Background information

Denmark is facing persistent labour shortages in the healthcare and elderly care sectors, which pose a threat to service delivery and quality. In response to these shortages, the government introduced legislative proposal L 170, aiming to facilitate the recruitment and employment of foreign-trained healthcare professionals from non-EU countries. The proposal includes targeted changes to the Act on Authorisation of Healthcare Professionals and to the Immigration Act. These amendments implement recommendations from the Taskforce on Foreign Labour, with the aim of streamlining access to the Danish labour market and improving the use of foreign qualifications.

The proposal was adopted on 4 June 2024.

Legal reference: Legislative Proposal L 170 – Proposal to amend the Act on Authorisation of Healthcare Professionals and the Immigration Act (proposed 25 April 2024).

Content of measure

The measure targets foreign-trained healthcare professionals from third countries who seek to work in Denmark. It introduces a new authorisation-based residence permit, allowing individuals to begin employment as part of an evaluation process, prior to receiving full Danish authorisation. Eligibility requirements imply that the Danish Patient Safety Authority (Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed) either recognises the applicant’s education as equivalent to Danish standards, or approves a plan for the applicant to compensate for specific clinical gaps during the authorisation process. In both cases, a concrete job offer for evaluation employment must be in place before entry into Denmark.

Holders of the new-authorised permits are exempt from needing a separate work permit. The measure also facilitates the recognition of selected foreign qualifications, particularly those obtained within the EU/EEA that meet EU minimum standards. Danish language courses are offered to support integration and professional practice. Participation in these courses is free of charge, although participants are required to pay a refundable deposit prior to enrolment.

Separately, an annual quota of 1,000 residence and work permits has been introduced for social and healthcare helpers, who have been added to the list of occupations eligible under the skilled labour scheme. No quota applies to healthcare professionals covered by the new authorisation-based residence permit.

Use of measure

No information available yet.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Particular professions Migrants or refugees in employment	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social partners jointly Employers' organisations	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

Social partners were not directly involved in the initial design of the measure but contributed through the formal consultation process linked to the legislative proposal. Several employer and employee organisations submitted hearing responses.

Views and reactions

The social partners are positive towards the amendment.

Sectors and occupations

Sources

• 04 June 2024: Vedtaget Lov om ændring af lov om autorisation af sundhedspersoner og om sundhedsfaglig virksomhed og udlændingeloven (www.ft.dk)
• 03 April 2025: Forslag til lov om ændring af lov om autorisation af sundhedspersoner og om sundhedsfaglig virksomhed og udlændingeloven til Lov om ændring af lov om autorisation af sundhedspersoner og om sundhedsfaglig virksomhed og udlændingeloven (www.ft.dk)
• 03 April 2025: Aftale om bedre og smidigere rammer for rekruttering af udenlandske sundhedspersoner fra tredjelande (ufm.dk)