Denmark Expands Positive List: 255 More Jobs Now Eligible for Work Permits In 2025

If you’re thinking about working in Denmark, here’s something important: the country just updated its Positive List, the key system that determines who can live and work there legally.

As of July 1, 2025, the updated lists include 190 job titles for highly educated professionals and 65 titles for skilled workers. Let’s break down what’s new, how it works, and whether you might qualify.

What Is Denmark’s Positive List?

The Positive List is Denmark’s way of fast-tracking residence and work permits for foreign professionals in sectors facing labour shortages. There are two categories:

• Positive List for People with a Higher Education
• Positive List for Skilled Work

If your job appears on either list and you receive a job offer from a Danish employer, you can apply for a residence and work permit.

The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) updates these lists twice a year, on January 1 and July 1.

What’s New in the July 2025 Update?

190 Higher Education Roles

The updated Positive List for People with a Higher Education now features 190 job titles, up from previous years. This expansion reflects increased demand across diverse industries, including IT, engineering, healthcare, and business management.

65 Skilled Work Roles

The Positive List for Skilled Work includes 65 job titles, capturing a wide spectrum of trades and technical professions. These updates mean more opportunities for international applicants, especially those with specialised skills or advanced degrees.

The expansion is partly due to existing jobs staying on the list for at least two years and an uptick in registered labour shortages.

Who Qualifies Under the Positive List?

1. For Highly Educated Workers

You may qualify if:

• You have a university-level education that matches the listed profession.
• Your degree is relevant to the job title offered.
• The job you’re offered appears on the Positive List for Higher Education.

Your residence and work permit will typically be valid for the duration of your contract, up to four years.

2. For Skilled Workers

You may qualify if:

• You’ve been offered a job from the Skilled Work Positive List.
• Your technical training, certification, or vocational background aligns with the job title.
• Your employer meets Danish salary and employment standards.

In both cases, SIRI checks whether your salary meets Danish benchmarks. For non-union employers, this means a monthly salary of DKK 74,958 or higher may be required.

Denmark’s Updated Positive List for Skilled Work (July 2025)

Below is a snapshot of selected job roles now eligible under the Positive List for Skilled Work:

Some healthcare positions are subject to quotas or require Danish professional authorization.

For the full list of eligible jobs and DISCO-08 classification codes, visit the official SIRI website.

How to Apply for a Danish Work and Residence Permit

If you find your job on one of the Positive Lists, here’s what to do next:

1. Secure a Job Offer from a Danish employer for a listed occupation.
2. Check Your Education meets the job’s qualification requirements.
3. Apply via SIRI under the appropriate Positive List scheme.
4. Meet the Salary Standards set by Danish authorities.
5. Wait for Processing, which typically takes a few weeks.

Tip: Make sure your documents, like diplomas and work contracts, are translated into English or Danish and certified if needed.

Standard Salary for Danish Work Permits

To qualify for a Danish work permit, applicants must have a job offer with an annual salary of at least DKK 514,000 (approximately €69,000), meeting national wage standards.

Lower Salary Threshold for 16 Countries

Denmark has reduced the salary requirement to DKK 300,000 (around €40,000) for workers from 16 selected countries, expanding opportunities in more industries and making permits more accessible.

Why This Matters for Foreign Workers

These lists open doors. Whether you’re an engineer, IT technician, chef, or healthcare worker, Denmark offers a legal and straightforward path to employment and residency, but only if your job appears on the Positive List.

The updates are especially promising for those in sectors like agriculture, construction, tech, hospitality, and healthcare, where Denmark is actively recruiting from abroad.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to work in Denmark in 2025, now is a good time to check if your skills align with the updated Positive Lists. With an expanded number of roles and clearer qualification routes, this could be your entry point to living and working in one of Europe’s most stable and well-run countries.