Foreign Healthcare Workers No Longer Need a Separate Work Permit to Take up Employment

Denmark has introduced new work permit rules for foreign healthcare workers who enter the country to obtain authorisation in an attempt to make it easier for them to take up employment in the country.

In line with the new rules that became effective on July 1, 2024, foreign healthcare workers who hold a Danish residence permit under the Authorisation Scheme are no longer required to obtain a work permit, Schengen.News reports.

On July 1, 2024, the Danish Aliens Act was amended, which means that foreigners with a residence permit under the Authorisation Scheme are exempt from the work permit requirement.

Such a change in the rules for this group of foreign workers has been made amid the ongoing labour shortages that Denmark is experiencing in the sector. For this year alone, Denmark has set a quota of

Under the Authorisation Scheme, foreign healthcare workers learn the Danish language and undergo professional tests to obtain Danish authorisation, which will consequently enable them to work in the country’s healthcare system.

Which Foreign Healthcare Workers Are Granted Permits Under Authorisation Scheme?

As SIRI explains, under the Authorisation Scheme, only doctors, nurses, and dentists from non-EU/EEA countries are granted residence permits.

On the basis of this permit issued under the Authorisation Scheme, foreign doctors, nurses, and dentists are able to undergo all the necessary procedures to be able to obtain authorisation and work in Denmark.

To be granted a permit to stay in Denmark for the purposes of obtaining Danish authorisation, foreign doctors, nurses, and dentists must meet certain conditions.

They must undergo an assessment from the Danish Patient Safety Authority. The latter assesses foreign doctors, nurses, and dentists’ primary qualifications. A copy of this assessment needs to be submitted along with the other document required for the residence permit application.

To obtain a residence permit under the Authorisation Scheme, foreign doctors, nurses, and dentists must also submit proof that they are able to support themselves and their accompanying family members financially.

Documentation proving your ability to support yourself and any accompanying family members could, for example, be a statement from your bank account. The bank statement must not be more than 30 days old.

In addition to the above-mentioned, to be granted a residence permit under the scheme, foreign doctors, nurses, and dentists must also prove that they have not held a previous residence permit to obtain authorisation within the last two years.