Guide to temporary entry into Denmark under CETA

This guide is for a Canadian business person temporarily travelling to Denmark to do business. It provides general information about temporary entry and stay requirements for business people under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and under Danish law. This guide aims to facilitate the entry of Canadian business people into Denmark for the purposes of exploring, entering and expanding operations in the Danish market. You will find relevant links and summaries of main steps for work permit and visa applications, including costs and lengths, for the categories of business people covered in CETA.

Text of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement – Chapter 10: Temporary entry and stay of natural persons for business purposes

CETA entered into force provisionally in 2017, which means that Denmark is bound by the Temporary Entry Chapter. However, there are still significant differences between CETA commitments and the national Danish laws regulating temporary entry. As such, some of the paths for entry identified in this guide do not fully overlap with the categories of business people covered in CETA.  

For any questions regarding Denmark’s temporary entry commitments under CETA, please contact: enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca

Under CETA, a short-term business visitor is a Canadian traveling to Denmark for one of the following activities:  

• meetings and consultations
• research and design
• marketing research
• training seminars
• trade fairs and exhibitions
• sales (negotiations or taking orders, cannot deliver goods or services themselves)
• purchasing
• after-sales or after-lease service
• commercial transactions (management and supervisory or financial services personnel only)
• tourism/travel operations
• translation and interpretation

A short-term business visitor cannot:

• sell a good or a service to the general public
• receive payment from a source located in Denmark
• provide any other service to a consumer in Denmark that is not listed under activities of a business visitor

Canadian short-term business visitors can stay in Denmark for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Under CETA, short-term business visitors may need a work permit, including an economic needs test, in case you provide a service while in Denmark. A visa may also be required.

Under Danish law, Canadian short-term business visitors do not need a Schengen C visa to enter Denmark. You are entitled to stay within any country of the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Canadian companies can also send non-Canadian nationals locally hired in Canada for short-term business travel in Denmark. In this case, a Schengen C visa may be required, if the short-term business visitor is not a national of Canada or another visa exempt country. They must file their application for Schengen C visas with the relevant Danish Consulate/Embassy. The processing time is approximately 2 weeks.

Schengen area
Schengen calculator
Schengen C visa exempt countries

Under Danish law, a short-term business visitor does not need a work permit so long as they are travelling to Denmark for one of the following work permit exempt activities:

• attending a course, participating in meetings, negotiations, briefings or training, or holding meetings
• as a researcher or lecturer invited to teach or lecture in Denmark
• as a potential PhD student involved in a selection process for a PhD programme with a Danish University
• as an artist, including a musician or other entertainer, whose participation constitutes a substantial or essential part of a noteworthy artistic event
• as a fitter, consultant or instructor hired to fit, install, inspect or repair machines, equipment, computer programmes or similar items, or provide information on the use of these items, who is employed by the firm that manufactured the equipment
• as an individual employed in the household of foreign nationals visiting Denmark
• as a professional athlete or coach participating in a major athletic event or participating in a try-out for a Danish sports club
• as a guest teacher invited to teach for up to 5 days, within a period of 180 days, at an educational institution under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science or the Ministry of Culture

Under Danish law, short-term business visitors cannot have a main residence or be under the direct control of an entity in Denmark.

No application process is required as these are work permit exempted activities. 

Under CETA, a Canadian business visitor for investment purposes is a Canadian manager or specialist responsible for setting up an enterprise in Denmark.

A Canadian business visitor for investment purposes cannot:

• work directly with the general public in Denmark
• receive compensation from a source located within Denmark

Canadian business visitors for investment purposes can stay in Denmark for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Under CETA, a Canadian business visitor for investment purposes does not need a work permit.

Under Danish law, you do not need a work permit so long as you are a representative of a foreign company or organisation that does not have a branch office in Denmark, visiting Denmark to enter into contracts to buy or sell products or services.

Under CETA, an investor is a Canadian supervisor or executive, responsible for establishing, developing, or operating an investment that they or their employing enterprise have committed, or are in the process of committing, a substantial amount of capital to.

Under CETA, Canadian investors can stay in Denmark for up to 90 days within any 6-month period.

Under CETA, you may need a work permit (including, for example, if you are a self-employed investor) and may need a visa.

Under Danish law, the main admission program for investors is the Start-up Denmark Scheme. You will also need a residence and work permit.

