Best work permits for teachers in Denmark 2026

General information about the rules in force. Not legal advice. Last updated 30 September 2026.

The best work permit for teachers in Denmark in 2026 depends on who employs you and what the job pays. Best overall for teachers with a high-paying offer: Beløbsordningen. Best for teachers in a shortage profession: Positivlisten. Best for teachers at a certified employer: Fast-track. Best for university lecturers: the researcher route. Best for EU/EEA citizens: no work permit at all.

Why this matters

Denmark has no single work permit for teachers. Teachers are placed in the general schemes for foreign workers, and the scheme that fits depends on the contract, the employer and your citizenship.

Many readers arrive after a refusal or while waiting for a job offer to be finalised. The scheme that looks easiest is not always the one the job fits. This guide explains how each route works in general, so you know what to ask your employer and when to speak to a lawyer.

We are Globe Advokater, a Copenhagen law firm at Bredgade 30 with more than 20 years of practice in immigration law. We work in Danish and English. The guide describes general rules. It does not assess any individual case. Read more about the firm on the Globe Advokater front page.

The rules named here are published on nyidanmark.dk, the official Danish portal for foreign nationals. Thresholds and lists change, so always check the 2026 version there.

What makes a good route for a teacher

We ranked the routes on five criteria. Read them before the table, so you can judge the order yourself.

• Fit: does the route match how teachers are usually hired, for example by a school, a university or an international school?
• Dependence on pay: does the route require the contract to reach a fixed pay level?
• Dependence on lists: does the route only work if the profession appears on an official list?
• Dependence on the employer: does the employer need a special status?
• Flexibility: does the route cover the job you actually have, or only a narrow type of job?

Work permit routes for teachers at a glance

1. Beløbsordningen: best work permit for teachers with a high-paying contract

Beløbsordningen - the Pay Limit Scheme - gives a work permit when the job offer reaches a set annual pay level. The level is adjusted every year. Check the figure for 2026 on nyidanmark.dk, because an outdated figure is a common source of errors.

The scheme does not depend on a shortage list. That is why it fits teachers at international schools or universities with a higher pay level. SIRI - the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration - handles applications under the scheme.

Beløbsordningen pros:

• It covers any type of job, so it is not tied to a list of professions.
• The main test is clear: the contract and the pay level.
• It suits teachers moving with a written employment contract.

Beløbsordningen cons:

• The pay level must be met by the actual contract.
• The level changes each year, so an old figure can mislead.
• Many teaching jobs pay less than the threshold.

Best for: teachers whose contract meets the pay level.

Verdict: Buy, when the contract meets the 2026 pay level.

2. Positivlisten: best work permit for teachers in a shortage profession

Positivlisten - the Positive List - names professions with a shortage of qualified people in Denmark. If your profession and education match an entry, you can apply on that basis with a job offer.

Whether a teaching profession appears on the list must be checked against the current list. Do not rely on an old article, including this one. The authorities update the list. Our guide on positive list professions for fast-track work permits explains how the list works.

Positivlisten pros:

• The route is based on education and profession, not on a high pay level.
• It can suit teachers in a subject where Denmark lacks staff.
• The list is public.

Positivlisten cons:

• It only works if the profession is on the current list.
• Your foreign education needs to match the entry.
• The list can change between the time you plan and the time you apply.

Best for: teachers whose profession is on the list.

Verdict: Hold, until you have checked the current list.

3. Fast-track: best work permit for teachers at a certified employer

The Fast-track scheme is for employers that SIRI has certified. The certification belongs to the employer, not to you. A school or company must apply for it before it can use the route.

For a teacher, this means the route only exists if the school has been certified. Ask the employer directly. Do not assume it. For how routes compare on timing in general, see our guide to Denmark work permits ranked by processing time.

Fast-track pros:

• The employer carries part of the administrative work.
• It suits schools that hire foreign staff regularly.
• It runs through a clear process.

Fast-track cons:

• It is closed to you if the employer is not certified.
• You cannot certify the employer yourself.
• Small schools may not have the certification.

Best for: teachers with an offer from a certified employer.

Verdict: Buy, if the employer is certified. Skip otherwise.

4. Researcher route: best for university lecturers

Some teachers work at universities and combine teaching with research. Denmark has a separate route for researchers. It is built for research positions, not for schoolteachers.

Whether a lecturer position counts as research depends on the job description and the institution. The rules should be read against the actual contract.

Researcher route pros:

• It is designed for academic positions.
• It fits lecturers whose role includes research.
• It does not follow the school-teacher pattern.

Researcher route cons:

• It does not fit primary or secondary school teaching.
• The position must qualify as research.
• Contract wording matters.

Best for: university teachers with research duties.

Verdict: Hold, until the job description is confirmed as research.

5. EU/EEA citizenship: best when you do not need a work permit

Citizens of EU/EEA countries do not apply for a work permit to work in Denmark. They register for an EU residence document. SIRI handles EU residence documents.

This is the simplest route. It also has the narrowest audience: it depends only on your citizenship. Our guide to work permits for IT professionals in Denmark shows how the same schemes work in another profession.

EU/EEA route pros:

• No work permit application.
• It does not depend on pay level or lists.
• It also covers many family members.

EU/EEA route cons:

• It is only for citizens of EU/EEA countries.
• You still need to register.
• Family members with other citizenships have their own rules.

Best for: teachers who are EU/EEA citizens.

Verdict: Buy, if you are an EU/EEA citizen.

How we ranked

The order follows the criteria above. Routes that fit most teaching contracts rank higher. Routes that depend on a list or a certified employer rank lower, because you cannot control those conditions. The EU/EEA route sits last only because it is limited to citizens. For those who qualify, it comes first.

Which route should you choose?

The rules mean that the contract decides. A high pay level points to Beløbsordningen. A shortage profession points to Positivlisten. A certified employer points to Fast-track. University research points to the researcher route. An EU/EEA passport removes the permit question.

If none of these matches, the next step is to have the contract and your education reviewed by a lawyer. Deadlines apply in this type of case. Contact a lawyer to find out which deadlines apply in your case.

What happens after a refusal

A refusal of a work permit can be appealed. Appeals in work permit cases go to Udlændingenævnet - the Immigration Appeals Board. Asylum appeals go to a different body, Flygtningenævnet, so the two should not be mixed.

The decision letter names the appeal body and the steps. Read it carefully. The reasons in the letter show which condition the authority found missing.

FAQ

One last thing

Most teachers ask which scheme is best. The better question is which condition you can prove with documents: pay level, a listed profession, a certified employer or citizenship. The route follows from that.

Related guides

• Work permits for IT professionals in Denmark
• Post-study work visas for graduates in Denmark