The Nordic countries — Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland — host thousands of Filipino workers and families, many recruited as nurses and healthcare professionals. All four countries require a police certificate from every country you have lived in for a qualifying period, and for Filipinos that means the NBI Clearance. All four are members of the Apostille Convention, so a DFA apostille is required before submission to Nordic immigration authorities.
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) requires a police certificate from each country where an applicant has lived for 6 months or more in the past 10 years. For Filipino skilled workers, nurses, and family reunification applicants, the NBI Clearance covers the Philippine portion.
Norway is outside the EU/EEA single immigration area but is a Hague Convention member. A DFA apostille is required on the NBI Clearance for UDI submissions. The UDI online application portal (DIG) accepts scanned copies at lodgement, but physical apostilled originals are typically requested at a later stage.
The Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) requires a police certificate from every country of significant residence for work and residence permit applications. The NBI Clearance, issued in English, is the accepted Philippine police certificate.
Sweden requires a DFA apostille on the NBI Clearance. The Migrationsverket online portal (MIA) is where most applications are lodged. Follow the document instructions in your specific permit category — the NBI Clearance with DFA apostille is the standard preparation.
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) handles work permits and residence applications. Denmark requires police certificates for skilled worker and family reunification visa categories. The NBI Clearance with DFA apostille is the required document for the Philippine portion of your residence history. Denmark is an EU member and Hague Convention signatory.
Migri (Finnish Immigration Service) requires a criminal record extract or police certificate from each qualifying country of residence. For Filipino applicants, this means submitting the NBI Clearance. Finland is an EU member and Hague Convention signatory, so the DFA apostille is the accepted authentication method.
All four Nordic countries are members of the Apostille Convention (Hague Convention XII). This means the NBI Clearance must be apostilled by the DFA before submission to immigration authorities in any of these countries. The apostille certifies the authenticity of the NBI document and is recognised across all Hague Convention member states without further consular legalisation.
See our DFA apostille guide for the full step-by-step process. When working with a procurement service, both the NBI Clearance and DFA apostille are handled in a single process.
| Country | Immigration authority | Apostille required |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet) | Yes — DFA apostille |
| Sweden | Migrationsverket | Yes — DFA apostille |
| Denmark | SIRI | Yes — DFA apostille |
| Finland | Migri | Yes — DFA apostille |
Filipino nurses and healthcare professionals are among the largest groups of OFWs in Scandinavia, particularly in Norway and Sweden. The NBI Clearance is a standard requirement for:
If you are a nurse being deployed to a Nordic country through an agency, confirm whether the employer, the immigration authority, and the professional licensing body each require the NBI Clearance separately — some do, requiring multiple copies.
Need your NBI Clearance with DFA apostille for a Nordic visa or healthcare licence?
Ask about your Nordic application →The NBI Clearance is valid for one year from its issue date. Nordic immigration processing times vary:
| Application type | When to obtain |
|---|---|
| Skilled worker / nurse work permit | Before or at application; must be valid at submission |
| Family reunification | At application; renew if processing is long and clearance expires |
| Permanent residence / citizenship | As close to application as possible; apostille adds ~2–4 weeks |
| Healthcare licensing body | When requested; confirm if separate from immigration certificate |
Add 2–4 weeks to your timeline for the DFA apostille process when planning your NBI Clearance ahead of a Nordic immigration submission.
A HIT occurs when the NBI database finds a name match — almost always a coincidence with a different person. It triggers a secondary review adding one to several weeks. If you have a tight UDI or Migrationsverket window, obtain the clearance well in advance. A procurement service handles the HIT affidavit and resolution to minimise delays.
Norway and Denmark offer Job Seeker visas that allow qualified professionals to reside in the country for a limited period while seeking employment — without a confirmed job offer:
NBI Clearance may be required as part of the job seeker or subsequent work permit application depending on the specific case. Norwegian immigration (UDI) instructions specify police certificate requirements; confirm with the Norwegian Embassy in Manila.
The Philippines is the world's largest supplier of seafarers, and Nordic shipping companies are among the major employers. Norwegian, Danish and Finnish shipping companies have long maintained crewing partnerships with Philippine manning agencies. NBI Clearance considerations for maritime workers:
Yes — both UDI (Norway) and Migrationsverket (Sweden) require a police certificate from each country lived in for a qualifying period. For Filipinos, that is the NBI Clearance, apostilled by the DFA. Denmark and Finland have similar requirements.
Yes. All four Nordic countries are Hague Convention members, so the NBI Clearance must be apostilled by the DFA before submission. The apostille is obtained in Manila after the clearance is issued; processing takes approximately 2–4 weeks.
Yes. Both UDI and Norwegian healthcare licensing bodies require the NBI Clearance as a background check. Confirm whether the immigration and the licensing applications each require a separate copy, as you may need more than one apostilled clearance.
Yes. The NBI Clearance is issued in English by the NBI, so no translation to Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or Finnish is required for submission to Nordic immigration authorities.
Yes. With a previous NBI record, the clearance can be renewed online from any country. A procurement service in the Philippines handles pickup, DFA apostille and courier shipping to your Scandinavian address. No return trip needed.
Yes. Norway's Job Seeker visa allows qualified professionals with a recognized degree or trade qualification to stay in Norway for up to 6 months while looking for work. If you find a qualifying skilled job, you then apply for a residence permit for skilled workers. The NBI Clearance may be required as part of the subsequent residence permit application. Contact the Norwegian Embassy in Manila for the current requirements and income documentation.
Norway has the largest Filipino community among the Nordic countries, with an estimated 20,000–25,000 Filipinos, concentrated in Oslo and surrounding areas. Many work in healthcare (nursing is a shortage occupation in Norway), hospitality and maritime industries. Sweden has a smaller but growing Filipino community, particularly in healthcare and service sectors. Denmark and Finland have smaller Filipino populations but active recruitment in healthcare and IT.
Yes. All Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland) are Hague Apostille Convention members. A DFA-apostilled NBI Clearance is the correct authentication for all of them — you do not need a separate apostille for each country. The apostille certifies the document's Philippine origin and is recognised across all 125+ Hague member countries, including all five Nordic nations.
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