Denmark's Prison Service Opens Jobs to Foreigners in 2025

The Danish prison service has announced a significant policy change by removing the citizenship requirement for specific officer positions, allowing foreigners to apply for roles that were previously limited to Danish nationals. This decision, made by the Danish government and published via the state press release service Ritzau on November 13, 2025, is a response to a staffing shortage within the prison system.

Non-citizens can now apply for three designated positions: prison officer trainee, employed prison officer, and specialist functions within the service. While applicants must still meet other qualifications set by the prison service, holding a Danish passport is no longer necessary for these roles.

The Danish authorities expressed hope that this change will attract a wider pool of qualified candidates to fill vacancies across the country's prison facilities. This move aligns Denmark with several other European nations that have modified public sector employment rules to tackle workforce shortages, particularly in security and care-related sectors.