To work in Denmark, foreign nationals must apply for a work visa and residence permit. The process of obtaining a Danish work visa is simple and quick, requiring a confirmed job offer and an official employment letter from a Danish employer.

Do Canadian citizens need a work visa?

No, Canadian citizens are exempt from needing a work visa to work in Denmark. However, if their stay exceeds 3 months, they must register their residence with the Danish authorities.

Registration requirements for citizens from Canada

Even though citizens from Canada do not need a work visa, they must register with SIRI (the Danish Agency for International Employment and Integration) if they plan to work in Denmark. The registration process occurs in person at SIRI’s office and requires the following documents:

• Passport or national identity card

• Passport photo

• Application form

• Employment-related documentation (such as an employment contract).

How to work in Denmark for Canadians?

🔹 Step 1: Secure a job

While no work permit is necessary, having an official employment contract is mandatory. Popular job platforms include:

- Work in Denmark

- Jobnet.dk

🔹 Step 2: Register your residence (if staying for over 3 months)

 📌 Documents needed:

• Passport/ID (EU/EEA or Swiss citizens)

• Employment contract (either full-time or part-time)

• Proof of address (rental contract or accommodation arranged by the employer)

• Residence document application (submitted to the State Administration).

🔹 Step 3: Obtain a CPR number

The CPR number gives you access to various essential services like healthcare and banking. Visit the Borgerservice office to register.

🔹 Step 4: Register with SKAT (Danish Tax Agency)

Everyone working in Denmark must register with SKAT for tax purposes. Your employer often assists with this.

Job opportunities for Canadians

Being able to work freely in Denmark, Canadian citizens have access to job openings across all sectors:

✅ In-demand roles for skilled workers:

• IT & Software Development: Developers, Data Analysts, AI experts

• Healthcare: Medical professionals like Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists

• Engineering: Various engineering fields such as Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical

• Education & Research: University lecturers, Researchers, and Scientists.

✅ Entry-level positions without special qualifications:

• Hospitality & Tourism: Hotel staff, Servers, Bartenders

• Retail & Customer Service: Sales assistants, Call center agents

• Logistics & Warehousing: Delivery personnel, Packers.

Benefits of working in Denmark for Canadian citizens

• No need for a work visa.

• Competitive salaries and a strong focus on workers' rights.

• Access to free healthcare and social benefits after registering.

• Permanent residency options after 5 years.

• Excellent work-life balance, with Denmark often ranking highly for quality of life.

In Denmark, there are certain professions and industries that are particularly in demand on the labor market. Here are some examples of such professions:

1. Information technology: Software developers, data analysts, network and system engineers, cybersecurity specialists.
2. Engineering: Electrical, mechanical, construction, and architectural engineers.
3. Medicine and healthcare: Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, elderly care professionals.
4. Finance and banking: Financial analysts, accountants, financial advisors, risk management experts.
5. Tourism and hospitality: Specialists in hotel management, chefs, waiters, guides.
6. Energy and renewable energy: Energy engineers, energy efficiency experts, solar and wind energy specialists.

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In Denmark, there are several useful job portals where you can find vacancies and apply for jobs. Here are a few of them:

• Jobnet (www.jobnet.dk): The official job search portal of the Danish government. It has a variety of job postings from all industries.
• Work in Denmark (www.workindenmark.dk): A portal that specializes in job offers for foreign workers. Here you can find jobs that are suitable for immigration.
• StepStone (www.stepstone.dk): One of the largest job portals in Denmark. It has a wide range of vacancies in various industries.
• Jobindex (www.jobindex.dk): Another popular job portal in Denmark. Here you can find jobs in various fields, including IT, medicine, finance, and others.

These portals can be useful for finding a job in Denmark. It is recommended that you create a profile on these portals, add your resume and set up job alerts to keep up to date with the latest offers. Also, do not forget about networking opportunities, participation in professional events and contacting recruitment agencies that can help you find a job in Denmark.

Working hours: The total working hours in Denmark are usually 37-40 hours per week. Working days usually start at 8:00 or 9:00 am and end at 4:00 or 5:00 pm. In a number of sectors, there is flexibility in terms of working hours, such as the ability to work flexible hours or telecommute.

Working vacations: Vacations in Denmark are usually quite long. By law, employees are entitled to a minimum of 5 weeks of paid vacation per year. In addition, Denmark has a variety of additional leaves, such as parental and study leave.

Trade Unions: Trade unions have a significant influence on labor relations in Denmark. Most employees have the right to join a trade union and collectively bargain. Trade unions represent the interests of employees and ensure their participation in matters related to working conditions, wages and other aspects of work.

Dress code: Many office environments in Denmark have an informal dress code, especially in the larger cities. Suits and formal attire are not mandatory, but it is still recommended to maintain a formal or professional appearance, given the type of work and environment.

Denmark encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. As a foreign graduate of a Danish university, you may consider starting your own business.

If you are a citizen of a Nordic country or the EU/EEA, you can start your own business in Denmark. If you are not a citizen of a Nordic country, the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you need to apply for a residence and work permit to be self-employed and/or run an independent company in Denmark.

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Register your business

If you want to start your own business, you need to register your company with the Danish Trade and Companies Agency. This must be done no later than eight days before the start of any mandatory activities. Register your business online at virk.dk (in Danish).

After registration, you will receive a Central Business Registration Number (CVR number). The CVR number is the identification number of your business, which you must use when corresponding with public authorities and private individuals, for example, when sending invoices, etc.

