Many international nurses want to work in Denmark because Denmark has a healthcare system good salaries and a good work-life balance. One question that international nurses often ask is how to get permission to work as a nurse in Denmark and if they need to speak Danish.
This article will explain how to get permission to work as a nurse in Denmark in terms. It will also talk about the requirement to speak Danish.
What is nursing authorisation?
Permission to work as a nurse in Denmark is a document that says you can work legally as a registered nurse in Denmark. The Danish Patient Safety Authority gives you this document. If you do not have this document you cannot work as a nurse in Denmark.
How do you get permission to work as a nurse in Denmark?
The steps to get permission can be different depending on where you studied nursing.. The general steps are usually the same.
- You need to send in your nursing diploma and transcripts
- Your education will be compared to the standards
- You need to meet the Danish language requirements
- You may need to complete some training or practice under supervision
The authorities will check your documents to see if your education is similar to the education that nurses get in Denmark.
Do you need to speak Danish to work as a nurse in Denmark?
Yes in cases you need to speak Danish to work as a nurse in Denmark. Nurses need to be able to communicate with patients, doctors and other nurses. Most of the time they communicate in Danish.
Since 1 July 2025, nurses who are citizens of, or were educated in, a country outside the EU/EEA must pass Prøve i Dansk 3 (PD3) before they can start the employment for adaptation and training that is part of the authorisation process. The Danish Patient Safety Authority requires these minimum grades:
- Oral communication: at least 10
- Reading comprehension: at least 7
- Written communication: at least 7
The test must have been passed within the 12 months before you apply, unless you have lived in Denmark continuously since passing it. Some applicants are exempt, for example if they completed Danish upper secondary or university education taught in Danish. PD3 corresponds to level B2. Rules for nurses educated in the EU/EEA are different, so check the official sources below for your situation.
Why is it so important to speak Danish as a nurse?
Working in healthcare means that you need to be able to communicate and understand a lot of details. Nurses need to be able to understand what patients are saying explain what treatments they need, read notes and write reports correctly. Even if you speak English well it is usually not enough to work in a hospital in Denmark.
How can you prepare to speak Danish as a nurse?
Many nurses start learning Danish before they move to Denmark. It helps to focus on grammar, how to build sentences and how to read and understand texts. This will help you when you take a test like PD3.
At LearnDanishLab we help people learn Danish in a way that's clear and easy to understand. We use examples that're relevant to your work as a nurse.
Finally
Getting permission to work as a nurse in Denmark takes time. It is especially hard to learn Danish.. If you start early and practice every day it will be much easier to get permission and you will be more likely to succeed as a nurse, in Denmark.
This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult official Danish authorities for the most up-to-date requirements.
Official sources
Rules change. Always confirm with these official sources before making decisions. Last checked: 4 October 2026.
- Danish Patient Safety Authority: Language test for nurses (non-EU) – the PD3 requirement, minimum grades, deadlines and exemptions.
- Danish Patient Safety Authority: Nurses educated outside the EU/EEA – the full authorisation process for nurses from non-EU countries.
- Danish Patient Safety Authority: Nurse registration – the starting point for nurses educated in the EU/EEA and elsewhere.
- Danskogproever.dk (SIRI): About Prøve i Dansk 3 – official content, format and grading of the PD3 exam.