Denmark is preparing to introduce a new immigration pathway for foreign workers, creating another route for eligible international professionals to secure employment in the country.
The new employer-led route is scheduled to launch on January 1, 2027, under Denmark’s Collective Agreement-Based Business Scheme.
The program will allow qualifying Danish companies to hire foreign nationals from 16 selected countries. The initiative is designed to help employers access overseas talent while maintaining specific requirements for participating businesses.
The countries included in the scheme are Albania, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Singapore, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Under the new pathway, not every Danish employer will be able to participate. Companies must meet several conditions before they can use the scheme to recruit foreign workers.
One key requirement is that the employer must be covered by a relevant collective agreement. The company must also have been operating for at least two years.
In addition, participating employers must have at least 10 full-time employees working in Denmark. These conditions are intended to ensure that the route is available to established businesses with a stable employment structure.
Employers will also need to register with Denmark’s immigration authority and receive certification confirming that they meet the requirements of the scheme.
The minimum annual salary for foreign workers hired through the new route will be DKK 322,000. This threshold is lower than several other salary requirements used under Denmark’s existing work and immigration pathways.
The introduction of the scheme could provide Danish companies with an additional option for addressing recruitment challenges. Employers facing shortages in certain sectors may benefit from being able to consider qualified workers from international markets.
For foreign nationals, the new pathway could create another opportunity to work legally in Denmark. However, eligibility will depend on both the worker and the employer meeting the applicable requirements.
The employer-led nature of the scheme means that prospective workers cannot simply apply independently for the pathway without a qualifying Danish company. The participating employer must first meet the conditions and be approved under the program.
Denmark has maintained a structured approach to work-based immigration, with different routes depending on salary levels, qualifications, occupations and employer requirements.
The new Collective Agreement-Based Business Scheme adds another option to this system and could become relevant for international workers seeking employment with eligible Danish companies.
The January 2027 launch will be closely watched by employers and foreign jobseekers, particularly those from the 16 countries covered by the program.
While the scheme offers new opportunities, its strict employer eligibility requirements mean that workers will need to carefully check whether their prospective employer is certified to use the route.
For Danish businesses, the initiative could provide greater flexibility in international recruitment while keeping employment conditions connected to collective agreements.
For foreign workers, the new route may offer a potentially more accessible path to Danish employment, provided they secure a qualifying position and satisfy the relevant immigration requirements.
