Denmark expands Skilled Work list to 63 roles as Positive Lists update July 1

Denmark reduced the number of higher education roles and increased skilled-work roles under updated Positive Lists that took effect July 1.

Skilled Work list grows to 63 roles

The Positive List for People with a Higher Education now contains 164 job titles, a slight decrease from the previous edition. The Positive List for Skilled Work has risen to 63 job titles, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration said.

The lists cover occupations facing worker shortages. Higher education roles include programmers, IT security consultants, engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers, researchers and business professionals. Each entry states the required education and how long the occupation will remain eligible, often through 2027 or 2028.

Denmark updates both lists every Jan. 1 and July 1. Once added, an occupation generally can’t be removed for at least two years.

Applicants must match the listed occupation

A foreign worker needs a qualifying job offer and education matching the occupation’s listed level and field. Regulated professions, including doctors, nurses and dentists, may require Danish authorization before an application can proceed.

Employment must generally be full time, typically around 37 hours a week, with salary and conditions meeting Danish standards. Cash pay, fixed supplements, pension contributions and holiday allowance can count toward the salary assessment, but housing, cars, phones and other noncash benefits don’t.

Foreign workers filing after July 1 should check the current list, occupation requirements and expiry date before submitting an application. A title appearing on an older edition doesn’t establish eligibility under the updated lists. More details on residence pathways are available in Stamped Nomad’s guide to moving to Denmark.

Remote freelancers remain outside the scheme

The Positive Lists don’t create a digital nomad visa. Remote freelancers without a Denmark-linked employment contract aren’t eligible through these routes, even when their work resembles a listed technology or creative occupation.

Employees may qualify with a Danish employer or a foreign employer providing services in Denmark, provided the position and employment terms meet the scheme’s rules. Successful applicants must have salary paid into a Danish bank account in their own name within 180 days of receiving the permit or entering Denmark.