Greenland (GL)
Greenland is the world's largest island and an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, known for its vast ice sheet, dramatic fjords, and indigenous Greenlandic (Kalaallit) culture.
Social Security in Greenland
Benefits, contributions, and how the system works for expats.
Greenland social security is residence, municipality and status based. Foreign residents should not assume Danish mainland or EU entitlements apply automatically. The system is mainly tax-funded through Greenlandic and municipal taxation; there is no separate payroll social-insurance contribution comparable to Germany or many EU countries.
CPR number
CPR-nummer
Register through the municipality if eligible after arrival and permit approval. CPR unlocks healthcare, tax, banking, MitID and public services.
- Tax
- Healthcare
- Banking
- Digital services
- Employment payroll
- Childcare/school
- Benefits
Benefits & Support Payments
Public healthcare
Peqqinnissaqarfik
Resident access to public healthcare services.
Eligible registered residents
Municipal/health registration
Unemployment/municipal support
Majoriaq / municipality
Job-search and income-related support where eligible.
Eligible residents meeting municipality/rule conditions
Local municipality/Majoriaq employment and guidance centre
Family/child benefits
Ilaqutariit / meeqqanut nalunaarusiissitissoq
Family support according to current rules.
Eligible resident families
Municipality/Sullissivik
Old-age pension
Utoqqalinersiaq
Public pension for eligible older residents.
Age/residence/status conditions
Municipality/Sullissivik
Contribution Overview
Public benefits are mainly funded through general Greenlandic and municipal taxation, not through separate payroll social-insurance contributions as in many European countries. Employer pension contributions are set by contract or collective agreement. Municipal income-tax rates are approximately 42–44% combined (2026), which funds the social safety net.
International Social Security Agreements
Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. International pension and social-security coordination depends on Greenland/Denmark treaty arrangements and home-country rules. Greenland is outside the EU, so EU Regulation 883/2004 does not apply. Confirm arrangements with your home-country pension authority before interrupting contributions. Source: Sullissivik (sullissivik.gl) and nyidanmark.
Ask employer HR and your municipality what applies to your exact permit, CPR status, municipality and family situation. Keep private insurance active until public healthcare coverage is confirmed through CPR registration.
Social Security
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