Moving to Denmark from Pakistan, the Pakistani route
Your route in
Pakistani citizens need a Danish residence and work permit before moving; a Schengen visa is required for short visits.
Common routes are the Positive List, the Pay Limit Scheme, family reunification, and study permits.
Whichever scheme fits, you apply through SIRI (usually online via nyidanmark.dk) with a job contract in hand, and you must have the permit approved before you move. Compare the options in our residence permits guide and check the Positive List and Pay Limit Scheme.
Your first steps after arrival
Once you are in Denmark, the sequence is the same for everyone, and each step unlocks the next:
- Register your address and get a CPR number - the ten-digit key to everything. See the CPR number guide.
- Set up MitID, the digital ID you need for banking, tax and public services - the MitID guide walks you through it.
- Open a bank account and NemKonto so your salary and any refunds can be paid - see opening a bank account.
- Get your tax card (skattekort) so you are not taxed at the emergency 55% rate - the tax card guide explains it.
- Register with a doctor using your yellow health card, which arrives after your CPR.
Our first 30 days checklist puts all of this in order with timings.
Tax and your money
Check current treaty status; residents are taxed on worldwide income. Denmark taxes residents on worldwide income once you have been here beyond six months, but the rate you actually pay is lower than the headline figures suggest once deductions apply.
Work out your real take-home before you accept an offer with the net salary calculator, and if you are a researcher or highly paid specialist, check whether you qualify for the 27% expat tax scheme - from 2026 the salary threshold dropped, so more people qualify than before.
Your driving licence
A Pakistani licence generally requires a Danish driving test to exchange.
Full details, including the test and the 90-day window, are in the driving licence exchange guide.
Settling in
Long-established Pakistani community, one of the larger non-EU groups in Denmark.
The two things that surprise newcomers most are the cost of getting into a rental (often several months of deposit plus prepaid rent) and how much daily life runs through digital ID. Read up on deposit rules and the cost of living before you commit to anything.
And learning even basic Danish goes a long way socially, even though almost everyone speaks excellent English - see learning Danish.
Common questions
Can I move first and find a job later?
No. You need the residence and work permit approved before you move. A job offer normally comes first.
How long does a permit take?
It varies by scheme; certified employers using the Fast-Track Scheme are fastest. Check current SIRI processing times before you plan dates.
Can my family come with me?
Yes, accompanying family permits are available for spouses and children, applied for alongside or after your own permit.