2026 status: new non-EU nurse applications are closed
The Danish Patient Safety Authority (STPS) has introduced a quota for nurses educated outside the EU/EEA. The quota has been zero since 7 October 2025 and is valid until 31 December 2026. STPS states that it is currently not accepting applications for Danish authorisation from such nurses, and a residence permit for the purpose of obtaining authorisation as a nurse cannot be granted while the quota is zero. Exceptions apply to nurses with a specific employment offer for adaptation and training as a specially requested healthcare professional, and to people with legal residence in Denmark. STPS expects to set a new quota each year. We update this page whenever the rules change.
Register your interest with NIEC now. Nurses who are prepared, with their profile reviewed and Danish language study started, are best placed when a route opens.
Denmark Nurse Visa From Bangladesh
Denmark has been a Schengen country since 2001. It lies in Northern Europe, covers about 43,000 square kilometres and has a population of roughly six million. It is consistently ranked among the best places in the world to live thanks to its strong social safety net, low crime, high trust and excellent work-life balance. Denmark has a large public healthcare sector, and qualified nurses have long been in demand in hospitals, municipal care and private clinics.
For a nurse from Bangladesh there is no ordinary "nurse visa". The programme is a residence permit for the purpose of obtaining Danish authorisation as a nurse: you move to Denmark, learn Danish, and work under supervision in an adaptation position until you receive full authorisation. NIEC Bangladesh guides nurses through this programme, from the first profile review to the residence permit and licensing stages.
Looking for the Denmark authorization visa for nurses (Danish authorities spell it "authorisation")? This is the programme.
Talk to a NIEC counsellor
Free profile evaluation. We will tell you honestly what your realistic options are.
The Programme At A Glance
Benefits Of Working In Denmark As A Nurse
- Competitive salaries: Danish nurses are well paid by European standards, with supplements for evening, night and weekend work.
- Excellent working conditions: modern hospitals with a strong emphasis on teamwork and professional autonomy.
- Work-life balance: a 37-hour standard week, at least five weeks of paid holiday and family-friendly policies.
- Health security: residents with a CPR number have access to tax-funded public healthcare.
- No IELTS hurdle: the programme does not depend on an English test score. Danish language is what counts.
- High quality of life: a safe, clean and stable society.
Requirements And Eligibility
In short, you should hold a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSc in Nursing) with a valid BNMC registration and recent nursing experience, and be ready to learn Danish. Your NIEC counsellor reviews your profile in a free evaluation and tells you honestly where you stand.
- A BSc in Nursing that the Danish authorities can approve as equivalent to Danish nursing education
- Valid BNMC registration and recent nursing employment
- Willingness to learn Danish and complete the professional requirements
- A specific employment offer if you rely on an exemption while the quota is zero
How NIEC Bangladesh Helps
If you work with NIEC Bangladesh, we help you to:
Submit your application
Verify all the documents
Obtain a work permit for you
Help you obtain the CPR number
Help you get licensing
Permit steps are available only where the current Danish quota and rules allow. We do not guarantee outcomes, because STPS and the Danish immigration authorities make every decision.
Nurse's Salary In Denmark
Danish nurses are paid under collective agreements. In 2026, registered nurses typically earn a base salary of about DKK 30,000 to 42,000 a month (roughly ৳5.8 to 8.1 lakh), depending on experience, specialisation and employer, with supplements for evening, night and weekend work adding roughly DKK 4,000 to 6,000. Official statistics put average standardised monthly earnings for nurses at around DKK 48,000 including pension and supplements.
Employers usually contribute about 13% to 15% of salary to the pension fund, and employees contribute around 5% to 6%. Experienced and specialised nurses earn more.
Estimates only. BDT figures use roughly ৳19.2 per DKK. Amounts are before tax.
Cost Of Living In Denmark
A single nurse should plan for roughly DKK 14,000 to 20,000 a month in living costs (about ৳2.7 to 3.8 lakh). Copenhagen and Aarhus are more expensive, while smaller towns can be 20% to 30% cheaper. Rent is the largest item, typically DKK 6,000 to 14,000 depending on the city and whether you share.
Things To Consider Before You Decide
- The quota: new applications are closed to nurses without an exemption, and no quota above zero has been announced for 2027.
- Language: Danish is difficult, and it is the working language in hospitals and care homes.
- Time: the adaptation period alone can last up to three years.
- Permit limits: nurses granted permits after 7 October 2025 receive up to three years in total and cannot bring family.
- Climate: winters are long, dark and cold.
- No guarantees: be cautious about agents who promise fixed success rates.
If The Quota Keeps You Out: Your Options
- Prepare now: Danish language, verified credentials and recent clinical work strengthen your position whenever a route opens.
- Look for an employer offer: a specific offer of employment for adaptation and training can qualify you as a specially requested healthcare professional.
- Compare other countries: ask your counsellor about registration routes elsewhere.
Talk to a NIEC counsellor
Free profile evaluation. We will tell you honestly what your realistic options are.
