Denmark Pay Limit Scheme: salary threshold and job offer

For most Americans moving to Denmark for a job, the Pay Limit Scheme (beløbsordningen) is the simplest permit route. It does not test your education or your job title. It asks one main question: does the Danish job pay at least the annual salary floor? This guide walks through the scheme as the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) describes it on New to Denmark, and what to do once the permit is granted.

The salary floor

The scheme requires an annual salary of at least DKK 552,000 at the 2026 level. SIRI adjusts the figure on 1 January each year, so check New to Denmark for the current amount when your contract is drafted.

What counts as salary

SIRI only counts salary that is paid out to you in cash, into your account. New to Denmark lists which pay elements are included in the calculation and which are not, so read that list with your employer before the contract is final. A package that looks generous on paper can fall short if part of its value comes from benefits that are not paid out as cash. Ask your employer to write the guaranteed annual cash salary clearly in the contract.

The job must be a real Danish employment relationship, and the pay and terms must match normal Danish standards for that type of work.

Who applies and what it costs

The application is filed online with SIRI. Your employer completes part of the form, usually with a power of attorney from you, and you complete your part. The fee for a Pay Limit Scheme application is DKK 6,810 (2026). The fee is normally paid when you submit, and SIRI does not process an application until the fee is received.

Documents to gather before filing

Have these ready before your employer starts the online form: a copy of every page of your passport, the signed employment contract or job offer stating salary and duration, a power of attorney if your employer files for you, and payment details for the fee. If your contract is in Danish, keep a translation for your own records so you can check the salary and working hours you have agreed to. Make sure your passport is valid well beyond the expected permit period, because the permit is issued against that passport and a renewal soon after arrival adds paperwork.

Biometrics within 14 days

After you apply, you must have your biometrics (photo and fingerprints) recorded within 14 days. From the US, this is done at a Danish diplomatic mission or an application centre. If you are already legally in Denmark, you can book at a SIRI branch office. The application can be rejected if biometrics are not recorded in time.

Processing time

New to Denmark lists the expected processing time as one month for most cases, and up to three months in complex cases. SIRI's Fast-track Scheme, used by certified companies, can be faster; if your employer is certified, ask whether it will use that route instead.

When the permit starts

If you apply from abroad, the permit can be granted from one month before your employment starts, which helps with moving. If you apply while already in Denmark, it starts from the first day of work. The permit is tied to the job described in your application.

The Danish bank account rule

SIRI requires Pay Limit Scheme holders to have their salary paid into a Danish bank account. You must open the account within 180 days from the date your permit is granted or from your entry into Denmark, whichever is later. Banks will want your CPR number, so the order of operations is: arrive, register for CPR, then open the account.

Changing jobs

The permit is linked to your specific employer. If you take a new job, you must apply for a new permit. New to Denmark explains that you may start the new job once the application has been submitted, provided the new job also meets the scheme's conditions. Losing a job also has consequences for your permit, so read SIRI's guidance on termination if your employment ends.

Family members

Accompanying family members, such as a spouse or cohabiting partner and children, apply under SIRI's rules for accompanying family. New to Denmark has a separate page for these permits with its own fee, and each family member needs an application. Filing them at the same time as the main application keeps the family's start dates aligned.

Pay Limit Scheme or Positive List?

If your salary is below the floor, the Positive List for People with a Higher Education may fit. That route depends on your job title appearing on the list and your education matching it. The list is updated on 1 January and 1 July each year, and some job titles apply only in a specific region of Denmark. The application fee is DKK 6,810, the same as for the Pay Limit Scheme. The Pay Limit Scheme is often simpler for well-paid roles because it does not require an education assessment.

The Fast-track route for certified employers

Some Danish employers are certified by SIRI for the Fast-track Scheme. New to Denmark says a company needs at least 10 full-time employees to be certified, and the scheme has several tracks, including a pay limit track that uses the same salary floor. The practical benefits are speed and flexibility: Fast-track permits allow you to alternate between working in Denmark and abroad, and your employer handles more of the paperwork. If your employer is certified, it may file you under Fast-track rather than the ordinary scheme.

Tax on a Pay Limit Scheme salary

A salary above the floor may also qualify you for the researcher and highly paid employee tax scheme, which taxes earned income at 32.84% for up to seven years. The Danish Tax Agency sets that scheme's own monthly threshold, DKK 65,400 for 2026, and it has a separate rule that you must not have had Danish tax liability in the previous 10 years. Qualifying for the permit does not mean you qualify for the tax scheme, so check both.

After you land

• Register for a CPR number within five days of moving into your home (non-EU citizens must also apply within six months of the permit grant, per ICS).
• Open your Danish bank account.
• Activate MitID and Digital Post.
• Ask your employer to request your tax card.

Common questions

What is the Pay Limit Scheme salary floor in 2026? DKK 552,000 a year at the 2026 level, according to New to Denmark. SIRI adjusts it on 1 January each year, and only cash salary paid to your account counts.

How long does SIRI take? New to Denmark lists one month as the expected processing time, with up to three months in complex cases. Biometrics must be recorded within 14 days of applying.

Can I switch employers on a Pay Limit Scheme permit? You need a new permit for the new job. You may start once the new application is submitted, as long as the new job also meets the scheme's conditions.

Do I need a Danish bank account? Yes. SIRI requires the salary to be paid into a Danish account, opened within 180 days of the permit grant or your entry into Denmark.