EU residence as a worker

You are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen and work in Denmark.

Normal processing time
0-30 days

Processing fee
No fee

Who can get an EU residence document as a worker?

You can get an EU residence document if:

  • You are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen
  • You have a job in Denmark for which you are paid
  • You have an employment contract or a declaration from your employer

What are the conditions?

When we process your application, we assess specifically and individually whether you are a worker according to EU law. This means among other things that:

  • Your work must be actual and real – i.e. you must carry out work for which you are paid
  • You must normally work for at least 10-12 hours a week.
  • Your employment must normally be for at least 10-12 weeks

We are also able to consider other terms of your employment, e.g. whether it is covered by a collective bargaining agreement and if you are entitled to paid holiday or paid sick leave.

It must be stated in your temporary agreement that you are guaranteed paid work for at last 10-12 hours per week for at least 10-12 weeks.

If you are not guaranteed a certain number of hours for a certain period, you can only get a residence document as a worker, if you can document when you apply that you have already been working as a temporary worker for 10-12 weeks for at least 10-12 hours a week.

You can apply for a personal tax number at the Danish Customs and Tax Administration, so your employer can report your income.

Apply for a personal tax number at the tax authority (link opens in a new window)

 You can document the work you already have carried out as a temporary worker by submitting e.g. pay slips. If you have a personal tax number SIRI will also check whether your salary and work hours from your temporary work has been registered in the income register.

In order to be registered as a worker, your employment agreement must normally apply for a minimum of 10-12 weeks.

The assessment of whether your work is actual and real will consider, amongst other things, pay as well as the above-mentioned requirements on the number of hours worked and duration of employment. 

Factors such as collective-bargaining agreements, holiday pay and pension can be included in the assessment of actual and real work. However, the absence of these factors in an employment agreement does not in and of itself mean that the work is not actual and real.

When submitting your application, you must present your employment agreement and / or a declaration by the employer that describes your terms of employment.

If you have already begun working, you may include copies of your pay statements.

Read more about documentation in the ‘How to Apply’ tab.

If you, as a temporary worker, are guaranteed paid work for at least 10-12 hours a week for at least 10-12 weeks, and this is stated in your temporary-employment agreement, you can be a worker in the same way as persons in regular employment.

If you are not guaranteed a certain number of hours for a certain period, it will not be possible to establish in advance that you are a worker according to EU law.

If, when submitting your application, you can document that you have been working as a temporary worker for the previous 10-12 weeks for at least 10-12 hours a week, you may be registered as a worker, even if you are not guaranteed a certain number of working hours per week. You must document the extent of the work already carried out in the form of pay statements or the like.

What are my rights as an EU citizen?

As an EU citizen you have the right to reside and work in Denmark with or without an EU residence document.

You may freely enter Denmark and you may begin to work in Denmark upon arrival. You do not need a permit to work in Denmark.

In Denmark a Civil Registration System (CPR) number is necessary in many situations, e.g. in relation to getting a health card and choosing a doctor, tax and Danish lessons.

To get a CPR number you must show an EU residence document to the municipality in which you reside.

On the website lifeindenmark.dk you can read more about how to get a CPR number and other important matters such as

  • MitID
  • Tax matters
  • Holiday entitlements
  • School and daycare
  • Housing
  • Danish lessons
  • Car registration and driver’s license

Read more on lifeindenmark.dk (links opens in a new window)

As an EU citizen, you may freely enter Denmark and you may begin to work upon arrival. You do not need a permit to work in Denmark.

There is no limit on the number of hours you may work while living in Denmark. This also applies if you are studying in Denmark.

You do not need an EU residence document in order to begin work. This is the case even if you have – or have applied for – a residence document as a worker, as a self-supporting individual or for some other reason.

If you

  • meet the conditions for being a worker according to EU regulations
  • have kept your status as a worker after stopping working
  • is the family member to an EU worker

you have the same rights to public benefits as a Danish citizen. Therefore, receiving public benefits regulated by the Active Social Policy Act, e.g. cash benefits, will normally not lead to termination of your right to reside in Denmark.

