Updated on 3 September 2026. Two changes have taken effect concerning public benefits and residence and work permit applications in Denmark. International students, people seeking professional authorisation, skilled workers and their employers should check the rules carefully before taking action.
1. Applying for the “food cheque” may affect certain residence permits
In a notice dated 3 July 2026, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) confirmed that the “food cheque” is considered a public benefit.
Your residence permit may be affected if you actively apply for the benefit and belong to one of these groups:
- People holding a residence permit in Denmark as a student.
- People holding a residence permit for the purpose of obtaining Danish professional authorisation, for example while completing the requirements needed to practise their profession.
These permits are conditional on the holder not receiving public benefits. If someone in one of the restricted groups applies for the “food cheque”, their residence permit may be revoked or refused an extension.
Who is not affected?
According to SIRI, receiving the benefit does not affect a residence permit in the following situations:
- The payment is granted automatically and the recipient did not apply for it.
- Salaried PhD students.
- Accompanying family members of students.
- Accompanying family members of people seeking professional authorisation.
- People holding other types of residence permit issued by SIRI, apart from student permits and permits for professional authorisation.
What should you do?
Students and people seeking professional authorisation should check the exact type of their residence permit before applying.
If the payment is made automatically without an application, SIRI has confirmed that receiving it will not affect the residence permit. If your permit type or personal circumstances are unclear, contact SIRI before taking action.
Official source: SIRI – The food cheque may, in a few cases, affect your residence permit
2. New wage statistics for the Positive List for Skilled Work
From 1 August 2026, SIRI uses wage statistics based on data from the first quarter of 2026 when assessing residence and work permit applications under the Positive List for Skilled Work.
SIRI uses wage data compiled from Statistics Denmark to determine whether the salary offered in the employment contract corresponds to Danish standards.
The applicable cut-off dates are:
- Applications submitted before 1 August 2026 are assessed using wage statistics from the third quarter of 2025.
- Applications submitted on or after 1 August 2026 are assessed using wage statistics from the first quarter of 2026.
This change is directly relevant to Vietnamese applicants preparing a case under the Positive List for Skilled Work and to Danish companies employing them.
What should workers and employers do?
Before signing a contract or submitting an application, both parties should:
- Identify the correct job title and DISCO-08 occupational code.
- Compare the salary with the statistics in force on the application date.
- Check salary, holiday entitlement, notice periods and other employment terms.
- Ensure that the contract or job offer contains all required terms.
A job appearing on the Positive List does not by itself mean that the application meets every requirement. Salary and employment conditions must still correspond to Danish standards.
Official source: SIRI – New wage statistics for the Positive List for Skilled Work
Read more: Requirements for the Positive List for Skilled Work
Note: This article provides general information based on SIRI’s guidance at the time of the update and does not replace legal advice for an individual case. Rules may change; readers should check the latest information on nyidanmark.dk or contact SIRI directly.