Immigration News January 2026

2026 brings important developments in Danish immigration law and practice that will take effect throughout the year, including significant changes implemented by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) and other developments affecting foreign nationals working in Denmark.

New pay limit thresholds for 2026
Effective 1 January 2026, new salary thresholds will apply across multiple work permit schemes:

• Pay Limit Scheme and Fast Track Scheme: DKK 552,000 annually (minimum) (2025: DKK 514,000)
• Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme and Supplementary Pay Limit Track: DKK 446,000 annually (minimum) (2025: DKK 415,000)

Employers should ensure that employment contracts for foreign nationals meet these updated thresholds to ensure eligibility under the respective schemes. These changes apply only to first-time applications; extension applications will follow the thresholds that were in place when the initial permit was granted.

Updated positive lists
New Positive Lists will take effect on 1 January 2026, reflecting current labor market needs in Denmark:

• Positive List for People with Higher Education: Updated to reflect shortage occupations requiring advanced qualifications
• Positive List for Skilled Work: Revised to address skilled labor shortages

These lists are adjusted regularly based on Danish labor market conditions to identify job roles experiencing shortages in Denmark. 

Increased government application fees
Government fees for residence and work permit applications will increase in 2026:

• Work permits: DKK 6,810 (2025: DKK 6,055)
• Accompanying family permits: DKK 3,080 (2025: DKK 2,380)

Updated salary statistics
The Danish Employers' Association (DA) salary statistics have been updated with data from the third quarter of 2025. These updated statistics apply to all applications submitted from 1 January 2026 and will be used to assess whether proposed salaries meet the requirements for various permit schemes.

Important notice for British nationals
British nationals holding temporary residence in Denmark under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement can now apply for permanent residency in Denmark. If they do not meet the requirements, we recommend checking the expiry date of their residence card, as it may be up for renewal. 

Action required: Eligible individuals should submit their applications for permanent residence. 

New exemption rule for events and conferences
As of 19 December 2025, a new exemption rule has been introduced for third-country nationals working at events and conferences in Denmark. Under certain conditions and for short-term stays, these individuals may be exempt from residence and work permit requirements.

This exemption provides greater flexibility for international events and conferences hosted in Denmark.

Please note the basic requirements for the new exemption rule:

• The exemption applies to international closed indoors congresses, trade fairs, conferences, or company events with possibility of having at least 400 registered participants
• Each work-related stay under this exemption is limited to a maximum of 10 workdays

Improvements to SIRI’s online application forms
SIRI continues to enhance its online application platform, which underwent significant improvements earlier this year. Recent updates in the application forms include:

• Additional company contact person: Employers can now add a second contact person to applications
• Enhanced residence card delivery information: Expanded information when residence cards are sent to employers

Proposed new collective agreement-based work permit scheme
The Danish government has now proposed a new collective agreement-based work permit scheme designed to provide easier access to foreign labor while strengthening the Danish labor market model. The proposal applies to foreign nationals from 16 specific countries. Key features of the proposal include:

• Collective agreement requirement: Companies must have a collective agreement between the Danish Employers' Association (DA) and the Danish Trade Union Confederation (FH) to use the scheme
• Lower salary threshold: Certified companies with collective agreements would benefit from a reduced salary threshold compared to existing schemes
• Limited country eligibility: The scheme would be restricted to nationals from selected countries with strong trade relationships and shared interests with Denmark
• Anti-social dumping measures: The proposal includes enhanced enforcement tools, including mandatory ID cards on larger construction and infrastructure projects

Looking ahead
We will continue to monitor developments in Danish immigration law and keep you informed of any changes that may affect your business operations and foreign national employees.

Should you have any questions regarding these updates or require assistance with work permit applications, please do not hesitate to contact us.