Sudan → Denmark: the The Pay Limit Scheme (Beløbsordningen) — Danish Work and Residence Permit roadmap
The Pay Limit Scheme is Denmark's primary salary-based work-and-residence route for skilled non-EU professionals: any job offer meeting the minimum annual salary qualifies, regardless of occupation or whether the role is on a shortage list. For 2026 (effective 1 January) the ordinary threshold is DKK 552,000/year, with a stricter supplementary scheme at DKK 446,000/year. It leads to a genuine settlement track: permanent residence is possible after 4 years (fast-track) or 8 years standard, and Danish citizenship after 9 years of continuous residence, though Denmark's naturalisation rules are among Europe's most demanding.
Moving from Sudan
- You apply for the The Pay Limit Scheme (Beløbsordningen) — Danish Work and Residence Permit at the Denmark consulate, embassy, or visa application centre that serves Sudan, confirm the office and the current appointment wait for your region.
- Qualifications and work experience earned in Sudan usually need a credential assessment or recognition before they count toward Denmark's requirements.
- Budget for certified translation and apostille or legalisation of your Sudan documents (degree, police certificate, civil records).
- Check whether a Sudan passport needs a short-stay visa for any in-person biometrics or interview steps.
General guidance for any Sudan to Denmark applicant; the eligibility and fees below are set by Denmark.
At a glance
Who qualifies
- Concrete job offer from a Danish employer with an annual salary of at least DKK 552,000 (ordinary) or DKK 446,000 (supplementary scheme)
- Salary and employment terms must correspond to Danish standards, including labour-market pension contributions, and the job must be at least 30 hours per week
- Salary must be paid into a Danish bank account in the applicant's own name (verified after arrival)
- For the supplementary scheme: the position must have been publicly advertised (e.g. on Jobnet/EURES) and the national gross unemployment rate must be below the legislated threshold
- No specific occupation, degree, or shortage-list requirement under the ordinary scheme; any field qualifies if the salary is met
- Valid passport; employer and role must be genuine and compliant (certified employers can use a faster start-work procedure)
Your step-by-step roadmap
Secure a qualifying job offer
- Find a Danish employer and sign a contract meeting the DKK 552,000 (or 446,000 supplementary) salary and Danish-standard terms
- Confirm the route: ordinary Pay Limit Scheme, supplementary scheme (advertised job), or Positive List if salary is lower
- Gather contract, passport, and education/employment documentation
Apply to SIRI
- Create a case order ID and pay the DKK 6,810 fee (plus DKK 3,080 per accompanying family member)
- Submit the online application with employer co-signing part of the form
- Give biometrics (photo and fingerprints) at a Danish mission or SIRI branch
Decision and relocation
- Await SIRI decision, typically 1 to 3 months
- On approval, receive a residence and work permit valid up to 4 years
- Enter Denmark, register for a CPR number, open a Danish bank account, and ensure salary is paid into it
Settle and extend
- Maintain employment and pension contributions; renew the permit before expiry
- Build toward permanent residence by meeting the supplementary conditions (income, employment, language, citizenship test)
- Use the 6-month job-seeking permit window if employment ends, to find a new qualifying role
Government fees
Timeline & path to citizenship
Timeline: From a signed job offer, SIRI normally decides within 1 to 3 months, with the initial permit valid for up to 4 years and renewable as long as the qualifying employment and salary continue.
Citizenship: Permanent residence is attainable after 4 years (fast-track: Danish Test 3 plus 4 years' full-time employment) or 8 years standard, requiring 2 of 4 supplementary conditions (income ~DKK 346,156/year in 2026, employment, language, or active-citizenship test); Danish citizenship by naturalisation then requires 9 years' continuous residence, holding PR for at least 2 years, self-support, and demanding language and citizenship-test thresholds, making it one of Europe's stricter naturalisation regimes.
This is general information to help you plan, not legal advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration professional.