Denmark Expands its Positive List of Jobs for Fast-Track Work Visas in 2025

New job opportunities in healthcare, engineering, professions, and more are available as a result of Denmark's April 2025 Positive List update. Discover the process by which professionals with exceptional qualifications can apply for a Danish work visa that is expedited and relocate with their families.

Denmark updated its Positive List in April 2025, adding a number of high-demand occupations in sectors such as healthcare, IT, engineering, education, and skilled professions, in a significant effort to attract global talent. For foreign specialists, the revised list simplifies the process of obtaining a Danish work and residence permit that is expedited.

This update establishes Denmark as one of the most efficient and open immigration destinations in Europe, particularly in comparison to countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where visa processes are frequently more intricate and time-consuming.

What are the advantages of working in Denmark?

Denmark provides a fast-tracked, transparent, and seamless visa process for occupations in high demand, in contrast to other countries that are tightening immigration regulations. Several noteworthy benefits are as follows:

• The Positive List facilitates the expedited processing of visas.

• A work-life equilibrium that is among the most exceptional on a global scale

• Education and healthcare at no cost

• Family-friendly policies that permit the participation of spouses and children

• A society that is stable and tranquil is consistently ranked among the happiest in the world.

What is Denmark's Positive List?

The Positive List is an official registry of employment positions in Denmark that are currently experiencing a labor shortage. You are eligible for a residence and work permit under the Positive List initiative if you receive a job offer from a Danish employer and your profession is included in this document.

There are two categories:

• Positive List for Higher Education: For positions that necessitate a university degree

• Skilled Work Positive List: For technical, trade, or vocational positions

New Occupations on the Positive List: April 2025 Update

The most recent update includes a diverse array of positions in a variety of sectors, such as healthcare, IT, engineering, construction, agriculture, and administration. Under the Positive List for Skilled Work, the following categories have been recently added:

Business & Administration Associate Professionals

• 331300 – Bookkeeper

• 332200 – Sales Consultant

• 333110 – Forwarding Agent

• 332300 – Buyer

• 334200 – Legal Secretary

• 335900 – Port Assistant

• 331300 – Accountant Assistant

• 333190 – Import Export Specialist

• 332200 – Sales and Account Manager

• 333430 – Real Estate Administrator

• 331300 – Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerk

• 333190 – Forwarding Agent, other

• 333410 – Real Estate Agent

Science & Engineering Associate Professionals

• 311400 – Medico Technician

• 314200 – Agricultural Technician

• 313900 – Food Technician

• 311110 – Laboratory Assistant

• 311200 – Technician: Construction Technology

• 311900 – Production Technologist

Legal, Social, Cultural, and Related Associate Professionals

• 343200 – Flower Decorator

• 341300 – Parish Helper

• 341300 – Parish Clerk

General and secretary clerks

• 411000 – office assistant

Numerical and Material Recording Clerks

• 431240 – Insurance Clerk (Technical case processing of insurance claims)

• 514100 – Hairdresser

• 512000 – Chef Personal Services Workers

Health and Personal Care Workers

• 532220 – Social and Health Care Assistant, private homes

• 532120 – Social and Health Care Assistant, institutions/hospitals

• 321100 – Audiology Assistant

• 532210 – Social and Health Care Worker, private homes

• 532110 – Social and Health Care Worker, institutions/hospitals

Metal, Machinery, and Related Trades Workers

• 722300 – Industrial Technician

• 722100 – Blacksmith

• 723110 – Auto Mechanic (passenger vehicles and vans)

• 723300 – Agricultural Machinery Mechanic

Building & Related Trades Worker

• 711210 – Bricklayer

• Carpenter 711510

Agricultural and Nursery Workers Who Are Market-Oriented

• 611320 – Greenkeeper

• 611100 – Farmer, Field Crop and Vegetable Grower

• 611400 – Farmer, Mixed Crop Grower

• 611320 – Landscape Gardener

Electrical and Electronic Trades Workers

• 741300 – Electricity Distribution Technician

• 741100 – Electrician

• 742100 – Service Technician, Electronics Mechanics

Food Processing, Woodworking, and Other Craft Trades

• 753100 – Tailor

Machine Operators and Stationary Plant Operators

• 818290 – Process Operator (boiler/steam engine facilities)

• 818910 – Process Operator (water supply, incineration, wastewater treatment)

• 815500 - Process Operator (manufacturing of fur and leather products)

Manual Labor in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery

• 921200 – Agricultural Assistant (manual labor in livestock reproduction)

Visa Options for Those Who Meet the Requirements

Several Danish visa schemes are available to you if you are offered a job listed above:

1. Positive List Scheme

   • Skilled professionals whose occupations are included in Denmark's Positive List are eligible for this visa. Applicants may obtain a residence and work permit that is valid for a maximum of four years upon submitting a valid job offer. Additionally, this visa offers a pathway to permanent residency.

2. Scheme for Certified Employers to Advance at a Rapid Pace

   • You can take advantage of simplified and expedited processing if your employer is a member of the Fast-track certification. Multiple entrants and a more rapid commencement of employment are permitted by the program, which also guarantees a more seamless integration into the Danish work culture.

3. Scheme for Pay Limits

   • If you are offered a high-paying position, you may be eligible for this program, even if your occupation is not listed. The minimum annual salary requirement for foreign laborers will be DKK 375,000 (approximately €50,000) effective April 2025, thereby guaranteeing equitable compensation.

4. Visa for Researcher

   • Academic and research specialists with a Danish employment contract are eligible for this visa. It facilitates effortless relocation, family members' access to residence, and the autonomy to engage in employment within Denmark's education and innovation sectors.

New Salary Regulations for Work Permits

Denmark has implemented new salary thresholds for foreign work permit applicants, effective April 2025. The majority of visa categories now necessitate a minimum annual remuneration of DKK 375,000 (approximately €50,000). The action guarantees that foreign employees are compensated fairly and that wage standards are consistent with the expectations of the Danish labor market.

Is it possible for your family to accompany you?

Yes! Families are warmly welcomed in Denmark. In the event that you are granted a work permit:

• A residence permit may be requested by your spouse or registered companion.

• Additionally, children under the age of 18 are eligible.

• Frequently, spouses are permitted to engage in employment during their visit.

• This renders Denmark not only a career destination but also a family-friendly, long-term relocation option.

Discover Additional Information and Submit an Application

The comprehensive Positive List and application guidelines can be accessed at nyidanmark.dk. Denmark may be the opportunity you have been anticipating if you are qualified and prepared to make a career transition.

Concluding thoughts

Denmark is not merely seeking labor; it is also providing trained professionals with the opportunity to establish a life in a supportive, thriving society through the implementation of this Positive List update. This opportunity may be available to you, regardless of whether you are a healthcare worker, tradesperson, or technician, to relocate abroad with fewer obstacles and more advantages.