Visa and work and residence permits

In the event of postings to other EU/EEA countries, Danish citizens do not require a visa or a residence or work permit. They are entitled to stay and work in all EU/EEA countries. However, they must register with the local authorities within the first three months of their stay in order to have a residence permit issued.

Employees who are being posted or employed in non-EU/EEA countries usually need both a residence permit and a work permit as well as a visa prior to departure from Denmark. It is not normally permitted to undertake paid or unpaid work unless you have a work permit.

Employees are advised to obtain a work permit and any other permits prior to their departure from Denmark as it is not always possible to obtain the necessary permits once they have arrived in a specific country.

Employees who have work and residence permit to work in Denmark must contact International Faculty Services in Corporate HR well in advance of travelling abroad for more information about any consequences a stay abroad might have for their work and residence permits.

How to obtain visas and work and residence permits

To obtain work and residence permits and visas, it is necessary to contact the pertinent embassy of the country in Denmark. Usually, the employee is required to show up in person at the embassy or consulate. The individual countries’ embassies and consulates can provide precise answers to these questions. For countries which have no representation in Denmark, call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark on tel. +45 3392 0000 to find out which number to call for the nearest embassy or consulate of the country in question.

Illegal work

Working illegally in a country often has very serious consequences. These vary from substantial fines to expulsion from the country for ever. Therefore, it is very important that the paperwork is in place well before departure.

Read more about the rules, including information about which countries require visas.