Your Guide on Jobs and Finding Work in Denmark

Jump right in:

• How to get a job in Denmark as a foreigner
• Minimum wage and average salary
• Self-employment
• Business culture
• Social security and benefits
• Parental leave

Working days are Monday through Friday, 37 hours a week for an average salary of 47,000 DKK (7,000 USD) a month gross. Do not get too eager just yet—that number can easily drop to half after taxes.

Requirements and eligibility to work in Denmark

• EU citizens are free to enter the country and take up work right away, no need for a visa and a work permit. However, they should be properly registered in the country (for a CPR number, a health card, etc.) if they are staying for longer than three months. Citizens of other Nordic countries only need to register after six months in Denmark.
• Citizens of other countries will need a visa and work permit in Denmark. The first thing you will need to be eligible for a visa is a job contract.
• If you really wish to fit in and build a long-lasting career in the country, learning Danish is key. Tourism is one of Denmark’s biggest business sectors. If you speak other languages besides English, you should consider tourism as a serious career path in the country. As an expat, you may also find opportunities as an au pair—there is even a specific visa for it.

The positive list

The safest way to secure a job in Denmark is to have a look at the shortage occupation list, known as the Positive List. This is published biannually and states all professions that are in demand in the country for those wishing to apply for a visa. Even if you do not need a visa to work in the country, it is a good idea to check the list to know if your expertise may be particularly valuable.

The list for people with higher education includes positions in fields of:

• Healthcare
• Natural science & engineering
• Teaching & education work
• law & social science
• Hospitality

Check if your job is on the positive list here

The list of skilled work includes positions like:

• Bank assistant
• Hairdresser
• Ambulance driver
• Fire inspector
• Data technician

Check the full list of skilled work positions here

Job opportunities in Denmark for foreigners

Here is a list of job fairs you can attend:

• Karriere Dagene
• Online European Job Days events
• Job Bank
• IT-DAY

Job sites:

• Work in Denmark
• LikendIn Denmark
• Jobs in English

Here you can check out English jobs in Denmark in different cities.

Networking

The best way to go about it is to find specific events in your city related to your field of work. Think conferences, meetups, workshops, and other events that may attract other professionals in your area.

Here are some networking events that you can attend in Denmark:

• Meetup
• Danish Industry
• Symbion
• List of networking conferences in Denmark

You can also attend one of the many InterNations events that gather both expats and locals. There is an InterNations community in Aarhus and Copenhagen.

What to inlcude into a Danish-style CV

Given how quickly recruiters may skim through a CV (it is known that they take an average of 8 seconds per CV), it is a good idea to stick to a format that Danish recruiters are more used to.

• Personal details: name, age, and gender. Forget the serious-looking passport photo and go with a friendly-looking picture of you with a building or window in the background.
• Personal summary at the top. A paragraph of no more than five or six lines where you mention your professional skills as well as your personal and social qualities.
• List your most recent professional experience and qualifications first to last. Not all professional experience is relevant. You will want the employer to know the most important aspects of your career, and not be overwhelmed with too much information.
• List languages and hard skills. If you have studied abroad, make sure to include that as well.
• Keep hobbies and other activities to a minimum. Only include them if they are relevant for the position.

References and qualifications

• You can list the contact details of someone who can vouch for your character and skills. You can also simply mention at the bottom of the resume that you can provide references upon request—and get extra points if you write it in Danish: “anbefalinger kan fås ved nærmere henvendelse.”
• As for qualifications, you should expect to provide an employer with a copy of your diploma or certificate.
• You can be asked for a straffeattest—a document provided by the Danish police proving you have not been convicted of a crime in the country. This is asked of both Danes and non-Danes and can be easily obtained online.

