The proportion of citizens with an ethnic minority background in Denmark is rising and considerations about how to adapt health care services to the needs of this part of the population are becoming increasingly relevant. To do this, knowledge is needed about the factors influencing the health of these population groups. Migration is one of these factors. The process of migration influences the somatic and mental health of migrants and is described in this article. Ethnicity, social position and aspects related to communication also influence migrants' health; however, we do not discuss these factors.