Working in Denmark from Brazil: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

If you are a Brazilian worker with practical trade skills, moving to Denmark to earn in Danish kroner is an appealing goal. However, you must know the truth before spending money or time: Denmark is one of the most difficult countries in Europe for non-EU workers in general manual or entry-level trades. Denmark does not offer general work permits for basic warehouse work, standard driving, entry-level construction, or general cleaning from outside the EU.

Unless you qualify under a specific skilled trade on Denmark's shortage list or receive a high-paying job offer, getting a permit is very tough. If you want a faster, more accessible path to legal work in Europe from Brazil, consider Portugal (which shares your language and offers a job-seeker visa) or Germany (which offers an Opportunity Card for skilled trade workers). But if you have specialized technical skills, certified experience, or an employer ready to meet Danish salary rules, Denmark remains possible. Here is exactly how the legal process works for a Brazilian passport holder.

Work permit routes and application in Brazil

To work legally in Denmark as a Brazilian citizen, you cannot simply arrive on a 90-day Schengen tourist waiver and look for a job. Working on a tourist visa is illegal and leads to deportation and a Schengen entry ban. You must secure a work and residence permit before you start working.

Denmark does not use the standard EU Blue Card scheme in the same way as other EU nations, as it has an opt-out on certain EU migration rules. Instead, immigration is handled directly by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, known locally as SIRI (Styrelsen for International Rekruttering og Integration). For skilled and technical workers from Brazil, two main legal routes exist:

• The Positive List for Skilled Work (Positivlisten for faglærte): This is an official list of specific skilled trade occupations experiencing a shortage in Denmark, such as specialized CNC technicians, certified industrial welders, or line mechanics. If your trade is on this list and you have a written offer matching Danish wage standards, you can apply.
• The Pay Limit Scheme (Beløbsordningen): If your trade is not on the shortage list, you can still get a work permit if a Danish employer offers you a salary above a set annual threshold. For 2026, this threshold requires a high annual salary that covers mostly upper-level specialists or highly experienced supervisors.

Who applies first? The process is a joint effort, but the employer starts it. The employer initiates an online application form called AR1 through the SIRI portal. They fill in the job details, pay the official fee, and generate a reference code. You then complete your portion of the online form using that reference code and submit your supporting documents.

Once the online AR1 form is submitted to SIRI, you must record your biometrics (your digital fingerprints and passport photograph) in person within 14 days. If you fail to submit biometrics within this window, SIRI will reject your application. In Brazil, Denmark contracts visa processing to VFS Global, with a main application centre located in São Paulo. If you cannot travel to São Paulo, you must visit the nearest Denmark embassy or visa centre serving Brazil. Never pay an unverified agency claiming they can collect biometrics at your home address.

Required documents and apostille process

Danish authorities examine every application carefully. You must prepare official documentation from Brazil, ensuring every document is properly translated and legalised.

• Signed employment contract: Must be a binding job offer or contract signed by both you and the Danish employer, specifying your salary, working hours, and job duties matching Danish wage standards.
• Valid passport: Your Brazilian passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned stay, with at least two blank pages.
• Police clearance certificate: You must provide a clean criminal record certificate (Atestado de Antecedentes Criminais) issued online by the Polícia Federal in Brazil.
• Proof of qualifications and experience: Diplomas, certificates, vocational training records (such as SENAI certificates), and work reference letters from previous employers in Brazil detailing your exact duties and work history.
• Hague Apostille (Apostila de Haia): Because Brazil and Denmark are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, official public documents issued in Brazil (such as your police record and formal educational certificates) must be legalised with an apostille at a licensed Brazilian cartório.
• Certified translations: All Brazilian documents written in Portuguese must be translated into English or Danish by a sworn translator (tradutor juramentado).

Fees, real costs, and processing times

Moving to Denmark involves official government fees as well as preparation expenses in Brazil. You should plan your budget carefully before starting.

• Official SIRI processing fee: The Danish government charges an official processing fee set by Denmark. For most work routes, this fee is approximately 5,000 DKK to 6,000 DKK (approximately €670 to €800, or R$ 3,600 to R$ 4,300). This fee is usually paid by the employer or the applicant during the online application step.
• SIRI processing time: Decisions typically take approximately 1 to 3 months from the date biometrics are registered at the visa centre, depending on the scheme used.

On the Brazilian side, you will carry several personal costs before departure:

• Police clearance check: Free from the Polícia Federal online portal.
• Cartório apostille fees: Approximately R$ 70 to R$ 150 (€12 to €25) per document in Brazil.
• Sworn translations: Approximately R$ 150 to R$ 350 (€25 to €60) per page.
• VFS Global biometrics fee: Approximately R$ 200 to R$ 400 (€35 to €65).
• Flight ticket from Brazil to Denmark: Approximately R$ 4,000 to R$ 7,500 (€650 to €1,200) for a one-way flight, depending on the season.

It is crucial to understand recruitment costs: Under Danish law and European Union principles, no employer or recruitment agency may legally charge a worker a fee for a job itself or for giving them a work contract. The employer carries recruitment costs. Beware of scams on social media targeting Brazilian workers that demand a processing fee, placement fee, or job reservation fee. Real European employers pay for their own hiring processes.

Trades Denmark hires foreign workers for right now

While general unskilled work routes are closed to non-EU citizens, Denmark genuinely recruits international workers for specific skilled trades:

• Skilled CNC operators and industrial welders: Manufacturing companies across Jutland recruit certified metalworkers who hold recognized technical qualifications and experience operating automated machinery.
• Specialized agricultural technicians: Modern Danish dairy and livestock farms hire experienced farm managers and automated systems operators capable of running large-scale farm operations.
• Certified construction specialists: Infrastructure development projects hire certified industrial electricians and heavy equipment mechanics with verified professional backgrounds.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can fly to Denmark as a tourist, find a trade job, and start working immediately.
  Fact: Working on a tourist entry is illegal in Denmark and results in swift deportation, fines, and a multi-year entry ban across all Schengen states.
• Myth: Paying an agency in Brazil guarantees you a work visa for Denmark.
  Fact: Only SIRI can issue a Danish work permit, and paying an agency for a guaranteed visa or job offer is almost always a scam.
• Myth: Speaking basic Portuguese is enough because Danish companies provide translators on site.
  Fact: You must speak clear English or conversational Danish to understand safety protocols and communicate effectively in Danish workplaces.
• Myth: Any job offer from a Danish business guarantees a work permit.
  Fact: The job offer must satisfy high minimum salary thresholds or fit an official shortage trade on the Positive List to qualify for a permit.

Before you sign

Before you sign any document or pay for translations, go through this safety checklist:

• Verify the employer: Check that the Danish company is registered in Denmark's official business register (CVR registry).
• Check salary rules: Ensure the written job contract explicitly states a salary that meets or exceeds Danish minimum collective agreement standards or permit requirements.
• Confirm the permit route: Ask the employer specifically whether the job falls under the Positive List for Skilled Work or the Pay Limit Scheme.
• Keep your money: Refuse to pay any recruitment agency or middleman for a job offer, contract, or interview.
• Prepare your cartório documents: Ensure your Polícia Federal police check and diplomas are apostilled at a cartório and translated by an official sworn translator.

Take your next step on Workuro

If you have practical skills in a trade, valid certifications, and a commitment to working legally in Europe, make sure your profile stands out to verified employers. Update your profile with the details covered in this guide: list your specific trade, list your SENAI or technical certificates, state your English language level, and confirm that you have your Brazilian passport and police clearance ready.

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