The Pay Limit Scheme

If you have been offered a job in Denmark with a high salary, you can apply for a residence and work permit via the Pay Limit Scheme.

It is not required that you have a specific educational background or that your job is within a specific professional field.

If you have requested asylum in Denmark and have been offered a job with a high salary, you can also apply based on this scheme.

As a general rule, you must have an employment agreement with a company registered in Denmark to be able to apply. However, there are certain exceptions, e.g. if you work for a foreign company that provides services in Denmark.

Your permit is linked to your job in Denmark.

In the AR1 application, Your employer must complete the first of two parts of the application. When your employer has completed their part, you must complete your part.

If you have granted your employer power of attorney to handle the application on your behalf, your employer must use the AR6 application. This form is only filled in by the employer.

You must have been offered a job with an annual salary that meets, at least, the minimum amount. The minimum amount for 2026 is DKK 552,000. The minimum amount is regulated every year on 1 January.

It is a requirement that your working hours are at least 30 hours a week.

The salary that you have been offered must not be inferior to the standards within the professional field in which you are going to work.

Your terms of employment, such as your holiday entitlements, terms of notice, etc. must not be inferior to the standards within the professional field in which you are going to work.

It is not required that you have a specific educational background or that your job is within a specific professional field.

In some cases, before you can be granted a residence and work permit, it is required that you have a Danish authorisation or a temporary authorisation for employment for adaption and training purposes.

Your permit is linked to your job in Denmark.

With a permit under the Pay Limit Scheme, your job content can change within the same university or company without you having to apply for a new work permit. For example, this applies if you are promoted or if your place of work changes. Salary and employment conditions must still correspond to the Danish standards.

Your salary must continue to correspond at least to the pay limit.

If you are offered a new job with a new employer, you must apply for a new permit.

If you wish to take a sideline job, you have to obtain a separate permit.

Furthermore you are allowed to carry out unpaid voluntary work.

A Danish residence and work permit does not allow you to work in other Schengen countries.

If your employment is for a period of 4 years or more, you will normally be granted a permit valid for 4 years. If you wish to continue to work after the first 4 years, you must apply for an extension of your residence and work permit based on the extension of your employment.

If you are employed for a shorter period than 4 years, your residence and work permit will normally be valid for the period of your employment. If you wish to continue working in Denmark after this time, you must apply for an extension of your residence and work permit.

If your passport has a shorter validity than the otherwise possible period of stay, your residence permit will be shortened. This means that the validity of your residence permit will be shorter than it could be. When you have renewed your passport, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit – however, this can only be done 3 months before your permit expires at the earliest.

It is very important that you apply for an extension before your permit expires.

If you submit your application for an extension in time, you can stay in Denmark and continue to work, even though your permit expires before SIRI makes a decision on your application for an extension.

In addition, you will automatically be granted a 6 month job seeking permit allowing you to look for a new job in Denmark.

It is important that you do not work during this so called job seeking period as it is only intended for job seeking in Denmark.