A guide for Russian nurses: building a career in Scandinavia

Scandinavia—comprising Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland—consistently leads global rankings for quality of life, social welfare, and safety. For nursing professionals, these countries offer attractive working conditions, a high degree of professional autonomy, and competitive salaries. However, this career path presents a significant challenge for foreign specialists: the need to master a complex and less-common language to a professional level.

This guide outlines the path for Russian nurses to practice in each of these Nordic nations.

Norway

Norway offers some of the highest salaries for nurses in Europe but demands full linguistic and cultural integration. The process for non-EU citizens is strict yet straightforward.

Qualification recognition

The process is managed by the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet).

Step-by-step guide:

Application: Submit your application and documents electronically via the Altinn portal. You’ll need a comprehensive package, including your diploma, academic transcript (with hours), Certificate of Good Standing, and proof of work experience. All documents must be translated into Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, or English.
Language proficiency: This is a critical step. You must prove B2-level proficiency in Norwegian by passing the Norskprøve exam. The test costs approximately 2,200 NOK and includes oral and written sections.
Additional courses: After verifying your education and language skills, Helsedirektoratet may require you to complete supplementary courses to bridge any knowledge gaps, particularly concerning Norwegian healthcare legislation. The entire authorization process must be completed within three years of the initial assessment.

Cost & timeline: The application fee is 1,665 NOK. The review process takes up to three months after all documents are submitted. However, the entire journey, including language acquisition, can take several years.

Immigration and salary

Once you receive full authorization, you can begin the immigration process. You’ll need a concrete job offer to apply for a skilled worker visa.

Starting salary: 480,000–540,000 NOK per year (€42,000–€47,000).
Average salary (2025): Approximately 613,000 NOK per year (€53,500).
Experienced/specialized nurses: 700,000–850,000 NOK per year (€61,000–€74,000), especially in anesthesiology, intensive care, and surgery.
In-demand fields: Specialized nurses (anesthesiology, ICU, surgery) and nurses for hospitals and municipal health services (nursing homes, community care) are highly sought after.

Sweden

Sweden boasts a high quality of life, but its licensing process for nurses from non-EU countries is the most complex and lengthy in Scandinavia, typically taking 2 to 4 years.

Qualification recognition

The process is overseen by the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) and involves five mandatory steps.

Step-by-step guide:

Education assessment: First, Socialstyrelsen assesses your Russian diploma to ensure it meets Swedish standards. This initial step is free and does not require knowledge of Swedish.
Language exam: You must demonstrate C1-level proficiency in Swedish by passing the TISUS exam or completing the Swedish 3 / Swedish as a Second Language 3 course.
Professional examination (Kunskapsprovet): A comprehensive two-part exam:
- Theory: A written test involving clinical case studies and medication dosage calculations.
- Practical (OSCE): An Objective Structured Clinical Examination that tests hands-on skills in a simulated environment.
Swedish legislation course: You must pass a course on the laws and regulations governing the Swedish healthcare system.
Clinical practice (Praktisk tjänstgöring): A final, three-month supervised clinical placement in a Swedish healthcare facility.

Cost & timeline: The final license application fee is 990 SEK. The entire process takes 2–4 years.

Immigration and salary

With a license and a job offer, you can apply for a work permit from the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket).

Average salary: 28,000–54,000 SEK per month (€2,450–€4,700), depending on experience. Experienced specialists can earn around 374,400 SEK per year (€32,700).
In-demand fields: High demand for general practice nurses and psychiatric nurses.

Denmark

Denmark faces a shortage of medical staff, but its authorization process for non-EU citizens is lengthy. There’s also a risk that the government could introduce quotas or suspend recruitment.

Qualification recognition

The process is managed by the Danish Patient Safety Authority (Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed).

Step-by-step guide:

Diploma assessment: Submit your application and documents to the agency to evaluate their equivalence of your Russian education to Danish qualifications. The application fee is 1,295 DKK.
Language exam: Pass the Prøve i Dansk 3 exam with high scores (a grade of 10 in the oral part and 7 in reading and writing).
Medical tests: After the language exam, you must pass professional oral and written medical tests.
Danish legislation course: Complete a mandatory three-day course on Danish healthcare law.
Adaptation placement (Evalueringsansættelse): A mandatory six-month supervised work period to assess your clinical and communication skills. You must find this placement yourself.

Timeline & immigration: The entire process can take several years. A special residence permit is available for this period, but you must prove you have sufficient funds to support yourself (approximately 40,734 DKK for one person in 2025).

Salary and in-demand specializations

Average salary: 32,000–45,000 DKK per month (€4,300–€6,000).
In-demand fields: High demand for nurses in surgery, intensive care, and geriatrics.

Finland

Finland, like its neighbors, needs more healthcare workers, largely due to an aging population. The country is considered particularly welcoming to nurses from nearby regions, including Russia.

Qualification recognition

Licensing is handled by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira).

Step-by-step guide:

Document submission: Apply to Valvira with a complete package of legalized and translated documents, including your diploma, transcript, Certificate of Good Standing, and proof of experience.
Language proficiency: You must demonstrate proficiency in either Finnish or Swedish. This can be done by passing the Finnish National Certificate of Language Proficiency or the State Administration Language Examination. Knowledge of Russian is often seen as a valuable asset, especially for communicating with Russian-speaking patients.
Valvira’s decision: Valvira will review your application and decide on recognition. This process takes, on average, over 4 months. If significant differences are found in your education, Valvira may require you to complete additional training or exams.

Immigration and salary

For citizens of non-EU countries, securing a job offer before moving is essential. Based on your employment contract, you will apply for a residence permit for an employed person. This may involve a labor market test to ensure no suitable candidates are available within Finland or the EU.

Average salary: Approximately €62,600 per year (€5,200 per month).
Starting salary (1-3 years experience): Around €44,320 per year.

Егор Кугно

A guide for Russian nurses: building a career in Scandinavia

Norway

Sweden

Denmark

Finland

Further reading on medical careers