Greenland lacks the necessary manpower to meet the demands of several industries. Therefore, many companies must use foreign employees in Greenland, which is subject to certain rules and regulations.
Nuna Law can assist you in navigating these rules.
Nordic citizens – from Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Sweden, Norway and Finland – may work and stay in Greenland without a permit.
For other foreign employees, a residence and work permit must be obtained prior to commencing work. However, a special 90-day exemption rule applies to foreign employees working in the mining industry with activities covered by the Mining Act. They may work and stay in Greenland without a permit if the relevant work can be completed within a total of 90 days within a rolling 180-day period.
Residence and work permits are issued by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) and are valid for two years, following a change in practice. This usually takes around 90 days.
If your company is registered in Greenland, you can apply through a “fast-track” scheme and obtain permits in around 30 days.
If the relevant person is a citizen from a country with visa restrictions, they must also apply for a visa.
Nuna Law offers the service of preparing and submitting applications so the process is handled correctly from the start.
If you want to use foreign unskilled or skilled workers at apprenticeship level or lower, you must first post the job on the national portal for at least 14 days. When the 14-day period has expired, approval from the local municipality must be obtained.
Nuna Law advises you on each step and makes sure your recruitment meets all requirements.
Very large construction works for hydropower and mining projects may be subject to the Large Scale Act, which provides special rules for foreign workers’ conditions of employment.
A project is considered a large-scale project under this Act if:
If you need legal advice on foreign labour or residence and work permits in Greenland, you are welcome to contact us for guidance.
