Denmark to Launch New Work Scheme for Non-EU Citizens in 2027

Denmark will introduce a new hiring scheme for foreign workers on January 1, 2027.

Certified Danish companies can hire non-EU workers under collective wage agreements.

The scheme targets sectors facing labor shortages in Denmark and the EU.

It applies to citizens from designated countries, including China and Hong Kong.

Workers must earn a minimum annual salary of DKK 322,000.

This requirement uses the 2026 salary baseline.

The employment must be full-time under a collective agreement.

The worker's salary must be paid into a Danish bank account.

The Danish Parliament passed this law on September 3, 2026.

It aims to fill labor shortages while protecting local wage standards.

The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration will manage the system.

Companies must meet strict rules to obtain certification.

They need collective agreement coverage and two years of operational history.

Firms must employ at least ten full-time workers in Denmark.

They need a clean certificate from the Danish Business Authority.

Companies must comply with the Danish Aliens Act.

They must have no underpayment fines in the past two years.

Certification lasts three years and is renewable for four years.

The scheme benefits sectors like transport with lower average pay levels.

This news is based on reporting from Deloitte Denmark.