Greenland Immigration: Permits, Residency, and Pension Rules

To move to Greenland legally, almost everyone who is not a Nordic citizen needs a Greenland-specific residence permit before arrival, issued by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) and tied to work, study, or family. Greenland immigration requirements sit outside both the European Union and the Schengen Area, so a Schengen visa will not get you in, and EU citizenship gives you no automatic right to live or work there.¹

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, but it is an EU Overseas Country and Territory rather than part of the EU itself. Immigration is governed by the Danish Aliens Act as extended to Greenland through a separate ordinance, and SIRI consults the Greenlandic Self-Government on whether proposed employment terms match local standards before deciding a case.² That two-layer setup often means your employer has obligations of their own before you can even file.

Who Does Not Need a Permit

Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden can enter, live, and work in Greenland without a residence or work permit, under longstanding Nordic passport-free movement agreements.³

Non-Nordic visitors staying up to 90 days do not need a residence permit, but citizens of some countries do need a Greenland-specific short-stay visa, which is separate from any Schengen visa you may already hold.¹ U.S. citizens can visit visa-free for short stays. Any stay longer than 90 days, or any work at all, requires a residence permit regardless of nationality.

Work Permits

The Standard Route

The standard residence and work permit requires a signed employment contract stating salary, job description, and terms of employment. The contract cannot be more than 30 days old when you apply.⁴ SIRI checks that wages and conditions meet Greenlandic standards for the profession, so an offer that undercuts local pay will be rejected.

Before you apply, your employer usually needs to obtain a municipal permit to hire foreign labor. This applies to jobs that require no professional training or only basic vocational training. The position must first be advertised on Greenland’s job portal, suli.gl, so that Greenlandic residents have the first opportunity to apply.² Roles requiring advanced professional qualifications may be exempt from this step, but the employer should confirm with the municipality.

You will also need to submit proof of your professional qualifications. For regulated fields such as healthcare and certain engineering disciplines, formal recognition of your credentials by the relevant Danish or Greenlandic authority may be required. The Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science assesses foreign educational qualifications; for regulated professions, the competent authority for that field decides whether you can practice.

One rule catches people off guard: you cannot start working until the permit has been officially granted. Waiting for approval before beginning the job is not optional, even if you are already in Greenland.

The Fast-Track Scheme

If your prospective employer holds Fast-Track approval from the Government of Greenland, processing is faster and cheaper. The job must be full-time at 40 hours per week, and salary and conditions still have to meet Greenlandic professional standards. Processing drops to roughly one month, up to three if SIRI needs more information, and there is no application fee.⁵ If you are choosing between employers, Fast-Track certification can save months.

Student Permits

Studying in Greenland requires a separate residence permit, applied for using form ST1. You need admission to a full-time higher education program at a publicly accredited institution in Greenland, where higher education means a program that requires completion of high school or equivalent for entry.⁶

You must show you can support yourself financially throughout the program. The benchmark is the monthly grant amount set by Greenland’s education support authority, Ilinniagaqarnersiuteqartitsivik. You also need to show you understand the language of instruction at a reasonable level; Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English, and German all qualify.⁶ Receiving public benefits during your stay is not allowed, so your finances need to cover the whole program.

Family Reunification

If your spouse, partner, or close family member already lives in Greenland, you can apply to join them. The sponsor must be a Nordic citizen, hold refugee status, or have held a permanent residence permit for at least the past three years. The sponsor must also have housing of adequate size and normally must be able to support you financially. Nordic citizens and recognized refugees are exempt from the financial support requirement.⁷

The application uses form GL/FA1, a two-part packet. Form 1 is for the applicant abroad; Form 2 is completed by the sponsor in Greenland, who must submit a lease or deed to prove housing and pay statements or employer records for the financial test.⁸ A marriage certificate or equivalent documentation is needed to verify the relationship.

