The Danish Parliament has announced new rules concerning foreign labour in healthcare, as revealed by the Newtodenmark.dk, a website managed by the Immigration Service and the Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).
Starting July 1, social and healthcare workers will be included in the Positive List for Skilled Workers, with 1,000 residence and work permits available, SchengenNews reports.
New rules also include an extension of the authorisation scheme, allowing requested healthcare professionals to get a residence permit to obtain Danish authorisation.
To benefit from this scheme, applicants must be evaluated by the Patient Safety Authority, under a new authorisation procedure for specifically requested healthcare professionals, as further explained by the Newtodenmark.dk.
Residence Permit Holders on Authorisation Scheme Will Be Exempted from Work Permits
Under the new rules, set to take effect on July 1, holders of residence permit under the authorisation program will no longer be required to obtain work permits.
Henceforth, they do not need to apply for a separate work permit if they want to work in Denmark during their authorised stay.
In the future, authorities will also grant up to six months stay for job searching in the in extension of the authorisation stay.
As noted by Newtodenmark.dk, this period can be used to seek employment in Denmark after the authorisation process ends.
Foreign students pursuing professions facing shortages, will also be given the opportunity to stay in Denmark for a longer period.
Such a policy was introduced by authorities to retain the international talent in the country.
Denmark Reported Labour Shortages in These Health & Care Occupations
The 2023 EURES Report on shortages and surpluses identified 41 shortages and 146 surpluses in the Danish labour market.
Several of the shortage occupations identified in this report were related to health and care sector, such as:
