Denmark has announced a new work permit scheme that will allow eligible citizens from 16 countries to access employment opportunities under a revised immigration pathway scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
The scheme, known as the Collective Agreement Scheme, will enable approved Danish employers to recruit foreign workers at a lower minimum salary threshold, provided the jobs are covered by recognised collective labour agreements.
According to Denmark’s Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), the minimum annual salary under the new arrangement will be DKK 322,000, based on 2026 salary levels.
Full List of 16 Eligible Countries
The countries whose citizens can qualify under the new scheme are:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
- India
- China
- Japan
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Brazil
- Montenegro
- Serbia
- North Macedonia
- Albania
- Ukraine
- Moldova
The list covers countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Nigerian citizens are not included in the current list of eligible nationalities for this particular scheme.
Requirements for the New Work Permit
Under the new arrangement, applicants must meet specific conditions before they can obtain permission to work in Denmark.
Key requirements include:
- Eligible nationality: Applicants must be citizens of one of the 16 listed countries.
- Minimum salary: The offered position must pay at least DKK 322,000 annually, based on the 2026 salary level.
- Collective agreement: The job must be covered by an applicable collective labour agreement.
- Certified employer: The Danish company must obtain certification from SIRI before employing foreign workers through the scheme.
Applications for employer certification are expected to open in early December 2026, while processing of residence and work permit applications under the scheme will begin on January 1, 2027. <Cite refs={[“turn914742search0″,”turn914742search7”]}/>
What It Means for Nigerians Seeking Jobs Abroad
Nigeria’s absence from the list means Nigerian passport holders cannot qualify through this particular scheme under the current rules.
However, this does not mean Nigerians are barred from working in Denmark altogether. Other existing immigration routes remain available, depending on the applicant’s qualifications, job offer and eligibility.
These include Denmark’s Pay Limit Scheme, Positive List Scheme and Fast-track Scheme, which have their own requirements. <Cite refs={[“turn914742search1″,”turn914742search4”]}/>
Nigerians interested in relocating to Denmark for employment should therefore check the conditions of the relevant work permit route before applying for jobs or paying recruitment agents.
The new scheme represents a targeted approach to recruiting foreign workers through employers that meet Denmark’s salary and labour protection requirements.
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