Despite Denmark’s commitment to not apply numerical restrictions to the entry of Canadian investors under CETA, the Start-up Denmark Scheme is subject to an annual cap of a maximum of 75 foreign nationals who can be granted a permit per calendar year. If you have encountered problems entering Denmark as an investor, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.

Step 1: for the approval of the business plan by the Start-up Denmark expert’s panel.

Step 2: Once your application is approved, apply for a residence and work permit at the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

Step 3: Within 14 days of submitting your residence and work permit application, submit your biometric data at the Danish Embassy.

The cost of application is 270 EUR.

The approval process by the Start-up Denmark expert’s panel takes approximately 6 weeks. Processing of residence and work permit applications take approximately one month.

Please note: the contractual services supplier category is covered in CETA but does not exist under Danish law. There are no specific work permit or visa options for a Canadian contractual services supplier seeking temporary entry into Denmark. If you have encountered problems entering Denmark as an contractual services supplier, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.

Under CETA, a contractual services supplier is a Canadian service supplier employed by an enterprise in Canada with a contract to provide a service to a consumer in Denmark in an eligible service sector. A list of eligible services sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.

A Canadian contractual service supplier must also:

• have provided services as an employee of the contracted Canadian enterprise for at least 1 year before the date of your application for entry into Denmark
• have a university degree or an equivalent qualification
• have at least 3 years of professional experience since the age of 18 in the sector of the contracted activity
• have any professional qualifications required to practice the activity according to the laws or requirements in Denmark

For engineering technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognized institution in engineering technology is considered equivalent to a university degree.

For scientific technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognized institution in the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, biology, chemistry, physics, forestry, geology, geophysics, mining and energy is considered equivalent to a university degree.

A Canadian contractual service supplier cannot get paid for their services during their stay in Denmark other than what is paid to them by their Canadian employers.

The Canadian enterprise that employs a Canadian contractual service supplier cannot have any establishment in Denmark.

Fulfillment of the contract must require the temporary presence of the Canadian contractual service supplier in Denmark.

Under CETA, a Canadian contractual services supplier can stay in Denmark for up to 12 months in any 24-month period, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less. Extensions are possible at the discretion of Denmark’s officials.

Under CETA, a contractual service supplier may need a work permit and a visa, and for some occupations, an economic needs test may apply.

Under Danish law, there is no specific work permit options for a Canadian contractual service supplier. However, a Canadian aiming to deliver services in Denmark could use the Positive List Scheme to obtain a work permit.

The Positive List Scheme authorizes a long stay visa (type D), which allows you to work, for service suppliers under a list of professions experiencing a shortage of skilled or highly qualified professionals in Denmark.

Alternatively, a Canadian contractual service supplier could seek a permit through the Pay Limit Scheme.

Step 1: Confirm your occupation is on Denmark’s Positive Lists.

Step 2: Submit your application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration online.

Note: Both you and your employer in Denmark will need to complete sections of this application.

Step 3: Within 14 days of submitting your online application, submit your biometric data at the Danish Embassy.

Step 4: If your application is approved, you will be issued an application approval or “ruling” letter.

Step 5: Once you have received the ruling letter, return to the Danish Embassy to collect your long stay visa (type D) which will also allow you to work in Denmark.

Step 6: Upon entry to Denmark, complete your address registration at the local citizen service office within 5 days of moving into your new Danish address. This step must occur within 6 months of issuance of the visa.

The final residence card will be mailed to the home address approximately 4 weeks after the registration is completed.

The application cost is EUR 578.

Application processing begins only once you have submitted your biometric data at the Danish Embassy. Processing is typically completed within 1 month, however, questions regarding your salary and/or education level can add 30-60 days to the processing time.

Consult the for more information about the application process and eligibility conditions.

Please note: the independent professionals category is covered in CETA but does not exist under Danish law. There are no specific work permit or visa options for a Canadian investors seeking temporary entry into Denmark. If you have encountered problems entering Denmark as an independent professional, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.

Under CETA, an independent professional is a self-employed Canadian service supplier with a contract to supply a service to a consumer in Denmark in an eligible sector. A list of eligible services sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.

A Canadian independent professional must also have:

• at least 6 years of professional experience in the sector of the contracted activity at the date of application of entry
• a university degree or equivalent qualification
• any professional qualifications required to practice the activity, according to the laws or requirements in Denmark

For engineering technologists seeking entry as an independent professional, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in engineering technology is considered equivalent to a university degree.

