New Certification Scheme for International Employees

The government has entered into an agreement to establish a new employment scheme based on collective agreements for international employees. The scheme is expected to take effect from 1 October 2026. However, this requires that a bill be introduced and passed before the summer.

The new scheme is partly based on conditions from other access schemes, such as the requirement to stay below a certain unemployment limit. However, it also contains new requirements, such as applicants being citizens of certain countries and hiring companies being covered by a collective agreement and certified to use the scheme.

Certification requirements 

To hire employees through the new scheme, a company must be certified. This certification is different from the fast-track certification for other schemes.

The certification requirements for the new scheme are as follows:

1. The company must provide a statement that employment under the scheme will only be in positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

2. The company must document that it has elected a union representative for the specified collective bargaining agreement or entered into an agreement with the relevant employee organization regarding access to inspections.

3. The company must also not have been fined by the Labor Court or industrial arbitration for underpaying foreign workers within two years of applying for certification.

4. The company must have been in operation for at least two years prior to certification and must have submitted an annual report in accordance with the Danish Financial Statements Act during that period.

5. Enclose a service certificate issued by the Danish Business Authority or equivalent documentation with the application for certification. The company can request a service certificate via Virk.dk. The certificate contains the following information:

1. That the company has not been declared bankrupt.

2. Information about criminal offenses among fully responsible employees, management, and the board of directors.

3. Documentation that the company has paid the required contributions to social security schemes, taxes, and duties. The processing time for issuing a service certificate is approximately 14 days.

6. The company must have at least ten full-time employees.

7. At the time of certification, the company must not be involved in any legal labor disputes.

8. The company must not have any immediate orders from the Danish Working Environment Authority that have not been complied with.

9. Within the last year prior to certification, the company must not have been penalized more than twice under the Aliens Act or have been subject to penalties under the Aliens Act.

10. The company must have participated in a preliminary guidance meeting at the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

11. The company must have paid the fee for submitting the application for certification.

Certification is valid for three years, with the option to extend it for up to four years at a time.

If a company is certified, it can immediately employ foreigners, who do not have to wait for SIRI to process their case.

Country restrictions 

The new certification scheme only applies to the following 16 countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, India, Brazil, Malaysia, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Ukraine, and Moldova.

Prerequisite of collective agreement 

Companies wishing to hire employees under the certification scheme must be covered by a collective agreement entered into by DA and/or FH member organizations. This includes accession and company agreements, as well as agreements entered into by Finans Danmark or Forsikring & Pension with FH member organizations and public agreements. Agreements of Dansk Håndværk and GLS are also expected to be covered by the bill.

The scheme requires special monitoring procedures in the workplace, whether or not union representatives have been elected. These requirements include the ability to assess and discuss, shortly after employment, whether the agreement has been complied with and how the salary was determined.

In companies that use the certification scheme, the employer informs the union representative about appointments under the scheme and the agreed-upon wage. The representative may meet new employees under the certification scheme to review general employment terms, provide information about company rules, and explain their role.

In companies with a collective agreement but no elected union representative, employees may contact the union party to the agreement if the employer violates it.

To support this monitoring and enforcement effort, companies must inform unions of any appointments under the certification scheme. The union that signed the agreement can meet twice a year with employees hired under the scheme who are covered by the union's agreement. 

Requirements for residence and work permits 

Prospective employees of certified companies may apply to SIRI for residence and work permits. The following requirements must be met:

1. The company must declare that the position offered is covered by a collective agreement.

2. The position offered must be full-time in accordance with the collective agreement.

3. The foreign national must have a minimum salary of DKK 300,000 per year (2025 level).

4. The foreign national must be a citizen of a country on the country list.

5. The seasonally adjusted gross unemployment rate must not exceed 3.75% on average in the three months prior to the application. The unemployment brake will follow the supplementary payment scheme and will be determined by the Minister for Immigration and Integration after authorization corresponding to the supplementary payment scheme. As a result of the entry into force of the employment reform, the Minister for Immigration and Integration will take the initiative to increase the limit for the seasonally adjusted gross unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points from 3.75% to 4.25%. 

6. Requirement for a Danish bank account. 

7. The foreign national must not have committed certain types of crime in the two years prior to the date of application.

8. The foreign national must pay a fee for applying for a residence and work permit.

9. An accompanying family member must not have had their residence permit revoked more than once due to lack of a separate work permit.

The residence and work permit is valid for three years, with the possibility of extension for up to four years at a time. If the company's certification is revoked, the person who has been granted the residence and work permit is entitled to remain and work until the permit expires. The residence and work permit entitles accompanying family members to reside in Denmark as well.

Enquiries and questions regarding the article can be directed to Senior Director Erik Simonsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..