A residence permit granted through family reunification lets you work in Greenland without a separate work permit.⁹ If instead your spouse or child is accompanying you as a work permit holder, their application uses form GL2 rather than the family reunification packet.⁴

How to Apply

SIRI handles all Greenland immigration applications. The core forms are:

As of February 2026, the GL1/5 work permit can be completed and submitted entirely online through newtodenmark.dk.¹⁰ Before submitting, you create a Case Order ID that links your application to your fee payment.¹¹

Fees vary widely by permit type. SIRI’s published schedule ranges from under DKK 1,000 to over DKK 10,000 depending on the category, with permanent residence at the higher end.¹¹ Fast-Track work permits have no fee.⁵ Amounts are updated annually, so check the current figure before you pay.

After submitting, you must have biometrics recorded (photograph and fingerprints) at a Danish embassy, consulate, or a Greenlandic police station if you are already legally present. This must happen within 14 days of submission, or you need to contact SIRI with an explanation to keep your case moving.¹²

Standard work permit applications take roughly three months, stretching to five if SIRI requests additional information.¹³ Fast-Track applications run about one month, up to three in complex cases.⁵ Since you cannot start work until the permit is granted, factor the wait into your relocation timeline.

If You Are Denied

A refusal from SIRI or the Danish Immigration Service can be appealed to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration in Copenhagen. There is no deadline for filing the appeal, which is unusual for an immigration system. Include your case number, personal ID, alien identification or IVR number, proof of fee payment, and a copy of the original decision.¹⁴ The refusal letter itself explains how to appeal.

Permanent Residency

The route to permanent residency is shorter than in many countries. Most permit holders can apply after three continuous years on a valid residence permit. If you hold a permit based on Greenlandic or Danish descent, the requirement is two years. Former Danish citizens can apply after one year.¹⁵

Beyond the time requirement, you must maintain a clean criminal record. Outstanding public debts cannot exceed DKK 97,436.38 at the 2026 level, covering unpaid taxes, social benefit overpayments, and similar obligations. The Danish Immigration Service contacts Greenlandic authorities directly to verify debt status.¹⁵ You also need to show you have been financially self-sufficient and have not relied on certain forms of public assistance. Once granted, permanent residency lets you stay indefinitely without renewals, though serious criminal convictions can lead to revocation.

Mandatory Pension Contributions

One requirement blindsides many foreign workers. If you are over 18 and fully taxable in Greenland, you are legally required to contribute to a pension scheme. Employees contribute 10% of their annual savings base in 2026; self-employed workers contribute 6%. The obligation applies once your savings base exceeds DKK 125,000 per year.¹⁶

You can meet the requirement through a pension fund or insurance company authorized by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, even if the scheme is based outside Greenland. If you leave and are no longer taxable there, the obligation ends, but transferring your pension out of Greenland triggers a 55% tax.¹⁶ Build this into your financial planning from your first month, because employers and tax authorities expect compliance right away.

1
New to Denmark. Entry to the Faroe Islands or Greenland
2
Government of Greenland. Foreign Workers in Greenland
3
Udlændinge- og Integrationsministeriet. Bekendtgoerelse af Anordning om Ikrafttraeden for Groenland af Udlaendingeloven
4
New to Denmark. Application for a Residence and Work Permit in Greenland
5
New to Denmark. Fast-Track Greenland
6
New to Denmark. Higher Education in Greenland
7
New to Denmark. Family Reunification in Greenland
8
The Danish Immigration Service. Application for Family Reunification of Spouses in Greenland
9
Nordic cooperation. Work and Residence Permits in Greenland
10
New to Denmark. New Digital Application for Residence and Work Permit on the Basis of Paid Work in Greenland
11
New to Denmark. Fee – Pay the Fee for Application
12
New to Denmark. Deadline for Biometric Reverts to 14 Days
13
New to Denmark. Fast-Track Greenland – Extension
14
New to Denmark. Appeals
15
The Danish Immigration Service. Application for Permanent Residence Permit in Greenland
16
AKA. Obligatory Pensions