Denmark's Green Card Programme: Danish Points Based Immigration Scheme

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Jobseeking in Denmark

It is your own responsibility to find work in Denmark so you can support yourself.

There are several web portals, databases and CV banks which can be useful in the process of seeking work in Denmark. Read more about jobseeking in Denmark.

Please note that unemployment in Denmark is on the increase in certain sectors. The general unemployment rate for March 2010 was 4.2 pct.

This means that recent years' general shortage in labour has now been replaced by a situation with a shortage in available jobs.

This means that the demand for foreign labour has also been reduced drastically. However, certain sectors still need foreign qualified professionals.

When the Danish economy experiences growth again, the demand for foreign labour is expected to rise.

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Special scheme for students at higher educational programmes

There is a special version of the greencard scheme for students who complete a higher educational programme in Denmark.

Conditions:

In order to be granted a residence permit you must document:
    *      That you have been admitted to a higher educational programme which has been approved by a state authority or which is offered by a publicly accredited educational institution.
    *      That you can support yourself with your own means for the duration of your stay in Denmark. If you are to pay a tuition fee, you must document that you have paid the tuition fee for the first semester or year, instead of documenting that you can support yourself. Please note that a foreign student in Denmark may not receive public assistance / benefit payments. If you do so, your residence permit can be revoked.
    *      That you can speak and understand the language of instruction and have a working knowledge of either Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German.

Your participation in the educational programme must have been arranged by a ministry or institution of higher learning, or the educational programme must be part of a higher educational programme which you have already commenced in your country of origin. In other words, you may be granted a residence permit either in order to complete an entire educational programme or in order to follow part of a programme as a guest student.

Read more: Denmark's Green Card Programme: Greencard Scheme for Students

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Family Members

If you hold a residence permit under the greencard scheme, your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner, as well as any children under the age of 18 who are living at home with you, are also eligible for residence permits. Your family members must be able to support themselves and you must live together in Denmark at the same address. Your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner is allowed to work full-time for the entire period his or her permit is valid.

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How to Apply

If you wish to apply for a Danish residence and work permit, the application process depends on whether you are applying as an employee, as a self-employed person, or as a jobseeker.

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If you are an employee

If you are applying for a residence and work permit as an employee (including applicants under the positive list, the pay limit scheme, the corporate scheme, researchers, athletes, trainees and religious workers), both you and your employer in Denmark (e.g. the company, research institute, sports club or religious denomination) must supply information for the processing of your application.

It is your employer in Denmark who begins the application process by completing his/her part of the application form and attaching the required documents. He/she sends or gives the form and attached documents to you. You then complete your part of the form, attach the required documents, and submit the entire application.

There are different application forms for different types of applicants. Each application form contains a detailed description of how you and your employer in Denmark should complete the form, and which documents you must attach.

You and your employer in Denmark can chose one of the following application forms, depending on whether you are a(n):

Employee (including applicants under the positive list, pay limit scheme, corporate scheme, athletes and trainees)
> Application form AR1 (English version)
> Application form AR1 (Danish version)
> Application form AR1 online (Danish/English version).

Please note: In order to use the AR1 online form, the employer must have a digital signature. Furthermore, the employer must start the application process by filling in the employer part of the form. Read more about digital signature.

Researcher
> Application form ST2 (Danish/English version)

Religious worker
> Application form RF1 (Danish/English version)

Application for Corporate approval
> Application form AR4 for the company (Danish version)

Furthermore, your employer in Denmark can obtain a printed version of the application form from the Service Centre of the Immigration Service, or from the local police.

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If you are a self-employed person

If you are applying for a residence and work permit as a self-employed person, the application form is to be completed by you alone. The application form contains a detailed description of how you should complete the form, and which documents you must attach.

Self-employed person
> Application form AR2 (English version)
> Application form AR2 (Danish version)

Furthermore, you can obtain a printed version of the application form from the Danish diplomatic mission in your country of residence, from the Service Centre of the Immigration Service, or from the local police.

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If you are a jobseeker

If your are applying for a residence and work permit under the greencard scheme, the application form is to be completed by you alone. The application form contains a detailed description of how you should complete the form, and which documents you must attach.

Please note: If an application for a residence permit under the greencard scheme does not include all the necessary information or documentation, it may be rejected. This means that the Immigration Service will not process the application.

Applicant under the greencard scheme
> Application form GR1 (English version)
> Application form GR1 (Danish version)

Furthermore, you can obtain a printed version of the application form from the Danish diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate general) in your country of residence, from the Service Centre of the Immigration Service, or from the local police.

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Family Members

If you wish to bring your spouse/registered partner/cohabiting partner with you to Denmark, then he/she must submit his/her own application. If you have children under the age of 18 who you also wish to bring to Denmark, information about the children can be included in your spouse's/partner's application.

The application form contains a detailed description of how your spouse/partner should complete the form, and which documents he/she must attach.

Accompanying family members
> Application form FA8 (English version)
> Application form FA8 (Danish version)

Furthermore, your spouse/partner can obtain a printed version of the application form from the Danish diplomatic mission in his/her country of residence, from the Service Centre of the Immigration Service, or from the local police.   

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Does it cost anything to submit an application?

Yes, if you submit your application to a diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate general) you will normally have to pay a fee. The fee can vary in price. The individual diplomatic mission can also make further demands such as extra passport photos or duplicate copies of the application. The Immigration Service recommend that you check with the requirements on the website of the diplomatic mission in your country before submitting your application.

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Submitting your application

You can submit an application for a residence and work permit in several ways. You can submit it at the Danish diplomatic mission in your country of origin (or the country where you have resided legally for the past three months). The mission will then forward your application to the Immigration Service in Denmark, where it will be processed.

If there is no Danish mission in your country of origin (or country of residence), it is often possible to submit your application at the mission of another Schengen country. See the Danish Foreign Ministry's list of countries where Denmark is represented by another Schengen country.

If you are residing legally in Denmark (e.g. based on another residence permit, visa, visa-free stay, or under EU regulations), you can normally submit your application in Denmark. In some cases, asylum seekers can apply for an application for a residence and work permit. Read more about asylum seekers with special qualifications.

You can submit your application at the Service Centre of the Immigration Service. If you live outside Greater Copenhagen, you can also submit your application at the local police who will then forward it to the Immigration Service. If the Immigration Service accepts your application for processing, you may normally stay in Denmark while your application is being processed.

If you submit your application while in Denmark, it will not be processed if you are an illegal resident of Denmark, if you have been expelled from Denmark, if you have been given a deadline to leave Denmark, or if you are also applying for another type of Danish residence permit and are awaiting a decision.

In these cases, your application will be rejected, and you will have to submit a new application from your country of origin.

You are not staying legally in Denmark if you apply for a new residence permit after your previous residence permit has expired.