For scientific technologists seeking entry as an independent professional, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, biology, chemistry, physics, forestry, geology, geophysics, mining and energy is considered equivalent to a university degree.

Other requirements:

• a Canadian independent professional must not have established an enterprise in Denmark
• fulfillment of the contract must require the temporary presence of the independent professional in Denmark

Under CETA, a Canadian independent professional can stay in Denmark for a total period of up to 12 months in a 24-month period, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less. Extensions are possible at the discretion of Denmark’s officials.

The independent professional category does not exist under Danish law. There are no specific work permit or visa options for a Canadian independent professional. You may apply under the Start-up Denmark Scheme for a work and residence permit, if you intend to provide your service in Denmark for a long period of time.

Under CETA, Canadian intra-corporate transferees are senior personnel, specialists, or graduate trainees at a Canadian enterprise who are being temporarily transferred to a subsidiary, branch, or head company of the Canadian enterprise in Denmark.

Senior personnel are Canadian business people in a senior position within an enterprise who:

• primarily direct the management of the enterprise or a department or sub-division of the enterprise
• make a wide range of decisions, including recruitment, promotions and dismissals
• receive only general supervision or direction principally from higher-level executives, the board of directors, or stockholders of the business or their equivalent or supervise and control the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees and exercise discretionary authority over day-to-day operations

Specialists are Canadian business people who have:

• uncommon knowledge of the enterprise's products or services and its application in international markets, or
• an advanced level of expertise or knowledge of the enterprise's processes and procedures such as its production, research equipment, techniques, or management

In assessing such expertise or knowledge, Denmark’s officials will consider abilities that are unusual and different from those generally found in a particular industry and that cannot be easily transferred to another business person in the short-term. These abilities would have been obtained through specific academic qualifications or extensive experience with the enterprise.

Graduate trainees are Canadian business people who:

• have a university degree
• are being temporarily transferred to an enterprise in Denmark for career development purposes, or to obtain training in business techniques or methods

Under CETA, Canadian senior personnel and specialists can stay in Denmark for whichever is shorter, 3 years or the length of the contract, with a possible extension of up to 18 months at the discretion of Denmark’s officials.

Canadian graduate trainees can stay in Denmark for whichever is shorter, 1 year or the length of the contract.

Under CETA, you may need a work permit and a visa. Under Danish law, the main route for intra-company transfers to Denmark is the Pay Limit Scheme. Approval under this scheme includes a long stay visa (type D), which also allows you to work. This scheme is available to Canadians placed on a local Danish employment contract or on a long-term assignment to Denmark.

Step 1: Submit your application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration online.

Note: Both you and your employer in Denmark will need to complete sections of this application.

Step 2: Within 14 days of submitting your online application, submit your biometric data at the Danish Embassy.

Step 3: If your application is approved, you will be issued an application approval or “ruling” letter.

Step 4: Once you have received the ruling letter, return to the Danish Embassy to collect your long stay visa (type D).

Step 5: Upon entry to Denmark, complete your address registration at the local citizen service office within 5 days of moving into your new Danish address. This step must occur within 6 months of issuance of the visa.

The final residence card will be mailed to the home address approximately 4 weeks after the registration is completed.

The application cost is EUR 575.

Application processing begins only once you have submitted your biometric data at the Danish Embassy. Processing is typically completed within 4 weeks.

Consult the Pay Limit Scheme for more information about the application process and eligibility conditions.

Entry into Denmark for Canadian business people not belonging to any of the categories covered under the CETA is subject to Denmark’s acts and regulations governing entry and stay.

To explore other paths for entry into Denmark, please consult Denmark’s official portal.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is current as of July 2023 (national immigration legislations may change, sometimes at short notice). It is offered for informational purposes only and does not constitute general legal advice. The information: (i) must be regarded as a practical guide for general information and not a process guide for determining the specific immigration requirements of the countries covered, (ii) should not be a substitute for a more in-depth analysis of applicable facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, criminal or health-related circumstances) conducted by competent professionals, (iii) indicated processing times and fees herein are approximate, are subject to the specific case circumstances, and  change. The information herein does not guarantee the outcome or approval of any particular immigration application.