Published 20-08-2025

Change of the Immigration Service’ practice when calculating stay for permanent residence permit in Greenland

There is a great shortage of healthcare personnel in Greenland. In order to strengthen the staffing in the healthcare sector the Immigration Service changes practice in cases regarding permanent residence permit. Going forward a change sector from one type of work to employment in the healthcare sector will not count as an interruption in the calculation of the 7 year period required to get permanent residence permit.

One of the requirements to get permanent residence permit in Greenland on the grounds of work is that you have stayed legally in Greenland in the last 7 years on the same grounds significantly. This practice means that foreigners get an interrupted period of stay if they change sector and therefore must start the calculation of their stay over again.

In order to promote the recruitment of healthcare personnel in Greenland the Immigration Service will change practice in cases on permanent residence permit regarding foreigners with a residence permit in Greenland and a health education who work outside the healthcare sector and are offered a job in the healthcare sector and need to change sector. For these foreigners a job change to a relevant job in the healthcare sector will no longer result in an interruption of the calculation of stay and the calculation will therefore not start over.

The change of practice will only apply in cases where a change of sector is to the healthcare sector, this is due to the great shortage of healthcare personnel in Greenland. Foreigners included in the new practice will be the same group of people who is included in the fast-track agreement made between the Ministry of Immigration and Integration and the Greenland Self-Government, Naalakkersuisut.

Foreigners included in the change of practice must have a health education and have been offered, or have entered into, an agreement for employment in the Greenlandic healthcare system on condition that the employment is covered by a collective agreement.

The change of practice comes into effect on 22 August 2025.