DK ·
Denmark's Collective Agreement Scheme starts 1 January 2027: certification expected to open in early December
From 1 January 2027, certified employers can hire citizens of 16 countries into collectively agreed jobs at a minimum yearly salary of DKK 322,000 (2026 level). SIRI expects certification applications to open at the beginning of December 2026.
The new scheme in brief
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) announced on 13 October 2026 that a new work permit route, the Collective Agreement Scheme, comes into effect on 1 January 2027. It is based on a bill passed by the Danish Parliament. The scheme allows foreign employees to be hired at a lower minimum salary than under other pay-limit routes, provided the job is covered by a collective agreement.
Key conditions
According to SIRI, the foreign employee must be offered a position with a yearly minimum salary of DKK 322,000 (2026 level). The position must be covered by a collective agreement. The employee must be a citizen of one of 16 countries named in the law. The company must be certified before it can hire under the scheme and before the employee can apply for a residence and work permit.
Timeline for employers
SIRI expects that companies will be able to apply for certification at the beginning of December 2026, and says more information will follow on its website. Applications are to be processed from 1 January 2027, when the scheme takes effect. New application pages for certification and for residence and work permits are to be launched.
Why the topic is in the news
On 4 November 2026, the Danish news site Avisen.dk reported on a new analysis by the Confederation of Danish Employers (DA). According to that report, seniors and international employees account for around 80 percent of employment growth since 2010, with employment among international employees up by around 145,000 full-time persons. DA also pointed to the new certification scheme. These figures come from a media report on an employer organisation's analysis, not from an official statistics office.
What is still unclear
SIRI has not yet published the exact opening date for certification applications, the application pages, fees or processing times. The detailed certification requirements are set out in the passed bill, which SIRI links to in Danish only. Employers should check SIRI's website before relying on any timeline and confirm the list of the 16 eligible countries in the official sources.
Responsible recruitment through WorkMarket.eu
Workers pay no recruitment fees through WorkMarket.eu. Every international hire, cross-border move or legal work start requires individual human review; no candidate is automatically eligible for a permit under this or any other scheme. This article is general information, not legal advice.