Immigration News September 2026
New scheme for certified Danish firms
Denmark launches a new certification scheme from 1 January 2027. Certified companies will be able to hire foreign workers from designated countries at a minimum annual salary of DKK 322,000. The scheme requires strict compliance with collective agreements and union oversight.
Denmark has adopted a new collective agreement-based business scheme to address labour shortages while protecting workers and the Danish labour market model. Passed by Parliament on 3 September 2026, the scheme introduces a certification process for companies seeking to hire foreign workers under collectively agreed wage and working conditions.
How the scheme works
Certification of companies
Companies must undergo certification by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). Key requirements include being covered by a collective agreement, having two years of operational history, at least ten full-time employees in Denmark, a clean service certificate from the Danish Business Authority, compliance with the Danish Aliens Act and no fines for underpayment of foreign workers within the past two years.
Certification is valid for three years and renewable for four-year periods.
Salary and eligibility requirements
Foreign workers must receive a minimum annual salary of DKK 322,000 (2026 level). They must be citizens of countries on a designated list. The countries on the list are United Kingdom, USA, Singapore, China (including Hong Kong), Japan, Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, Malaysia, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova. Positions must be covered by a collective agreement to which the company is bound, ensuring workers benefit from established labour market protections.
Further to this, it is a requirement that the employment is full time according to the relevant collective agreement, and that salary is paid to a Danish bank account.
Who is the new scheme relevant for?
The new scheme is relevant for companies in sectors where it is difficult to recruit employees in Denmark and other EU countries, and where standard salaries are lower than in other immigration schemes. This applies, for example, to companies in the transportation industry.
Implementation and next steps
The scheme enters into force on 1 January 2027. SIRI will manage applications and certification decisions.
