Working in Denmark
Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world, and its fair working conditions contribute to that. A good work-life balance, flexible working hours and little to no overtime make Denmark an attractive country for expats. Are you also thinking about living and working in Denmark? Read on to find out what the requirements are, what everyday work life looks like and what to keep in mind when applying for jobs in Denmark.
Working conditions in Denmark
A good work-life balance is very important to the Danish people. As such, working overtime is frowned upon and very rare. A full-time work week is usually 37 hours. Depending on your field, you may benefit from flexible working hours and the option of working from home.
You also get five weeks’ holiday, in some cases even more. Denmark also has eleven bank holidays a year. If you fall ill, you usually continue to receive your full salary.
The Danish Salaried Employees Act (Funktionærloven) lays out that you get a one-month notice period or more. The longer you have been working for a company, the longer your notice period. If you have been employed for six months to three years, your notice period is three months; if it has been three to six years, you get four months; if it has been six to nine years, you get five months; and for anything more than nine years, you get a six-month notice period. The only exception to this rule is your trial period at the beginning of a new job, which usually lasts three months.
Requirements
Denmark is a member of the European Union, which means EU citizens can live and work in Denmark for up to three months without a visa. If you want to live in Denmark for longer than that, you must register in the Folkeregister and apply for a CPR number and an electronic tax card.
Working in Denmark without Danish language skills
Most people in Denmark speak English (and often even German). That means you are very likely to find a job that does not require you to speak Danish, at least in the beginning, but your English should be excellent. We also recommend you learn Danish as soon as possible to speed along your integration process.
Salaries in Denmark
The average salary in Denmark is around 61,000 euros. Denmark has no minimum wage; each job comes with its own regulations and salary ranges.
Jobs in Denmark
The most sought-after jobs in Denmark are in healthcare, IT, skilled trades, engineering, and the green sector. Germans, for instance, often find tourism or customer service jobs in regions that are close to the German-Danish border.
Finding & applying for a job
When emigrating to Denmark, it makes sense to look for a job beforehand. This will allow you to start your new life in Denmark from a financially secure place and take off some of the pressure that comes with relocating. After three months, you will need to present an employment contract for your official registration process in Denmark anyway.
Have a look at these job portals to start your job search in Denmark:
Applying for a job in Denmark
Once you have found a suitable job, you can start getting your application ready. Your application should be in Danish unless the job posting says otherwise. In many cases, you can hand in your application in English or even German. If you cannot find any information on this, please ask the relevant company.
You will need the following documents to apply for a job in Denmark:
- Cover letter: There are no specific requirements for your cover letter, but you may want to let your future employer know why you have decided to move to Denmark.
- Resume/CV: Your CV should be in reverse chronological order. You are not required to include a headshot in Denmark.
- References: Your references count for a lot in Denmark, so make sure to include them in your application. State the name, position, and contact details of your former employers at the end of your CV.
- Certificates: Your certificates are not that relevant until later on in your application process. Include them only if they are requested in the job description, and ask someone at the company if they need them in Danish.
Having your documents translated
A flawless Danish or English application will help you make a great first impression with your potential employer. We are happy to help you with this! Our native-speaking translation professional will translate your application documents and certify them as needed.
Living and working in Denmark
Are you planning to move to Denmark? Have a look at our related articles to help you turn your dream of emigrating to Denmark into reality:
As a German citizen, you can work in Denmark for up to three months without a visa or any other restrictions. After three months, you need to register in the Folkeregister and apply for a CPR number and a tax card.
The most sought-after jobs in Denmark are in healthcare, IT, skilled trades, engineering, and the green sector.
Yes, but you need to have your profession recognised in Denmark first. As part of your recognition procedure, you may need to have your nursing qualifications translated. You also need to prove that you have a B2 level of Danish.
Yes, but you usually need to have your professional qualifications recognised in Denmark. If you want to work at an international school, this step might not be necessary. For your recognition procedure as a teacher, your Danish language skills must be at a B2 level.
Author
Katharina Weckend, Content & SEO Manager
Katharina joined lingoking as a Content and SEO Manager in 2024. She handles our content and SEO strategy and writes texts for our website, guide and other lingoking media. “I am happy I get to pass on knowledge in our lingoking guide and help break down language barriers.”
Translation
Belinda Grace
Belinda has been working with the lingoking marketing team since early 2022. She’s in charge of translating blogs and guides as well as writing social media posts. Her motto: “Begin each day as if it were on purpose”.
