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Denmark’s April 2025 Positive List update brings new job opportunities in healthcare, engineering, trades, and more. Learn how skilled professionals can apply for a fast-tracked Danish work visa and relocate with their families.
In a major step to attract global talent, Denmark updated its Positive List in April 2025, adding several high-demand occupations across sectors like healthcare, IT, engineering, education, and skilled trades. The updated list makes it easier for foreign professionals to obtain a fast-tracked Danish work and residence permit.
This update positions Denmark as one of the most open and efficient immigration destinations in Europe, especially when compared to countries like the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, where visa processes are often slower and more complex.
Why Choose Denmark for Work?
Unlike other countries that are tightening immigration rules, Denmark offers a smooth, transparent, and fast-tracked visa process for occupations in demand. Some standout advantages include:
• Streamlined visa processing via the Positive List
• Work-life balance that ranks among the best globally
• Free healthcare and education
• Family-friendly policies, allowing spouses and children to join you
• A stable, peaceful society consistently ranked among the world’s happiest
What is Denmark’s Positive List?
The Positive List is an official register of job roles experiencing a labor shortage in Denmark. If your profession is on this list and you receive a job offer from a Danish employer, you become eligible for a residence and work permit under the Positive List scheme.
There are two categories:
• Positive List for Higher Education: For jobs requiring a university degree
• Positive List for Skilled Work: For technical, trade, or vocational roles
April 2025 Update: New Occupations on the Positive List
The latest update adds a wide range of jobs across multiple sectors, including healthcare, IT, engineering, construction, agriculture, and administration. Here are all the newly added roles under the Positive List for Skilled Work:
Science & Engineering Associate Professionals
• 311400 – Medico Technician
• 314200 – Agricultural Technician
• 313900 – Food Technician
• 311110 – Laboratory Assistant
• 311200 – Technician: Construction Technology
• 311900 – Production Technologist
Business & Administration Associate Professionals
• 331300 – Bookkeeper
• 332200 – Sales Consultant
• 333110 – Forwarding Agent
• 332300 – Buyer
• 334200 – Legal Secretary
• 335900 – Port Assistant
• 331300 – Accountant Assistant
• 333190 – Import Export Specialist
• 332200 – Sales and Account Manager
• 333430 – Real Estate Administrator
• 331300 – Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerk
• 333190 – Forwarding Agent, other
• 333410 – Real Estate Agent
Legal, Social, Cultural & Related Associate Professionals
• 343200 – Flower Decorator
• 341300 – Parish Helper
• 341300 – Parish Clerk
General & Secretary Clerks
• 411000 – Office Assistant
Numerical & Material Recording Clerks
• 431240 – Insurance Clerk (Technical case processing of insurance claims)
Personal Services Workers
• 514100 – Hairdresser
• 512000 – Chef
Health & Personal Care Workers
• 532220 – Social and Health Care Assistant, private homes
• 532120 – Social and Health Care Assistant, institutions/hospitals
• 321100 – Audiology Assistant
• 532210 – Social and Health Care Worker, private homes
• 532110 – Social and Health Care Worker, institutions/hospitals
Market-Oriented Skilled Agricultural & Nursery Workers
• 611320 – Greenkeeper
• 611100 – Farmer, Field Crop and Vegetable Grower
• 611400 – Farmer, Mixed Crop Grower
• 611320 – Landscape Gardener
Building & Related Trades Workers
• 711510 – Carpenter
• 711210 – Bricklayer
Metal, Machinery & Related Trades Workers
• 722300 – Industrial Technician
• 722100 – Blacksmith
• 723110 – Auto Mechanic (passenger cars and vans)
• 723300 – Agricultural Machinery Mechanic
Electrical & Electronic Trades Workers
• 741300 – Electricity Distribution Technician
• 741100 – Electrician
• 742100 – Service Technician, Electronics Mechanics
Food Processing, Woodworking & Other Craft Trades
• 753100 – Tailor
Stationary Plant Operators & Machine Operators
• 818290 – Process Operator (steam engine/boiler plants)
• 818910 – Process Operator (water supply, incineration, wastewater treatment)
• 815500 – Process Operator (fur and leather products manufacturing)
Manual Labour in Agriculture, Forestry, Fishery
• 921200 – Agricultural Assistant (manual labour in livestock breeding)
Visa Options If You Qualify
If you’re offered a job listed above, several Danish visa schemes are available to you:
1. Positive List Scheme
This visa is designed for skilled professionals whose occupation is listed on Denmark’s Positive List. With a valid job offer, applicants can receive a residence and work permit valid for up to 4 years. This visa also provides a route to permanent residency.
2. Fast-track Scheme for Certified Employers
If your employer is part of the Fast-track certification, you can benefit from simplified and accelerated processing. The scheme allows multiple entries and quicker employment commencement while ensuring smoother integration into the Danish work culture.
3. Pay Limit Scheme
Even if your job isn’t listed, you may qualify under this scheme if you’re offered a high-paying job. From April 2025, the minimum annual salary requirement is DKK 375,000 (around €50,000), ensuring fair wages for foreign workers.
4. Researcher Visa
This visa supports academic and research professionals with a Danish employment contract. It enables easy relocation, access to residence for family members, and the freedom to work within Denmark’s education and innovation sectors.
New Salary Rules for Work Permits
Starting in April 2025, Denmark has implemented new salary thresholds for foreign work permit applicants. Most visa categories now require a minimum annual salary of DKK 375,000 (approx. €50,000). The move ensures that foreign workers receive fair compensation and aligns wage standards with Danish labor market expectations.
Can Your Family Join You?
Yes! Denmark welcomes families. If you receive a work permit:
• Your spouse or registered partner can apply for a residence permit.
• Children under 18 are also eligible.
• Spouses are often allowed to work during their stay.
This makes Denmark not just a career destination but a long-term, family-friendly relocation option.
Learn More & Apply
You can explore the complete Positive List and find application guidelines at nyidanmark.dk. If you’re qualified and ready for a career move, Denmark might be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
Final Thoughts
With this Positive List update, Denmark is not just looking for labour, it’s offering an opportunity for skilled professionals to build a life in a thriving, supportive society. Whether you’re a healthcare worker, a tradesperson, or a technician, this could be your chance to move abroad with fewer hurdles and more benefits.
Source: https://travelobiz.com/denmark-positive-list-2025-new-jobs-fast-track-work-visas/
