On July 1, 2024, new rules regarding foreign students’ right to work part-time came into effect. The rules and regulations on the issue of residence and work permits for students will be changed on July 1, 2024.

The new rules mean that all students who will be granted, or who already have been granted, a part-time work permit, now have the right to work 90 hours per month and work full-time in June, July, and August, starting from July 1, 2024.

Right to work with a residence permit

From July 1, 2024, foreigners with a residence permit are exempt from the work permit requirement. It means all foreigners with a valid residence permit under the Authorisation Scheme can start working from July 1, 2024 without applying for a separate work permit for employment. Therefore, foreigners with a residence permit need not apply for a work permit, if they get a job.

A residence permit allows you to stay in Denmark during the period your permit is valid. In addition, a permit allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within the latest 180 days period. The permit, however, does not allow you to work in other Schengen countries.

More Jobs on Offer

Denmark has also updated the Positive Lists already in effect from July 1, 2024. The new Positive List for People with a Higher Education includes 141 job titles, while the Positive List for Skilled Work includes 61 as more positions have been added to both Positive Lists.

The Positive List for People with a Higher Education means you have been offered a job included in the list of professions experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals in Denmark. Similarly, the Positive List for Skilled Work means you have been offered a job included in the list of skilled professions experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals in Denmark. It is also possible to apply for a residence and work permit as a social and healthcare worker under the Positive List for Skilled Work.

New rules for family reunification of spouses come into effect

From July 1, 2024, new rules for family reunification of spouses have come into effect. Among other things, the bill includes a change requirement that the spouse in Denmark needs to have passed Prøve i Dansk 3 or another Danish test at the same or higher level, for the couple collectively to meet the integration requirement.

This requirement can now also be met by the spouse in Denmark by documenting having been in ordinary full-time employment for 5 years, which has significantly involved communication in Danish.

In addition, the bill includes, that the financial guarantee requirement, which must be met in some cases to qualify for family reunification of spouses, will be reduced from approx. DKK 114,000 to DKK 57,000.

Applicants, whose application for family reunification of spouses was refused before the proposal was presented on April 11, 2024, because they did not meet the current financial guarantee requirement or the current language requirement, now have the opportunity to submit a new application for family reunification of spouses.