Key Points
- Greenland revised its residence permit rules effective August 22, 2025.
- Foreign workers entering healthcare roles keep their seven-year stay count.
- Previously, switching employment sectors reset permanent residence eligibility.
- Policy targets recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.
Overview
Greenland has introduced changes to its Greenland Residence Permit Rules aimed at strengthening healthcare recruitment and retention. Effective August 22, 2025, foreign residents with health qualifications who shift from other sectors into healthcare will no longer face a reset in their seven-year continuous stay calculation required for permanent residence.
Under the prior framework, changing employment sectors interrupted the stay count, forcing applicants to restart the full seven-year period before qualifying for permanent residency. The new adjustment ensures that foreign professionals entering healthcare maintain their accumulated legal residence time, improving pathways toward long-term settlement.
This policy update applies exclusively to roles within healthcare that fall under collective agreements. It aligns with the fast-track agreement between Denmark’s Ministry of Immigration and Integration and Greenland’s Self-Government, Naalakkersuisut, designed to address the territory’s critical labor shortages in health services.
By removing administrative barriers for qualified healthcare workers, Greenland aims to attract and retain foreign talent while improving stability in its public health system. For more insights on Nordic immigration changes, see Corporate Immigration Partners’ Europe updates.
Looking Ahead
Employers in Greenland’s healthcare sector should review the updated policy when considering recruitment strategies for foreign staff. The reform enhances Greenland’s attractiveness as a destination for qualified professionals while reducing compliance obstacles. Further initiatives may follow to address ongoing labor shortages across essential services.
