Am I exempt from a work permit?

You can work in Greenland without holding a work permit if your stay is shorter than 3 months, and you are: a researcher or a lecturer who has been invited to teach or lecture in Greenland, a professional athlete or artist (excluding performers, restaurant musicians and similar), a representative of a foreign company or organisation, which do not have a branch office in Greenland, who is on a business trip in Greenland, an individual employed in the household of foreign nationals visiting Greenland for up to three months, a fitter, consultant or instructor hired to fit, install, inspect or repair machines, equipment, computer programmes or similar items. Read more about the so-called “fitter rule” here. However, you must still hold a visa if you are a national of country whose citizens are required to have a visa to visit Greenland.

Can I work somewhere else with my work visa?

You are only allowed to work in the job and in the company that you have been granted a permit to work in. If you are offered a new job, you must apply for a new permit before you start the new job. This also applies if you are offered a new position within the same company. If you wish to take a sideline job, you have to obtain a separate permit.

Can I receive public benefits?

You must be able to support yourself and your family during your stay. You are not allowed to receive public benefits. If you or your family members receive such benefits during your stay, your permit can be revoked – and you will lose the right to stay in Greenland.

How long can I stay in Greenland?

If your employment is for 1 year or more, you will normally be granted a residence permit valid for 1 year. If you want to continue to work in Greenland beyond the first year, you must apply for an extension of your residence and work permit based on the extension of your employment contract. It is very important that you apply for an extension before your permit expires.

Can my family be granted a residence permit?

A residence and work permit based on a job in Greenland allows your family to come with you to Greenland. A permit can be granted to your spouse, registered or cohabiting partner as well as children under the age of 18 living at home.

Work Visa

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Greenland

About

Requirements

Cost of Living

Expats

Talent Migration

About

If you have been offered employment in Greenland, you need to apply for a residence and work permit.

An application for a residence and work permit in Greenland must generally be submitted to a Danish diplomatic mission or an application center receiving applications on behalf of the Danish diplomatic mission. In some countries, you can submit your application at a Norwegian diplomatic mission.

If you wish to work in Greenland, you must apply for a permit at the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), which will process the application based on approval from the Government of Greenland (Naalakkersuisut).

It is your own responsibility to obtain a residence and work permit if the rules require it. You can read more about the rules and consequences of illegal work here.

Please note that you must also apply for a residence and work permit if you take voluntary or unpaid work.

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Duration

1 year

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Fees

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Processing time

3 months

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COMPLEXITY

Medium

What are eligibility requirements for the Work Visa ?

2 Eligibility Requirements

You need to submit an application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).
As a general rule, you must have an employment agreement with a company registered in Greenland to be able to apply. However, there are certain exceptions, e.g. if you work for a foreign company that provides services in Greenland.

Which documents do I need to apply for the Work Visa ?

5 Document Required

Copy of all pages of your passport – including all empty pages and the passport’s front and back cover. Note: your passport must be valid for at least 2 months after your planned departure from Greenland.
Copy of employment contract stating your salary and terms of employment, as well as a job description. The employment contract must not more than 30 days old.
Educational documents.
Proof of authorisation to work in your field (if the job requires a Danish or a Greenlandic authorization).
Your employer need to submit the permission to employ foreign labour in the job position - according to Landstingslov no. 27 of 30. October 1992 concerning the regulation of labour force increase in Greenland.

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Frequently asked questions

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You can work in Greenland without holding a work permit if your stay is shorter than 3 months, and you are:

a researcher or a lecturer who has been invited to teach or lecture in Greenland,
a professional athlete or artist (excluding performers, restaurant musicians and similar),
a representative of a foreign company or organisation, which do not have a branch office in Greenland, who is on a business trip in Greenland,
an individual employed in the household of foreign nationals visiting Greenland for up to three months,
a fitter, consultant or instructor hired to fit, install, inspect or repair machines, equipment, computer programmes or similar items. Read more about the so-called “fitter rule” here.
However, you must still hold a visa if you are a national of country whose citizens are required to have a visa to visit Greenland.
You are only allowed to work in the job and in the company that you have been granted a permit to work in.

If you are offered a new job, you must apply for a new permit before you start the new job. This also applies if you are offered a new position within the same company.

If you wish to take a sideline job, you have to obtain a separate permit.
You must be able to support yourself and your family during your stay. You are not allowed to receive public benefits.

If you or your family members receive such benefits during your stay, your permit can be revoked – and you will lose the right to stay in Greenland.
If your employment is for 1 year or more, you will normally be granted a residence permit valid for 1 year. If you want to continue to work in Greenland beyond the first year, you must apply for an extension of your residence and work permit based on the extension of your employment contract. It is very important that you apply for an extension before your permit expires.
A residence and work permit based on a job in Greenland allows your family to come with you to Greenland.

A permit can be granted to your spouse, registered or cohabiting partner as well as children under the age of 18 living at home.

Talent Migration data for Greenland

Talent gain & drain map of 2015-2019 data. Sourced from World Bank Digital Development Data.

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