Rules eased in work permit schemes

What is the change? Danish officials have made minor changes to work permit programs.

What does the change mean? Under rules that will take effect June 1, Denmark will reduce the hours-per-week requirement in the Pay Limit Scheme, ease penalties on employers who make minor mistakes when using the Fast Track Scheme, and allow for multiple short-term stays within a 12-month period.

• Implementation time frame: The changes will take effect June 1.
• Visas/permits affected: Work permits under the Pay Limit and Fast Track schemes.
• Who is affected: Employers and foreign nationals applying for work permits under the Pay Limit and Fast Track schemes.

Additional information: On April 30, the Danish government announced small changes to work permit programs. Among the announcements:

• The hours-per-week requirement will be reduced from 37 to 30 for workers in the Pay Limit Scheme.
• Officials said they would not change the Pay Limit Scheme minimum salary requirement of 426,985.06 kroner (about US$64,224) per year, nor will they change the requirement that wages be paid into a Danish bank account.
• Officials will allow for short-term stays of a total of 90 days within a 12-month period under the Fast Track Scheme. Previously, foreign nationals were limited to one stay of up to three months per year; now there is no limit on the number of stays, as long as the total number of days is no more than 90. This will ease the burden for employers who use foreign nationals under short-term contracts.
• The period during which employers will not be permitted to use the Fast Track Scheme (quarantine period) after making minor mistakes in the application process will be reduced from two years to one year.
• Officials will change one of the eligibility requirements for the Fast Track Scheme. Previously, Danish companies were deemed ineligible for the scheme if they incurred fines under the Danish Aliens Act of more than 20,000 kroner in the past year. The threshold has now been lifted to 60,000 kroner for companies with fewer than 250 employees and 100,000 kroner for companies with 250 or more employees.
• Ph.D. students who hold a Danish student permit will be permitted to work immediately after submitting an application for a work permit.

Analysis & Comments: While the changes are minor, they will in some cases make it easier for employers to sponsor workers in the Pay Limit Scheme or employers to qualify as eligible for the Fast-track scheme.

Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.