Published 03-02-2023 - Last updated: 06-02-2023
Facts regarding the area of work
Overview of percentage of applications to SIRI resulting in a permit in 2022, number of applications in the area of work between 2018 and 2022 as well as SIRI's average case processing times between 2018 and 2022.
In the area of work, 94 percent of applicants were granted a residence permit in 2022.
The percentage of applications resulting in a permit for the greater work schemes were 98 percent for the Fast Track scheme, 82 percent for the Pay Limit scheme and 99 percent for the agricultural area.
However, the percentage was lower for the hospitality area (hotels and restaurants) under the Pay Limit scheme. Applications were generally rejected under the assumption rule, which experience shows is often the basis for rejections in cases concerning the hospitality area. Regarding the Positive List for Skilled Work, the basis for rejections is usually the employer’s failure to meet their educational obligations regarding training of apprentices (the AUB requirement).
| Table 1. Number of first-time residence permits and rejections as well as the percentage of applications resulting in a permit in the area of work in 2022*, divided into individual schemes. |
||||||
| Work schemes | Permits | Rejections | Permit % |
|||
| Fast Track scheme | 7,989 | 155 | 98% | |||
| Accompanying family | 6,779 | 275 | 96% | |||
| Salaried work in Greenland/the Faroe Islands |
3,026 | 93 | 97% | |||
| Pay Limit scheme | 2,219 | 480 | 82% | |||
| - of which hospitality area | 144 | 206 | 41% | |||
| - of which others | 2,075 | 274 | 88% | |||
| Agriculture | 1,232 | 10 | 99% | |||
| Drillrigs and similar |
1,171 | 0 | 100% | |||
| Establishment Card |
680 | 32 | 96% | |||
| Researchers and guest researchers | 390 | 5 | 99% | |||
| Special individual qualifications | 376 | 61 | 86% | |||
| Positive List for Skilled Work |
171 | 171 | 50% | |||
| Positive List for People with a Higher Education |
214 | 54 | 80% | |||
| Others** |
309 | 120 | 72% | |||
| Total | 24,556 | 1,456 | 94% | |||
* The figures for 2022 are preliminary. ** Others are trainees, Job Search Stay, Association Stand-Still, Start Up Denmark, Labour Market Attachment and Greencard. General note: The precision of the statistical data is uncertain as the immigration systems were created to manage and journal cases, rather than to create statistics. In addition, please note that the figures refer to the number of cases, not persons. This means that one person may be included several times in the case of several applications. Source:The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration |
Number of applications
There has been a marked increase in the number of applications in the ares of work since 2018. As such, SIRI processed 16,229 applications in 2022, compared to 8,961 applications in 2018. As a result, there has been an increase of 81 percent between 2018 and 2022.
| Tabel 2. Number of first-time applications, permit and rejections in the area of work*, 2018-2022** | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022** | |||||||
| Applications | 8,961 | 9,958 | 9,219 | 12,413 | 16,229 | ||||||
| Permits | 8,202 | 8,785 | 6,988 | 10,682 | 14,761 | ||||||
| Rejections |
613 | 458 | 480 | 854 | 1,091 | ||||||
*The area of work does not include salaried work in Greenland/the Faroe Islands, accompanying family members, sideline employment and certification of companies. **The figures for 2022 are preliminary and were calculated on 8 January 2023. General note: The precision of the statistical data is uncertain as the immigration systems were created to manage and journal cases, rather than to create statistics. In addition, please note that the figures refer to the number of cases, not persons. This means that one person may be included several times in the case of several applications. Source:The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration |
Case processing times
SIRI's case processing times have generally been on the decrease in the course of 2022. By the end of 2022, SIRI is once again back to normal processing times, meaning that first-time applications in the area of work will generally be initiated within 14 days and will be processed within a month after this point, if no further documentation from the applicant and/or other authorities are required. The hospitality area, which has faced particular challenges, is expected to be back at normal processing times in the course of the first six months of 2023.
The reasons for the rise in case processing times in 2020 and 2021 for applications from third-country citizens are challenges related to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as increased control and case processing procedures.
| Tabel 3. Average case processing time (days) in the area of work* and selected work schemes, 2018-2022** | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022** | |||||||
| Area of work, total | 33 | 32 | 54 | 65 | 44 | ||||||
| Pay Limit Scheme | 41 | 44 | 95 | 126 | 88 | ||||||
| - of which hospitality area | 68 | 74 | 201 | 297 | 229 | ||||||
| - of which others | 37 | 38 | 75 | 97 | 66 | ||||||
| Fast Track scheme | 18 | 19 | 31 | 39 | 29 | ||||||
| Agriculture | 34 | 37 | 72 | 93 | 34 | ||||||
*The area of work does not include salaried work in Greenland/the Faroe Islands, accompanying family members, sideline employment and certification of companies. **The figures for 2022 are preliminary and were calculated on 8 January 2023. General note: The precision of the statistical data is uncertain as the immigration systems were created to manage and journal cases, rather than to create statistics. In addition, please note that the figures refer to the number of cases, not persons. This means that one person may be included several times in the case of several applications. Source:The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration |
