Service providers

You are employed by a company outside the EU and have to travel to Denmark to provide a service on behalf of the foreign company.

Normal processing time
1 month

Processing fee
DKK 6,290,-

If you are an EU or third-country national employed by a company located within the EU, you should apply for EU residence as a posted worker instead.

Apply for EU residence as a posted worker

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Should I apply for a work permit as a service provider?

If you are going to work in Denmark (both paid and unpaid employment), you generally need a work permit. This also applies if you are going to provide a service in Denmark.

A service is characterised, among other things, by being a limited and defined task that you perform in Denmark on behalf of the foreign company. The service is provided over a fixed period of time and for a total financial deal that has been agreed upon beforehand.

If you are travelling to Denmark to provide a service on behalf of the foreign company you are employed by, you retain your employment with the foreign company during the period you are in Denmark. Your employer is still the company abroad, and it is also this company that pays your salary.

In certain cases, you may be exempt from the work permit requirement.

Read about the exemption rules

If you are travelling to Denmark to perform work on a conference, trade fair or event, you must generally apply for a residence and work permit as a service provider if you are to perform the work on behalf of the foreign company you are employed by. 

This also applies even if the service is to be performed for a foreign company that is not registered in the CVR in Denmark, but has only rented an exhibition stand or premises in Denmark. 

The following are examples of job titles where a work permit is required: 

Stand builders and technicians: Work permits are required for stand builders and technicians (AV equipment) who will be carrying out craft work in Denmark. Work permits are also required for specialised manual work and short-term work stays. In addition, a work permit is required when dismantling stands or equipment. 

In certain exceptional situations, exhibition stand builders and technicians may be covered by the ‘fitter rule’ exemption if they are working with high-tech products that require specially trained personnel to install.

Read about the 'fitter rule'

Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) and Managers etc.: A work permit is required for organisers and managers during planning activities in Denmark and during the execution of an event in Denmark. 

PCOs and managers may be exempt from the work permit requirement when travelling to Denmark to enter into agreements or tenders etc. with suppliers and subcontractors. 

Read about the exemption rules

Event organisers (end client organisers): A work permit is required for representatives and employees from the foreign company who are sent to Denmark to work on the conference in connection with planning, coordination, management, marketing, contact development, etc.

Event organisers etc. may be exempt from the work permit requirement under the exemption rule for business travellers if they come to Denmark to enter into agreements or tenders, find locations or similar. 

Read about the exemption rule for business travellers under ‘Exemption for a maximum of 90 days for special work assignments’

Guest speakers: Work permits are required for guest speakers during their speaking activities in Denmark. However, guest speakers may be covered by the exemption provisions for scientists and speakers for activities to which they are invited. Lecturers may be exempt from the work permit requirement if the topic is limited and the lecturer is considered to be closely related to the topic and the presentation is limited in time and lasts a maximum of 1-2 days.

Read about the exemption rule for business travellers under ‘Exemption for a maximum of 90 days for special work assignments’

Conference participants: As a general rule, no work permit is required for participants at conferences and events.

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What are the conditions?

You must meet certain conditions to be granted a permit to stay and work in Denmark as a service provider.

To apply under the Pay Limit Scheme, you must have been offered a job with a salary that is equal to at least an annual salary of DKK 487,000. The minimum amount is regulated every year on 1 January.

To apply under the Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme, the salary must be equal to at least an annual salary of DKK 393,000.

When assessing whether the salary that you have been offered meets, at least, the minimum amount, only the following salary components can be taken into account:

  • Salary in the form of liquid assets, including fixed supplements which are, therefore, guaranteed salary

  • Payments to labour market pension schemes, including the pension contributions paid by both the employer and the applicant

  • Paid holiday allowance 

Your annual salary must meet, at least, the minimum amount even if you take holiday without pay. If you earn holiday allowance, which can only be paid to you in the following year, it cannot count towards the annual salary for the year in which you have earned it. Moreover, it is only holiday allowance paid by the employer whom you are currently allowed to work for, that can be counted as part of your salary.

As a supplement to your salary, your employer might offer you benefits such as paid canteen, free use of car, paid phone, paid internet and paid living and housing expenses. Note that these salary components cannot be taken into account when assessing whether your salary meets the minimum amount.

Staying a shorter period of time

If you are staying and working in Denmark for a shorter period of time, the minimum amounts must also be met. However, in these cases we assess the salary proportionally based on how many days or months you will be working in Denmark. 

For example, if you apply under the pay limit scheme, your salary must be at least DKK 40,583.33 per month, or at least DKK 9,365.57 for a 37-hour working week. This corresponds to a minimum hourly wage of DKK 253.12.

If you apply under the supplementary pay limit scheme, your salary should be a minimum of 32,750 per month, or a minimum of 7,563.51 for a 37-hour working week. This corresponds to a minimum hourly wage of DKK 204.42.

If you are applying for a residence and work permit as a service provider under the supplementary pay limit scheme, there are additional conditions that you should be aware of.

  • The offered position must have been posted on Jobnet.dk and the EURES portal for at least two weeks before you apply for a residence and work permit.

  • You must not have been fined DKK 3,000 or more under the Danish Aliens Act or the Danish Criminal Code.

  • The seasonally adjusted gross unemployment rate in Denmark must not exceed 3.75 per cent.

Read about the individual conditions on the page for the supplementary pay limit scheme, where the same conditions apply

If you are applying for a residence and work permit as a service provider under the special individual qualifications scheme, please note that your working week must generally be 37 hours.

A residence and work permit under the special individual qualifications scheme can be granted for a maximum of 1 year at a time.

Read about the individual conditions on the application page for the special individual qualifications scheme, where the same conditions apply

It is a requirement that your salary must be paid to a Danish bank account in your own name if the stay exceeds 180 days. If you are staying in Denmark to provide a service for less than 180 days, you are in practice exempt from the requirement to set up a Danish bank account for your salary.

If your stay in Denmark exceeds 180 days, your salary must be paid to a Danish bank account in a bank that operats legally in Denmark.

There is no requirement that the transfer to the Danish bank account must be made from a Danish account. 

You must contact a bank yourself, in order to open a Danish bank account. There are no immediate restrictions concerning the type of bank account. 

If you do not yet have a Danish address or CPR number and are experiencing challenges setting up a Danish bank account, you can read more about the options for setting up a basic payment account at basalbetalingskonto.dk

Go to basalbetalingskonto.dk (opens in a new window)

Your Danish bank account must be opened within 180 days of your residence and work permit being granted. If you enter Denmark after you have been granted a residence and work permit, you must open a bank account within 180 days from your entry into Denmark. If you already hold a Danish residence permit that is valid for at least 180 days, your salary must be paid into a Danish bank account from your first salary payment.

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.

When assessing whether the salary you have been offered corresponds to Danish standards, only the following salary components can be taken into account:

  • Salary in the form of liquid assets, including fixed supplements which are, therefore, guaranteed salary

  • Payments to labour market pension schemes, including the pension contributions paid by both the employer and the applicant

  • Paid holiday allowance 

If you earn holiday allowance, which can only be paid to you in the following year, it cannot count towards the annual salary for the year in which you have earned it. Moreover, it is only holiday allowance paid by the employer whom you are currently allowed to work for, that can be counted as part of your salary.

As a supplement to your salaray, your employer might offer you benefits such as paid canteen, free use of car, paid phone, paid internet and paid living and housing expenses. Note that these salary components cannot be taken into account when assessing whether your salary corresponds to Danish standards.

Read more about the Danish standards for salary

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.

If SIRI has any doubts on whether your terms of employment correspond to Danish standards, we can ask the regional labour market councils to assess your terms of employment.

Read more about the Danish standards for terms of employment

Under the pay limit scheme, it is a requirement that your working hours are at least 30 hours a week. Under both the supplementary pay limit scheme and the special individual qualifications scheme, you are required to work full time. As a rule, this means 37-40 working hours a week.

For the pay limit scheme and the supplementary pay limit scheme, it is a condition that your salary corresponds to a least the pay limit, regardless of the number of working hours.

It is not possible to be granted a residence and work permit for a job encompassed by a legal labour conflict. It is, however, possible to be granted a permit for other jobs in a company or institution involved in a legal conflict, if the jobs, according to the applicable agreements between the labour market parties, are not encompassed by the conflict.

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.

If you have taken up employment for adaption and training purposes in order to obtain a Danish authorisation, you need to obtain a temporary authorisation (evalueringsautorisation) issued by the Danish Patient Safety Authority. If you have been offered employment as a medical doctor, you need to obtain a Danish  authorisation from the Danish Patient Safety Authority.

Read how you apply for authorisation on the website of the Danish Patient Safety Authority (opens in a new window)

You can read more about the professions that are regulated by law on the website of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science (opens in a new window)

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What are my rights if I am granted a permit?

What are you allowed to do with a Danish residence and work permit as a service provider?

If you receive a residence and work permit it is linked to your job in Denmark. Your residence permit will therefore state that you are employed to perform work for the company in Denmark - and it will include the CVR number of the Danish company - on behalf of the foreign company.

You must always notify SIRI if you lose or change your job. 

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.

Furthermore, you are allowed to carry out unpaid voluntary work.

Read about voluntary work

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.

Read about sideline employment

You can also find specific guidance regarding work as an external examiner.

Read about working as an external examiner

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

Read about Schengen

Read more about working conditions in Denmark and 'The Danish labour market model'.

A residence and work permit based on the Pay Limit Scheme allows you to stay in Denmark for the period of time your permit is valid.

Please note that if you are travelling to Denmark several times to provide a service on behalf of the foreign company, you must apply for a separate residence and work permit for each time. For example, if you are staying in Denmark four times in one year, you must apply for a residence and work permit for each time.

In addition, a permit allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within the latest 180 days period. The permit, however, does not allow you to work in other Schengen countries.

You must not give up your Danish address or stay abroad for longer than 6 successive months. A violation can result in the lapse of your permit. This means that you will lose your right to stay in Denmark.

If you need to stay abroad for an extended period of time, e.g. if you are stationed abroad for a period of time by your employer, you can apply for a dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing. 

Read about the rules for a lapse of permit

Read more and apply for dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing

You must be able to support yourself and your family during your stay. You are not allowed to receive benefits under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act, e.g. social security benefits.

If you or your family members receive such benefits during your stay, your permit can be revoked – and you will lose the right to stay in Denmark.

If an authority, e.g. a municipality, disburses benefits to foreign nationals, SIRI will be notified.

See a list of benefits that you are not allowed to receive

With a residence permit in Denmark, you are entitled to free Danish lessons. However, you must have turned 18 years old and have your Danish address registered in the Danish National Register.

If you have a residence permit in Denmark based on work, study, etc., you have to pay a deposit before you can start receiving lessons. Be aware that you can lose your deposit if you do not pass the different modules within a specific timeframe.

Your municipality of residence is obliged to offer you Danish lessons and refer you to a language centre. If you have not been offered Danish lessons within a month after registering your address in Denmark, you can contact your municipality.

You will (typically) be taught together with other foreign nationals who have arrived in Denmark recently.

If you are going to stay and work in Denmark, there are a number of things to acquaint yourself with. Depending on your personal situation, you might need other important information and options.

The website lifeindenmark.dk provides you with information, links and in many cases also options concerning the most important subjects such as:

  • MitID

  • The CPR register

  • Health card

  • Tax matters

  • Holiday entitlements

  • School and daycare

  • Housing

  • Danish lessons

  • Car registration and driver’s license

Read about the subjects on lifeindenmark.dk (opens in a new window)

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How long can I stay in Denmark?

If you apply from abroad, you can be granted a residence permit valid for 1 month before you start working. It will give you the time to settle in Denmark. When you apply, you must declare that you can support yourself and any accompanying family members during this time. If you do not declare this, your residence permit will only be valid for 14 days before you start working.

If you apply from Denmark, your residence permit will be valid from the day you start working.

If you are employed for a shorter period than 5 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.

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 working while SIRI processes your case, even if your permit has  expired.

If you find a new job, you must submit a new application based on the new job – it can either be based once again on the pay limit scheme or it can be based on another of our work schemes.

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.

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 working even though your permit expires before SIRI makes a decision on your application for an extension.

A residence permit can only be valid until 3 months before the expiry date of your passport.

If your passport has a shorter validity than the otherwise possible period of stay, your residence permit will be shortened accordingly. 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.

Read more about the passport requirements

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What should I do if I lose or change my job

If you are granted a residence and work permit because you are to provide a service in Denmark, your permit is linked to your job in Denmark.

You must always inform SIRI if you lose or change your job.

Your work permit is limited to the employment that is the basis for your permit.  Unless you have a permit based on the Pay Limit Scheme, you are not allowed to work in other positions than the one stated in your permit. Under the Pay Limit Scheme, you are allowed to accept a new position within the same workplace without having to apply for a new permit.

On the instructions page, “Your situation is changing”, you can also find examples of the situations in which changes in position within the same workplace requires you to apply for a new residence and work permit.

Go to the instructions page, "Your situation is changing"

You must inform SIRI if you lose your job. Your residence and work permit will be revoked as it is based on this exact job.

If you find a new job while working in Denmark, you must submit a new application for a residence and work permit with information on your new employment. When you have submitted your new application, you can start working even though SIRI has not granted you a permit yet.

Please note that with a permit under the Pay Limit Scheme, your job content can change within the same 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 have a permit based on the Pay Limit Scheme.

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Can my family be granted a residence permit?

A residence and work permit based on a job in Denmark allows your family to come with you to Denmark.

A permit may be granted to any spouse, registered or cohabiting partner as well as children under the age of 18 living at home.

Read about accompanying family members

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What more do I need to know before I apply?

An application for a residence permit on the basis of work is processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). If you are in Denmark when submitting the application, you must be here legally.

Read about legal submission

Before submitting your application, you must create a case order ID for your application and pay a fee to cover SIRI’s case processing expenses. You can do this on the “How to apply” tab to the right, where you can also find the relevant application form, AR9.

Your employer abroad must fill in one of the two parts of the form, and you must fill in the other part.

If you have granted your employer or a third party power of attorney to handle the application on your behalf, your party representative must full in the AR9 application. 

Here, you can find an approved template for a power of attorney

Please be aware that SIRI will generally reject an application for a residence permit on new grounds if the application is submitted too early in relation to the desired start date for your stay in Denmark. 

If you submit such an application earlier than 6 months before your stay in Denmark is to begin, you can expect a rejection to your application. If you have paid SIRI's case processing fee, you will not receive a refund of the fee.

SIRI will contact you or your employer if we need further information to process your case.

What do you want to print?

Below, you will find a step-by-step guide to submitting an application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

It is important that you have carefully read the conditions for being granted a residence permit before you begin step 1. You can do this on the tab “Need to know” on the left.

 

It is a good idea to gather the necessary documents before you start to complete the application form. You can use the check list below.

If you submit documents not written in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish, you must also submit certified translations into Danish or English.

If you represent a company, please be aware that we sometimes need specific documentation of the company in order to be able to assess the economic basis for paying the salary of an employee.

Expect to use

30 minutes

completing the application

2 persons

You and your employer are each required to complete a part of the form.

In this step you and your employer have access to the relevant application forms.

Make sure that you have completed all the preceeding steps before you begin.

All our application forms contain careful instructions on how to complete the form and what kind of documents you must submit along with the form.

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

You can apply using the following application form:

  • AR9, in which you and your employer each are required to complete separate parts of the form

If you wish to have your employer or a third party fill in the form on your behalf, you must provide them with a power of attorney.

Read more about power of attorney and download an approved power of attorney standard here.

Make sure you have all documents ready in digital form, in order to attach them as you complete the application form.

 

Download AR9 (Word version) 

 

Download AR9 (PDF version)

Please note that it is mandatory to use this application form.

Normally, an application for a residence and work permit in Denmark would be submitted via our online solution, but as your employer is not registered in Denmark, you must use the application form AR9, which is only available in a print version. You can scan the application form and submit the application via SIRI's contact form, or you can submit the application to the nearest Danish representation abroad. Remember to attach or enclose the necessary documentation. You will find the list of required documents on the first page of the application form.

Submit your application via SIRI's contact form

Find the nearest Danish representation abroad

When you apply for a residence permit, you must have your biometric features recorded. This means that you must have a facial photo taken and your fingerprints recorded. The facial photo and your fingerprints will be stored on a microchip embedded in the residence card, which will be issued to you if you are granted a permit.

If you do not agree to have your biometric features recorded, your application will be rejected. This means that your application will not be processed.

Read more about biometrics

You must have your biometric features recorded no later than 14 days after you submitted your application.

If you are unable to have your biometric features recorded within the time limit of 14 days, because you are unable to book an appointment at a Danish diplomatic mission, you can inform us of the appointed time you will have your biometrics recorded. This way you can avoid having your application rejected.

You are abroad

You can have your biometric features recorded at a Danish diplomatic mission or an application centre in the country where you reside.

See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ list of diplomatic missions or application centres where you can have your biometric features recorded, at UM.dk (opens in a new window)

In certain countries, Denmark does not have a diplomatic mission or application centre. In these instances the list will refer you to one of the Norwegian missions with which Denmark has made an agreement or to the nearest Danish diplomatic mission or application centre in the region.

If you submit your application to a Norwegian diplomatic mission, you must also submit one passport photo. If you are later granted a residence permit based on your application, you must within a specific time frame after your entry to Denmark have your biometric features recorded.

We recommend that you visit the local diplomatic mission’s webpage to get more information before you submit the application. The individual diplomatic mission can have additional requirements regarding payment of additional fees, submission of additional passport photos or additional copies of the application.

You are in Denmark

If you are residing legally in Denmark, you are normally able to have your biometric features recorded in Denmark. This is the case, if you:

  • hold a valid visa

  • are exempt from the visa requirement or

  • already hold a valid residence permit.

Read more about the legal residence requirement and submission of your application in Denmark

You can have your biometric features recorded in one of SIRI’s branch offices

If you plan to have your biometrics recorded in one of SIRI’s branch offices, you must remember to book an appointment. 

Book an appointment to have your biometrics recorded in one of SIRI's branch offices

You have submitted your application succesfully if you have:

  • created a case order ID

  • paid the fee

  • submitted the application

  • had your biometric features recorded

You can see the normal case processing time on the right side of this page. When we make a decision in your case, you will receive an answer.

SIRI will contact you or your employer if we need further information to process your case.

Read about what you can expect while you are waiting for an answer

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Last updated 20-12-2024 - Published by: SIRI