Denmark · Employment
Pay Limit Scheme (Beløbsordningen)
Open
Last verified
Open. The 2026 thresholds rose sharply from 1 January: DKK 552,000 for the ordinary scheme (up DKK 38,000) and DKK 446,000 for the supplementary scheme (up DKK 31,000).
The Pay Limit Scheme is Denmark's no-questions-asked route. Clear the salary bar in any occupation and you are in. There is no positive list and no labour market test. Pair it with the researcher tax scheme and a senior hire is taxed at 32.84% for seven years.
Qualifying routes
552k DKK
Ordinary Pay Limit Scheme
any occupation, industry or employer
446k DKK
Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme
strictly tied to the specific position. No role change, freelancing or second job without a separate permit.
The facts
- Minimum
- 446k DKK
- Total landed cost
- DKK 6,810 application fee.
- Route type
- By employment
- Timeline
- 1–3 months (roughly 1 month, up to 3 if further information is needed)
- Physical presence
- Genuine employment of at least 30 hours a week. Salary must be paid to a Danish bank account in your own name.
- Family
- Spouse, registered or cohabiting partnerChildren under 18 living at home
- Permanent residency
- The permit tracks the employment. It does not itself confer permanent residence.
- Citizenship
- 9 years
- Language test
- Prøve i Dansk 3 plus the Indfødsretsprøven
- Dual citizenship
- Permitted
- Requirements
- Job offer meeting the applicable pay limit.At least 30 hours a week.Your salary must be paid into a Danish bank account held in your own name.
What can go wrong
- 2026 thresholds are DKK 552,000 / DKK 446,000, a sharp increase. Figures around DKK 514,000 and DKK 415,000 are 2025 numbers.
- The supplementary scheme ties you to the specific position. Changing roles, freelancing or taking a second job requires a separate permit. That is a real constraint for mobile executives.
- The permit does not itself confer permanent residence. It tracks the employment contract's length.
- Salary must be paid into a Danish bank account in your own name. Minimum 30 hours a week.
- Counted salary includes guaranteed fixed supplements and bonuses, plus labour market pension contributions from both employer and employee. That gives useful headroom when structuring a package.