Europe Beckons: Denmark Eases Immigration Rules Amid Continent-Wide Labor Shortages

Explore Europe’s promising job market amidst continent-wide labour shortages. Denmark, in a recent move, eases immigration rules, attracting non-EU workers by adjusting minimum salary requirements and expanding the fast-track work permit program. Foreign students completing degrees in Denmark enjoy extended job search privileges.

Effective April 1, amendments to the Danish Aliens Act signify a pivotal shift in the nation’s approach to global talent acquisition. Job opportunities are abundant, especially in science, engineering, healthcare, teaching, IT, finance, and even for priests with a Master’s degree. The ‘Positive List for People with a Higher Education’ and ‘Positive List for Skilled Workers’ guide applicants to professions experiencing shortages, with eligibility lasting at least two years.

Denmark’s Skilled Workers list, updated biannually, spans various industries, offering opportunities from science and engineering to beauty services and trades. The nation not only fosters job opportunities for foreigners but also streamlines processes for companies hiring third-country nationals. A lowered pay threshold, now at DKK 375,000 (€50,344), widens job access, and companies can fast-track certification with a minimum of 10 employees.

In a bid to attract entrepreneurs, Denmark expands its start-up scheme for third-country nationals, allowing businesses inside or outside Denmark to establish or branch into the country.

International students in Denmark can now extend their stay post-graduation with an automatic three-year job search period, eliminating the need for a separate residence permit—a positive shift from the previous two-year allowance. Denmark beckons, offering a dynamic environment and diverse opportunities for those seeking new horizons in Europe.

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Ikenna Churchill

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