Interview tips

• Come prepared with plenty of knowledge about the company.
• Know your CV by heart and have two or three workplace experiences in mind that you can share as examples of your strengths and ability to overcome obstacles.
• When having an interview on-site, a strong handshake and eye contact are a must. Both are seen as a sign of confidence and trustworthiness.
• The dress code should be smart but casual. There is no need to use a business suit (unless applying for a bank or law firm). In fact, looking too formal might contribute to the image Danes have of foreign workers being too rigid in their ways.

As of now, the average salary in Denmark is around 45,000 DKK (approx. 7,000 USD) gross (around 28,000 DKK (approx. 4,300 USD) after taxes). The highest average salary in the country is in Copenhagen, at 32,000 (approx. 5,000 USD) a month after tax. With taxes going up to 50% in some cases, that number can go down to half.

Minimum salary in Denmark

Unlike most other EU countries, Denmark does not have a fixed minimum wage. Instead, minimum salary is often established by collective labor market agreements, which are negotiated between unions and employer associations.

Still, most minimum salaries in the country are around 125-140 DKK (approx. 18-20 USD) an hour.

What is a good salary in Denmark?

The average salary in Denmark should be enough to live comfortably in the country.

For reference, the table below lists the average annual salary for common professions. Keep in mind that salaries vary by location and expirience.

Self-employment in Denmark can take many forms, but it will usually imply creating a company. Freelancers seem to be in somewhat of a gray area in the eyes of the law, not recognized as employees nor self-employed workers either.

Make sure you have the right visa type to take up self-employment in Denmark.

Freelancing in Denmark

As everyone, you need to have a CPR number. Most freelancers simply register a one-man business which is free to do. Having such a business means you will need to do tax accounting; on the bright side, you will not be required to do an annual account that has to be submitted to the Danish Business Authority.

How to be self-employed in Denmark

You are considered self-employed in Denmark if you own a company. That could be a one-person business or a company you own with at least one employee.

If you want to register your business as a sole proprietor, or enkelmandsvirksomhed, you can do so at Virk.dk under starting a business. You should log in using your MitID, select the sole proprietor option, and enter the information requested such as:

• your name,
• address,
• industry code,
• type of tax you will pay, etc.

Freelancers may also work as external contractors for an employer. However, in these cases, they may legally be considered employees, so make sure you know the exact conditions of your contract, tax rates, social security benefits, and so on.

Creating your own company

If you wish to be self-employed by means of creating a company, you can start the following types of businesses:

• Entrepreneurial company, Iværksætterselskaber (IVS)
• Private limited company, Anpartsselskaber (APS)
• Public limited company, Aktieselskaber (A/S)
• Limited partnership company, Partnerselskaber (P/S) A private limited company (ApS) requires a minimum start-up capital of 20,000 DKK (2,700 USD), it is the most common type for small and medium businesses. Click on the link to learn more about creating a company in Denmark and their legal status.

Top self-employed jobs in Denmark

• Web, Software & App Developers
• SEO, GEO & SEM experts
• Marketing and Sales Strategists
• UX/UI & Graphic Designers
• Photographers & Videographers
• Make-up Artists

Musicians and other artists may also take up freelance work, although these may have a different legal status. Their relationship with their employer may be covered by collective agreements which established rates, royalties, and other aspects.

Self-employed benefits in Denmark

Self-employed workers are also entitled to benefits just as employees, in case of unemployment, sickness, maternity, etc. However, the conditions to receive these benefits are stricter for the self-employed.

• As a general rule: self-employed professionals will need to have been a member of an unemployment fund for at least one year and must show recent activity, typically by earning a minimum level of income from their business.

Working days and hours

A typical work week in Denmark is from Monday through Friday. Danes make the most of the official 37 hours of work per week, and leave the office at around 16:00-16:30 every day. By 17:00 you should see most desks empty.

Things to know about working in Denmark

• Being too formal could be perceived as unfriendly in Danish working culture.
• Do not expect hierarchy in Denmark. You should treat everyone with equal respect, regardless of position.
• Make sure to speak up and express your opinion regardless of your position in the company. Some foreigners shy away from speaking up or contradicting their boss but this is appreciated and even expected in Denmark—so long as you do so politely.
• Danes are not known to spend time with colleagues very much after work. Their leisure time is usually reserved for close family or friends. However, if a social gathering is happening, it is important to join.