After registering your business, information is automatically sent to the Danish Tax Agency (SKAT), as the company must be registered as a VAT payer.

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What is Start-up Denmark?

Start-up Denmark is a program for foreign entrepreneurs that gives you the opportunity to obtain a residence permit in Denmark in order to establish and manage an innovative and growing company.

This program also gives you the opportunity to continue running an individual business in Denmark that has already been established during your stay in Denmark on other residence grounds.

Finally, you can also obtain a residence permit under this scheme for the purpose of running a business in Denmark through a Danish branch of a foreign self-employed company. 

Your business idea must be approved by a panel of experts appointed by the Danish Business Administration before you can apply to SIRI for a residence and work permit under the scheme. 

The scheme is open to both individuals and teams of up to 3 people who, using a joint business plan, want to start or continue a joint business in Denmark through a Danish branch of a foreign self-employed company, or to conduct business through a Danish branch of a foreign company.

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What are the conditions?

You must meet certain conditions in order to obtain a residence permit and run your own business in Denmark under the Start-up Denmark scheme.

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Below you will find step-by-step instructions on how to apply to the Danish Agency for International Employment and Integration (SIRI).

If you are a visitor and will not be residing in Denmark and for this reason will only be applying for a work permit, you do not need to create a case ID or pay a fee. Instead, you can proceed directly to step 3. Find out more here.

1. Create a case ID
2. Pay the fee
3. Gather documentation
4. Fill out the application form
5. Biometrics
6. Get a response

1. Startup visa to Denmark is a visa that converts into a full-fledged residence permit and allows you to move to the country for 2 years with a 3-year extension. In this case, the main applicant needs to have an innovative and scalable project or its idea, as well as the means to exist in the country for a year.
   
   
   The main things to know about the Danish startup visa:
   • Filing - possible in-country
   • Waiting - ~2 months
   • Term - 2 years with extension for 3
   • Required funds - €20k per main applicant
   • Family - can be brought with you
   • Permanent residence - after 8 years of residence in Denmark
   
   
   Who can apply for a Danish startup visa
   A startup visa can be granted to third country nationals who:
   • have a business plan for an innovative and scalable project and will pass an assessment by an expert committee (restaurants, retail stores and import/export businesses are • usually rejected even before the assessment):
   - how innovative is the business model?
   - How attractive is the market?
   - how scalable is the business model?
   - what competencies and resources does the team possess?
   • are actively involved in the development of the startup and their presence is necessary to build the business
   • have the means to live in Denmark for 1 year:
   - €20k - for one person
   - €39k for two people
   - €45k for a family with children
   • are one of the 3 founders of the startup.
   
   
   How is the startup evaluated?
   Business plans are evaluated by at least three members of Startup Denmark's independent expert committee. The evaluation is done in points from 1 to 5 based on four criteria. In order to be approved, the average score for all four criteria must be at least 3.5.
   
   
   1. How innovative is the business model?
   The panel looks for fundamentally smart business models that capitalize on emerging opportunities and accelerate the development of a new market or industry. Applications are evaluated in terms of the level of innovation and implementation of new products, services or processes in their field.
   
   
   2. How attractive is the market?
   When assessing the attractiveness of a market, the expert committee looks at its size, commercial potential and barriers to entry. It also assesses the level of competition in the market and how applicants plan to enter the market.
   
   
   3 How scalable is the business model?
   The expert committee selects startups with clear potential to create jobs and grow the Danish economy. For this reason, the expert committee highly values scalability. It is therefore necessary to demonstrate that the business model is built in such a way that it is scalable, that it lends itself well to scalability and has significant growth potential.
   
   
   4. What competencies and resources does the team possess?
   Candidates must not only offer a great business model, but also be able to build a successful business in practice. Therefore, the expert panel assesses whether the candidates have the skills, competencies and experience necessary to translate their business plan into a viable venture. For startups, the expert committee also looks at whether the applicants have received external funding or whether the startup already has revenue.
   
   
   The procedure for obtaining a Danish startup visa
   The procedure looks simple and with the right steps should take no more than 2 months:
   
   
   1. Submit the application online
   2. Pass the initial check to ensure that the application meets all requirements
   3. Receive a passing score from the expert committee within 3 weeks
   4. Apply for residence and work permit at the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).
   5. Within 1 month wait for the application to be processed
   6. Open your own company in Denmark
   7. Connect to one of the Danish business hubs.
   8. What a startup visa application consists of
   9. To be approved, you need to fill out an application form, describe your business plan in detail, attach a video presentation and a pitch deck.
   
   
   In the 5 minute video presentation you need to describe:
   - The company's position in the market
   - Scaling potential
   - Why the product or service is innovative
   - Why you are competent to run the company
   
   
   A pitch deck of 10 (Word) or 15 (PowerPoint) pages should tell:
   - Market analysis
   - Sales or market entry strategy
   - Why Denmark.
   - Challenges in launching a startup

1. Speak English and Danish. German and Scandinavian languages (Swedish, Norwegian) are also spoken in Denmark.
2. Update your resume: Create a professional resume that reflects your experience, skills and education. Emphasize your achievements and results that will attract the attention of a potential employer.
3. Pay attention to your cover letter: Write a personalized and specific cover letter for each job. Explain why you are interested in the job and what skills you will bring to the company.
4. Use professional networks: Sign up for networks such as LinkedIn and maintain an active presence. Connect with professionals in your field and join relevant groups and communities.