Danish Green Card Scheme
Introduction
The Danish Green Card scheme allows you to live and work in
Denmark if you can score enough points based upon criteria such
as age, language skills, work experience, and education. If
you score at least 100 points, you can obtain a residence permit
valid for up to three years. In addition, you will be able to
bring your immediate family along.
As well as scoring 100 points, you must have a valid health
insurance policy and be able to provide proof that you can support
yourself and your family while you look for work in Denmark.
The Danish Green Card Points Based System
Under the Danish Green Card scheme, points are score under five
areas: Education, Language Skills, Work Experience, Adaptability,
and Age. It is also possible to score a number of bonus points
for various factors described below.
Education
To score points for Education, you must have the Danish equivalent
of a bachelors degree. Your academic credentials must be assessed
by CIRIUS, a body under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology,
and Innovation.
In addition to points scored for your degree, bonus points
can be awarded under Education for obtaining a degree from a
top school or by having an education which qualifies you for
work in an occupation on the Positive List.
With the addition of bonus points, the maximum number of points
that can be scored for Education is 105. It is possible for
you to score enough points for a work and residence permit based
soley upon points earned for Education.
Education level
Points
Bachelors degree
30
Bachelors degree + 1 year Masters degree
50
Masters degree
60
PhD
80
Education related to occupation on the Positive List Bonus
Points 10
Language Skills
You can earn a maximum of 30 points for language skills which
includes knowledge of Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or
German. Points can be earned for both one Scandinavian language
(Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian) and either English or German,
but not for both English and German or two or more Scandinavian
languages.
You will be required to show that you have passed an exam equivalent
to at least a Danish Language Test, Level 1. Alternatively,
you can prove language proficiency through a statement by your
previous employer stating that you used Danish, Swedish, Norwegian,
English or German while performing your job for at least one
year, or by proving that you have completed at least one year's
study in higher education which was taught in one of these languages.
In the case of these last two requirements, you will have shown
a language proficiency equal to a Study Test in Danish as a
Second Language.
Language Proficiency Level Points
Level 1 5
Level 2 10
Level 3 15
Study Test in Danish as a Second Language 20
Work Experience
You can score a maximum of 15 points under Work Experience.
Your points are earned based upon the number of years you have
worked as a researcher, or in a field of work that is currently
in shortage in Denmark (i.e., a job listed on the Positive List).
If this does not apply to you, you can still earn points for
experience any other single occupation.
Work Experience
Points
3-5 years experience as a researcher or in a field on the Positive
List
15
1-2 years experience as a researcher or in a field on the Positive
List
10
3-5 years experience in other work
5
Adaptability
If you have studied or worked in the European Union/European
Economic Area, you can claim a maximum of 15 points for adaptability.
You can only claim points for either education experience or
work experience -- not both.
EU/EEA Education Experience
Points
Completion of at least one year of study in higher education
in the EU/EEA or Switzerland
5
Completion of at least three years of study in higher education
in the EU/EEA or Switzerland
10
EU/EEA Work Experience
Points
At least one year of work and residence in an EU/EEA country
or Switzerland
5
At least two years of work and residence in an EU/EEA country
or Switzerland
10
Age
You can also earn a maximum of 15 points for your age:
Age
Points
35-40 years
10
34 years or younger
15
Family Members
If you are granted a residence permit under Denmark's Green
Card Scheme, your spouse or partner is also eligible for a residence
permit, as well as any children under the age of 18 who are
living at home with you. Your spouse or partner is allowed to
work full time for the entire period of the residence permit's
validity.
Immigration 