Danish workplace dress code

The dress code at work is informal. You will see most people wearing smart and casual clothes in the workplace. Ties are optional for most companies and job positions. However, some sectors, such as banking or law may adopt a more formal dress code. Here, you might be expected to wear both a suit and tie.

With Denmark’s social security, you are guaranteed some protection by the state in cases of need. You might have already heard of Denmark’s social security number—the CPR number. You will need it for just about any formal process in the country. Find out here what you can benefit from the country’s welfare system and how to get a CPR as soon as you land.

What is the social security number in Denmark?

Your social security number in Denmark is the CPR number. The CPR number is a ten-digit number made up of your date of birth, gender, and a unique identification number.

Your CPR number is required for rental contracts, utilities, opening a bank account, doing your taxes, and enjoying your right to free public healthcare and other social security benefits.

This is mandatory for anyone who has residency in Denmark, or is staying in the country for more than three months (six months for Nordic citizens).

How to apply for a CPR number in Denmark

How to get a social security number in Denmark and the documents needed may vary by municipality. You may be able to apply online in some cases (Coppenhagen, Aarhus). If it’s not possible online, you will need to go to your municipality’s Citizen Service Center, or the International Citizen Service in Aalborg or Odense, and apply in person.

You will need the following documents:

• passport or personal ID
• work and residence permit
• employment or assignment contract
• proof of your address in Denmark (e.g., rental contract)
• documents registering any change of name (marriage or divorce certificate, etc.)
• birth certificate of your children, if applicable

With this registration, you will receive the yellow card—your health and social security card in Denmark. This card contains your CPR, your name, address, and the name and address of your family doctor.

Social security benefits in Denmark

If you live in Denmark legally and pay contributions to social security, you are entitled to social security benefits and assistance for:

• family—includes maternity and child benefits, and childcare;
• health—such as free public healthcare, sickness benefit and leave, home care service, including care of close relatives who are disabled or ill;
• incapacity—includes benefits in case of sickness, injury, invalidity, and old age pension.

Unemployment benefit (A-kasse)

You are not automatically insured by Social Security if you find yourself unemployed. To receive unemployment benefits, or a-kasse (short for arbejdsløshedskasse), you must pay a voluntary unemployment insurance for at least one year and meet a minimum income requirement based on your earnings over the past three years.

Maternity leave in Denmark is fairly generous. Here are some good to know facts about maternity leave in Denmark:

• Mothers are entitled to longer maternity leave than fathers, but the biggest portion of work leave and benefits can be distributed fairly between both parents.
• You are entitled to parental benefits if you have a connection to the labor market, be it a salaried position, self-employment, or unemployment.
• As an employee, you must have worked at least 160 hours within the last four months of the start of your maternity leave.
• If you work as self-employed, you are only entitled to maternity leave and benefits if you have worked for at least six months before your maternity leave.

How maternity leave works in Denmark

How much maternity benefits you get in Denmark depends on your work situation. Some work contracts entitle you to full or partial salary during maternity leave.

• If you receive a full salary, your maternity benefits would go to your employer as compensation.
• If you receive partial pay during your maternity leave or no pay at all, you can receive maternity benefits. The maximum amount you can be entitled to is 5,085 DKK (800 USD) per week before tax. Have a look here when in doubt.
• If you are working as self-employed, the benefits you receive are based on the profit of your business.
• If you are unemployed, you are entitled to the same amount you receive as an unemployment benefit.

Keep in mind that even though mothers and fathers are entitled to 32 weeks each of leave (64 weeks in total), you only receive benefits for 32 weeks.

How long is parental leave in Denmark?

Parents in Denmark are entitled to a combined 52 weeks of parental leave. Maternity and paternity leave and benefits are divided as follows: