For people who are neither citizens of an EU country, EEA country, Switzerland nor a Nordic country the rules regarding residence and work for non EU/EEA citizens apply. You can find out what defines EU/EEA citizens under Residence and work permits – EU/EEA citizens, and Nordic Citizens under Residence and work permits – Nordic citizens.

Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for, and be issued with, a residence andawork permit to reside and work in Denmark. The forms you need to fill in to apply for a residence and work permit depends on your reason for moving to Denmark. It is your own responsibility to obtain a residence and a work permit. If you reside and work illegally in Denmark, you can be deported, fined or imprisoned.

A residence permit verifies that you are legally residing in Denmark, and a work permit verifies that you are permitted to work here.

In general, anyone from a non-EU/EEA country who wants to take up residence and employment in Denmark is required to have a residence and a work permit in order to do so.

There is no simple answer to the question as to who is eligible for residence and work permits in Denmark. Non-EU/EEA citizens must submit an application for both a residence permit and a work permit. 

A number of schemes have been designed in order to make it easier for highly qualified professionals to get a residence and work permit in Denmark. You can find a list and explanation of the various schemes on the Danish Immigration Services’ website. 

If you want to bring your family (spouse/partner and children under the age of 18) with you, they must submit their own application. You can read more about the rules that apply for accompanying family members under “Family members” on the Danish Immigration Services’ website.

As a general rule, you must apply for, and be issued with, a residence permit and a work permit before moving to Denmark. The processing time varies, depending on whether all the required documentation and necessary correct information are provided.

The Immigration Service has defined customer service goals for maximum processing time for a number of case types. You can read more about the Immigration Service's service goals for maximum processing on their website.

If you want to know more about the processing process, you find more information under “Processing application” and “How do you receive the ruling? on the Immigration Service’s website.

Residence and work permit applications are submitted to the Danish Diplomatic Mission in your country of legal residence. You can find contact information of Danish missions abroad on the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website. When you have submitted your applications, the Danish diplomatic mission will forward the application to the Danish Immigration Service in Denmark, which is the legal authority that issues resident and work permits.

If you are already legally residing in Denmark on a resident permit or Visa, and need to renew your permit, you can submit your application at your local police station. The police will then forward your application to the Danish Immigration Service. You can also submit your application directly to the Danish Immigration Service at their service centre in Copenhagen.

Which application form and documentation you will be required to submit when you apply depends on whether are applying for a residence and a work permit as an employee, a self-employed person, a job seeker, or as a spouse/partner, and/or if you are bringing with you children under the age of 18. You can read more about how to apply for residence and work permits, and download the relevant application forms on the Danish Immigration Services’ website.

The Danish Immigration Service is responsible for issuing residence and work permits for non-EU/EEA citizens. You can read about the Danish Immigration Service, their work, and which rules apply for residence and work permits on their website www.nyidanmark.dk.

The Danish Immigration Services
Ryesgade 53
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Telephone: +45 35 36 66 00
Telephone hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fax: +45 35 36 19 16
E-mail: us@us.dk

Note: The Danish Immigration Service has made a telephone guide that tells you what questions you can expect to get answered when you contact them.

If you want to contact the Danish mission in your country, you can find the relevant contact information at www.um.dk.