualifications.
Apply via nyidanmark.dk
Submit the work-permit application online. Attach employment contract and qualification evidence.
Enter Denmark and register
On approval, enter Denmark and obtain your CPR number.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Positive List Scheme (Positivlisten), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Denmark. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyApplicant + sponsorApply under the Positive List ↗
Use the official Positive List page to confirm the occupation, create the case order and submit the work-permit application.
SIRI · verified
- ChecklistApplicant + sponsorCheck the skilled-work Positive List ↗
Use the official skilled-work list when the role is vocational or skilled work rather than higher education.
SIRI · verified
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Related routes
Pay Limit Scheme (Beloebsordningen)
Denmark's salary-threshold work permit — no occupation or qualification restrictions if the annual salary exceeds the Pay Limit threshold.
Fast-Track Scheme (Fast-Track-ordningen)
Accelerated work-permit processing for workers hired by SIRI-certified Danish employers — work can begin within days.
Frequently asked questions
How often is the Positive List updated?+
The main updates are on 1 January and 1 July. The higher-education list can also receive additions from regional labour market councils or unemployment-insurance funds, and acute shortage additions can be made outside the normal cycle. Always check the current version on nyidanmark.dk before applying — don't rely on an older version.
What is the difference between the Positive List and the Pay Limit Scheme?+
The Pay Limit Scheme has no occupation or qualification restrictions but requires a high salary above the Pay Limit threshold. The Positive List has occupation and qualification restrictions (your job must be on the list and you must hold the specified qualifications) but allows a lower salary — it only needs to be at "normal Danish levels" for the occupation. If your salary exceeds the Pay Limit threshold, use the Pay Limit Scheme regardless of your occupation, as it is simpler and more flexible.
Can I switch from a Positive List permit to a Pay Limit permit?+
Yes. If your salary increases above the Pay Limit threshold, or if you change to a role that exceeds the threshold, you can apply for a new permit under the Pay Limit Scheme. This can be advantageous because the Pay Limit Scheme is not tied to a specific occupation, giving you more flexibility to change roles.
Is there a Danish work permit with a lower salary requirement than the Pay Limit Scheme?+
Yes — the Positive List Scheme covers occupations with documented labour shortages and only requires salary and employment terms at normal Danish standards for the occupation rather than above the Pay Limit threshold. Your occupation must appear on the current Positive List for People with a Higher Education or Positive List for Skilled Work, and you must hold the qualifications specified for that occupation. Always check the latest list on nyidanmark.dk.
My job is on the Danish Positive List now — could it be removed before I apply?+
Yes. The Positive Lists are updated regularly, with main updates on 1 January and 1 July and some higher-education additions possible outside that cycle. Check the current version on nyidanmark.dk before applying rather than relying on an older list.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: SIRI
Last checked: 1 July 2026