Positivlisten Routes for Work Permits in Denmark 2026

General information about the rules in force. Not legal advice. Last updated 10 October 2026.

Positivlisten is the Danish list of positions with a shortage of qualified labour, and a job offer in a listed position is one of several routes to a Danish residence and work permit for non-EU applicants in 2026. There are two lists - one for positions that require a higher education and one for positions at skilled-worker level (faglært niveau). Fast-track is a separate scheme for employers certified by SIRI and is not part of positivlisten. Globe Advokater assists with applications under these schemes.

Why this matters

Under udlændingelovens § 9 a, stk. 2, a residence and work permit can be granted on the basis of a job offer in a position on positivlisten. Because the position is already registered as a shortage position, there is no individual assessment of the labour market need for the specific job. Pay and terms of employment must still be usual by Danish standards.

The job must correspond to a position on the list, and the applicant must have the education the list specifies for that position. A job title that looks similar on paper is not enough if the actual tasks or the required education do not match the listed position.

What makes a profession qualify for positivlisten

SIRI does not add professions to positivlisten on request. The lists are based on labour market data. According to nyidanmark.dk:

• Positions on the higher-education list are based on a labour market monitoring model, and positions can also be added by the regional labour market councils (regionale arbejdsmarkedsråd - RBR) or by sector-specific unemployment insurance funds (a-kasser)
• A position added by a regional labour market council applies only in the municipalities covered by that council
• A position on the higher-education list can be removed no earlier than two years after it was added, and the list shows the date until which each position stays on it
• The list for skilled workers covers positions at least at skilled-worker level (faglært niveau) where there is a shortage of qualified labour
• Both lists are updated by SIRI on 1 January and 1 July

Positivlisten routes at a glance

1. Positivlisten for positions requiring a higher education

This list covers positions that require a higher education, such as a bachelor's, professional bachelor's or master's degree, as stated for each position. The education must be relevant to the job. For some positions, Danish authorisation is required, and proof of authorisation or of an application for it is submitted with the application. Pay and terms of employment must be usual by Danish standards, and the salary must be paid into a Danish bank account in the applicant's own name. An applicant with a job offer in a listed position applies for a residence and work permit under udlændingelovens § 9 a, stk. 2.

Positivlisten higher-education - key features:

• No individual assessment of the labour market need for the specific job
• Covers the positions on the current list for higher education
• Family members can generally apply for accompanying residence permits alongside the main applicant

Positivlisten higher-education - limitations:

• The job must match a position on the list, not just a similar job title
• The education must be at the level stated for the position and relevant to the job
• A profession can be removed at either the January or July update if the shortage data no longer supports it

Typically relevant for: degree-qualified professionals with a job offer in a listed position in Denmark.

2. Positivlisten for skilled workers (faglærte)

Denmark has a second, separate positivliste for positions at least at skilled-worker level (faglært niveau), typically based on a vocational education (erhvervsuddannelse) rather than a university degree. Documentation of education relevant to the job is attached to the application. Some positions, for example certain social and healthcare positions, require Danish authorisation, and some positions are subject to a quota.

Positivlisten vocational - key features:

• Open to applicants with a vocational qualification rather than a university degree
• No individual assessment of the labour market need, as on the higher-education list

Positivlisten vocational - limitations:

• Fewer occupations appear on this list than on the higher-education version
• Regional shortages do not always translate into a listed occupation nationally

Typically relevant for: skilled workers with a vocational qualification and a job offer from a Danish employer.

3. Fast-track scheme: a separate route through certified employers

Fast-track is not an occupation list and is not combined with positivlisten. It is a separate scheme for employers certified by SIRI, with five tracks: beløbssporet (annual salary of at least 552.000 kr. in 2026), det supplerende beløbsspor (at least 446.000 kr. in 2026), korttidssporet (stays of up to 90 days within a period of 365 days), forskersporet (researchers) and uddannelsessporet (training at a high level).

Fast-track - key features:

• A change of position within the same certified employer does not require a new permit, as long as the terms remain usual by Danish standards
• Under the salary, researcher and education tracks, the holder may get up to 6 months of extra residence to look for a new job after involuntary unemployment

Fast-track - limitations:

• Only available through a company already certified with SIRI, which the applicant cannot control
• Certification itself is a separate process the employer has to complete in advance
• Each track has its own conditions, such as salary level, full-time work and pay and terms that are usual by Danish standards

Typically relevant for: applicants whose Danish employer is certified by SIRI under the Fast-track scheme.

4. Beløbsordningen: positions with a high salary

Beløbsordningen (the Pay Limit Scheme) under udlændingelovens § 9 a, stk. 2, nr. 3, does not depend on the occupation. The condition is an annual salary of at least 552.000 kr. (2026 level), with pay and terms of employment that are usual by Danish standards. A supplementary pay limit scheme (supplerende beløbsordning) with a threshold of 446.000 kr. (2026) has additional conditions on job advertising and the unemployment rate.

Beløbsordningen - key features:

• No occupation or shortage requirement of any kind
• Works for senior and specialist roles that positivlisten does not cover
• The salary condition is documented with the employment contract

Beløbsordningen - limitations:

• The salary threshold changes periodically, so it needs checking against SIRI's current published figure rather than assumed
• Positions with a lower salary do not qualify under this scheme
• Still involves the standard employment-based permit process under § 9 a

Typically relevant for: positions with a salary at or above the threshold, whatever the occupation.

How the routes differ

The routes are described in no particular order. Positivlisten depends on the position being on the current list and on the applicant's education. Fast-track depends on the employer being certified by SIRI. Beløbsordningen depends on the salary level. A job offer can meet the conditions of more than one route.

Which route applies to a job offer?

The starting point is whether the position appears on one of the current lists and whether the applicant has the education the list requires for that position. If the employer is certified by SIRI, the Fast-track tracks may also be relevant. Beløbsordningen applies where the salary meets the threshold for the current year, whatever the occupation. If SIRI refuses an application, the decision can be appealed to Udlændingenævnet within 8 weeks of notification (udlændingelovens § 46 a, stk. 3). Individual cases vary, and a consultation can clarify which route applies to a specific job offer.

FAQ

One last thing

The job title on the contract is not decisive on its own. Two roles that read the same in English can involve different tasks and education requirements, and only one of them might match a position on positivlisten in 2026 - so the actual tasks and the required education are compared with the current published list.