Ways to live in Denmark
These are the residence routes in Bordr's guide that we have checked against official sources. Each one links to the government page.
Programme details are shown in English.
Work permit Work permits →
Pay Limit Scheme
Work permit for any job in Denmark that pays above a fixed annual salary, regardless of profession.
- What you need
- A job offer with an annual salary of at least DKK 552,000 (2026), paid into a Danish bank account, on normal Danish terms.
- Income
- from about $7,200 a month
- How long
- Up to 4 years, or the length of the contract plus 6 months to look for a new job
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- DKK 6,810
- Processing time
- about 1 month
- How to apply
- Online with SIRI, from abroad or in Denmark; biometrics within 14 days
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Positive List for people with higher education
Work permit for jobs Denmark lacks people for, if you have a relevant degree and a job offer.
- What you need
- A job offer for a title on the Positive List, a relevant degree at the level the list requires, full-time hours and pay on Danish standard terms. Regulated jobs such as doctor or nurse also need Danish authorisation.
- How long
- Up to 4 years, or the length of the contract plus 6 months to look for a new job
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- DKK 6,810
- Processing time
- about 1 month
- How to apply
- Online with SIRI; biometrics within 14 days
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Student visa Student visas →
Residence permit for higher education
For students admitted full-time to a bachelor's, master's or similar programme in Denmark. It comes with a limited right to work.
- What you need
- Full-time admission to a state-approved programme and at least DKK 7,426 a month to live on (2026 level), up to DKK 89,112 for 12 months. Paid first-semester tuition counts as proof of funds.
- Savings
- about $13,900
- How long
- For the length of the programme; work up to 90 hours a month from September to May and full-time in June–August
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- DKK 3,060
- Processing time
- about 2 months
- How to apply
- Online with SIRI (the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration); the university fills in part of the form; biometrics within 14 days
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- After graduating you can get a job-seeking permit (6 months or 1 year for applications from 1 October 2026) and then switch to a work permit.
Freelancer and self-employed Freelancer and self-employed visas →
Start-up Denmark
Residence and work permit for founders of an innovative company with growth potential, alone or in a team of up to three.
- What you need
- An expert panel of the Danish Business Authority must approve the business plan first. You must own part of the company, run it actively and show money to live on for a year (DKK 153,240 for a single person at the 2025 level). Restaurants, shops and import-export usually don't qualify. Up to 75 permits a year.
- How long
- Up to 2 years, then extensions of up to 3 years
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- DKK 3,060
- Processing time
- about 2 months
- How to apply
- Business plan via startupdenmark.info, then an application to SIRI
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Cost of living
Monthly amounts in US dollars.
| Room in a shared flat | $650 |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat | $910 |
| Two-bedroom flat | $1,530 |
| Bills | $120 |
| Typical local salary | $400 |
Cities to consider
Climate by month, neighbourhoods and costs for each city are in the Bordr guide.
What life is like
Programme details are shown in English.
Why people move
Life runs on bikes, long summer evenings by the water and a cosy indoor culture in winter. Most newcomers settle in Copenhagen or Aarhus, where harbour baths, parks and good public spaces make city living easy.
Day to day
Trains and bridges link the islands quickly. Public healthcare works through an assigned GP once registered. Cards and mobile payments are used almost everywhere, internet is fast, and English is spoken by nearly everyone.
Trade-offs
Winters are dark, grey and windy. Living costs and taxes are high, and rental housing in Copenhagen is hard to find. Danish social circles can feel closed to outsiders at first.
Before you move: visa-free entry
Most people arrive as visitors first, then apply from inside the country or come back with the right visa. How long you can stay as a visitor depends on your passport:
United States90 days
United Kingdom90 days
Australia90 days
Canada90 days
New Zealand90 days
SwitzerlandVisa-free
NorwayVisa-free
Singapore90 days
Japan90 days
South Korea90 days
Israel90 days
United Arab Emirates90 days
Hong Kong90 days
South AfricaVisa
Mexico90 days
Brazil90 days
Questions
Does Denmark have a digital nomad visa?
Not among the routes we have checked. Remote workers usually come as visitors within the visa-free limit or use one of the other routes on this page.
How can I move to Denmark?
The routes we have checked are: Work permit, Student visa, Freelancer and self-employed.
Sources and last check
This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm with the official government page or a licensed adviser before you apply.