Read more about which public benefits you are allowed to receive and which you are not when you have an EU residence document from SIRI

If you plan to live and work in Denmark, there are several things you need to consider. Depending on your situation, there may be more important information you need to be aware of.

The website lifeindenmark.dk contains information about:

  • MitID
  • The CPR register
  • Health card
  • Tax matters
  • Holiday entitlements
  • School and daycare
  • Housing
  • Danish lessons
  • Car registration and driver’s license

 

How long can I stay in Denmark?

If you plan on remaining in Denmark for less than 3 months, you do not need to apply for an EU residence document. If you are seeking employment, you may remain in Denmark for up to 6 months before obtaining a residence document.

If you plan on being in Denmark for longer than 3 months or 6 months, you need to apply for an EU residence document. Then you may remain in Denmark as long as you meet the conditions for grounds for residence according to EU regulations. There is no date of expiry of your residence document.

If you have had grounds for residence according to EU regulations in Denmark for five years, you have the right to permanent residence according to EU regulations.

Read about how to apply for permanent residence according to EU regulations

What should I do, if I no longer have paid work?

Read more about what to do, if you lose your job

Can my family qualify for an EU residency document?

Yes, your closest family can apply for residence in Denmark according to EU regulations.

 Read more about EU residence as a family member to an EU citizen

What more do I need to know before I apply?

The ‘How to Apply’ tab on the right provides more information about the application process. Here your also find the application form, you must complete.

SIRI makes its decision based on the information and documents you submit with the application form. SIRI will contact you if we need more information when we process your application.

If you wish for SIRI to be able to give information regarding your case to others than yourself while we process your application, you must grant power of attorney to the person you wish to be able to access the information. The power of attorney must be submitted to SIRI preferably as part of your application.

If you state in your application that you are being represented by a solicitor, you do not need to submit a power of attorney. Solicitors, due to their profession, are automatically granted power of attorney. If you are being represented by a solicitor, SIRI will send all correspondence about your application to your solicitor.

Your application will be submitted to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

Make sure you have all documents ready in a digital format so you can attach them to the online application.

You must attach:

Download the declaration, if necessary:

Download declaration by the employer

The contract or declaration must be dated and signed by hand or digitally using e.g. MitID or Penneo by your employer less than 60 days before being received by SIRI. SIRI does not recognize signatures inserted as an image file.

Expect to use

15 minutes

to complete the application form

1 person

You complete the application form yourself

In this step you have access to the relevant application form OD1A.

The form contain instructions on how to complete the form and what kind of documents you must submit along with the form.

 

Use the online form OD1A (opens in a new window)

If you have started an application before 15 May 2025 that you want to complete, use the previous form OD1. The previous OD1 form will not be available after 1 June 2025. Link to previous OD1 form

You can read more about how we process your personal data here

We recommend that you apply online, since digital applications often can be processed faster.

You can also choose to send a physical application – find a printable form and read more about the process

You can find your ongoing and completed applications for 30 days from your last login.

Log in to see your applications (opens in a new window)

You must appear in person in one of SIRI’s branch offices within 30 days.

You must bring:

  • The receipt for the online application
  • Your passport or national ID card

Only when you have identified yourself this way and been linked to your application, will we consider your application to be fully submitted. 

If you do not appear no later than 30 days after submitting your online application, SIRI will consider your application as withdrawn and close the case.

Addresses and opening hours of SIRI's branch offices

If you attach all necessary documents to the application, and if you meet the conditions for your grounds for residence, SIRI can issue a residence document for you immediately when you appear.

If any documentation is missing the case will take longer to process. Whwn you appear at SIRI, you will normally be informed if any further documentation is needed.

You have the right to reside and work in Denmark while you wait for an answer.

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Last updated 15-05-2025 - Published by: SIRI