If you are seeking a residence and work permit in Denmark, you must be aware of the salary limits set by the Danish government. The new job offer should fall within the salary range that is considered standard in Denmark.
Denmark has released an updated version of the income statistics which contains information from the second quarter of 2024. The updated income statistics will be used in the case processing of applications submitted from 1 October 2024.
The income statistics are updated every quarter, and the next update is expected to be effective from 1 January 2025.
If you apply for a residence and work permit after 30 September 2024, your application will be assessed based on the income statistics for the second quarter of 2024. If you have applied between 1 July and 30 September 2024, your application will be assessed based on the salary statistics for the first quarter of 2024.
To be granted a residence and work permit your salary and terms of employment must correspond to Danish standards. This means that you must receive a remuneration, which corresponds to the standards of the type of employment in question in Denmark.
This condition applies to both first-time applications and applications for extension.
It applies to the following schemes:
Pay Limit Scheme
Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme
Fast track Scheme
Researcher’s Scheme
Positive List for People with a Higher Education
Positive List for Skilled Work
Special Individual Qualifications Scheme
Herdsmen and Farm Managers Scheme
Internship Scheme
If you are applying for a work permit for sideline employment or a separate work permit as an accompanying family member, it is also a condition that your salary corresponds to Danish standards. In most cases filed after 1 January 2021, the salary must be paid to a Danish bank account.
When assessing whether the salary corresponds to Danish standards, only liquid funds that are paid out are included in the assesment, i.e. the fixed and guaranteed salary, payments to labour market pension schemes and holiday allowance.
The employer can provide staff benefits such as board and lodging as a supplement to the salary, but staff benefits cannot be included in the assessment of whether the salary and terms of employment correspond to Danish standards.
Uncertain salary income such as commissions or bonuses cannot normally be included in the calculation of your salary.
Cases where SIRI typically assess that the salary corresponds to Danish standards
SIRI will usually assume that your salary corresponds to Danish standards, if it is stated in the application form and employment contract that:
Your employer is covered by a collective agreement though a membership of an employers’ association.
Your employment is covered by a collective agreement. It must stated in the employment contract that your employment is covered by a collective agreement in the relevant sector/line of employment.
Your salary is at least DKK 71,020.83 per month (2024 level)
In such cases, SIRI will usually not make further assessment of whether the salary offered corresponds to Danish standards.
If not, SIRI will evaluate if the salary offered aligns with Danish standards, using income statistics from The Confederation of Danish Employers (DA) as a guideline. The offered salary must as a minimum be at the lower quartile level for the job function in question (six-digit DISCO code) and equivalent years of work experience in DA’s income statistics for the region in which you work.