Period

Jobseeking*

(only if unemployed through no fault of oneself)

Covered by the job change rule? **

Lapse of permit***

Part time

Sideline employment

Pay Limit Scheme

4 years + can be extended

6 months

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing

No

Must apply for a permit

Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme

5 years + can be extended

No

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing 

No

Must apply for a permit 

Positive List for people with higher education

4 years + can be extended

6 months

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing

No

Must apply for a permit

Positive List for skilled work

4 years + can be extended

 No

 Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing

 No

Must apply for a permit

Researcher

4 years + can be extended

6 months

Yes

Exempted from rules on lapsing

Yes

Allowed to take sideline job(s)

Guest researcher

3 years/until project is finished. Cannot be extended

No

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing

Yes

Allowed to take sideline job(s)

PhD

Duration of educational programme + can be extended for 2 years

Yes (+ right to work for 90 hours/month during the job seeking period)

Yes

Exempted from rules on lapsing

Yes

Allowed to take sideline job(s)

Guest PhD

Duration of educational programme + can be extended for 1 year

No

No

Covered by rules on lapsing

Yes

No

Fast Track
(Pay Limit /Education)

4 years + can be extended

6 months

Yes

Exempted from rules on lapsing

No

Must apply for a permit

Fast Track

(Researcher)

4 years + can be extended

6 months

Yes

Exempted from rules on lapsing

Yes 

Allowed to take sideline job(s)

Fast Track
(Supplementary pay limit)

5 years + can be extended

No

Yes

Exempted from rules on lapsing

No

Must apply for a permit

Fast track
(Short term)

3 months. Cannot be extended

No

Yes

Exempted from rules on lapsing

No

Must apply for a permit

Authorisation (Doctors and dentists)

3 years + can be extended further by 2 years if you have passed your language test + 6 months if you have employment for adaption and training purposes

Yes, 6 months

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing

Yes

Not relevant since allowed to work unlimited for all employers

Authorisation
(Nurses)

3 years. Cannot be extended 

Yes, 6 months 

Yes 

Covered by rules on lapsing

Yes 

Not relevant since allowed to work unlimited for all employers 

Authorisation
(Specifically requested healthcare professionals)

3 or 4 years. Cannot be extended

Yes, 6 months

Yes 

Covered by rules on lapsing 

Yes 

Not relevant since allowed to work unlimited for all employers 

Trainee

1 year + can be extended (for up to 24 months in total)

No

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing

No

Must apply for a permit

Special
individual
qualifications

1 year + can be extended

No

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing

Yes (if normal in the industry)

Must apply for a permit

Employee on a mobile
workplace at sea

Maximum 6 months

No

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing

No

Must apply for a permit

Herdsmen and farm managers

1 year + can be extended

No

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing

No

Must apply for a permit

Establishment Card

2 years. Cannot be extended

No

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing

Yes

Not relevant since allowed to work unlimited for all employers

Start-up Denmark

2 years + can be extended

No

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing

-

Must apply for a permit

Labour Market Attachment Scheme

2 years + can be extended

3 months

No

Covered by rules on lapsing

No

Must apply for a permit

 

*A jobseeking permit does not grant the right to work. PhD students, who are allowed to work 90 hours/month during the jobseeking period, are exempted from this rule.

**Changes are only allowed to the same scheme or other schemes, where the job change rule also applies.

***A residence permit lapses when the foreign national gives up his or her residency in Denmark of if the foreign national has resided outside Denmark for more than 6 consecutive months.

 

What rights does the applicant have in job seeking period based on a work scheme, a study scheme and the Authorisation Scheme?

Job seeking, work schemes: If a foreign national (non-EU) has been in Denmark on the basis of a residence permit under the Fast-track scheme, Pay Limit scheme or the Positiv List and get unemployed without it is his/her fault, the foreign national can submit an application for a new residence permit to find a new job in Denmark. The application must be submitted no later than the time of the termination of the employment. The residence permit for job seeking is issued for up to 6 months with a view to seek job in Denmark.

Job seeking, study schemes: If a foreign national (non-EU) has been in Denmark on the basis of a residence permit as a student (e.g. PhD) and complete the study programme in Denmark, he/she will be granted a 6 months' residence permit for job seeking in Denmark after the study programme is completed.

Job seeking, the Authorisation Scheme: If a foreign national (non-EU) has been in Denmark on the basis of a residence permit for the purpose of obtaining a Danish authorisation, they will be granted a 6 months' residence permit for job seeking in Denmark after having obtained a Danish authorisation.

 

Work

Sideline employment

Volunteer work

Lapse of permit

Covered by the job change rule?

Job seeking after the PhD study programme is completed

90 hours/month

No

Yes

Exempted from rules on lapsing

Yes

Job seeking after obtaining a Danish authorisation

No

No 

Yes

Covered by rules on lapsing 

Yes 

Job seeking after a residence permit under the Fast-track
Scheme, Pay Limit Scheme, Researcher Scheme and the Positive List

No

No

No

Covered by rules on lapsing

Yes