Guide: Moving to Denmark

Bolig i Danmark
Here you can read about the most important things to know and consider if you are moving to Denmark.
Residence and work permit

If you are a citizen of a Nordic country, you can travel freely to Denmark to live there and work. You do not need a visa, a residence permit or a work permit.

Furniture and household effects

If you are moving from an EU country to Denmark, you can freely take your furniture and household effects with you. However, you should be aware that special rules apply if you are bringing wine, spirits or cigarettes into the country. If you are bringing more with you than is permitted as duty-free, you must contact the Danish Customs Agency. 

If you are moving to Denmark from Iceland or Norway, you should contact the Danish Customs Agency for further information.

Civil registration

If you are a citizen of a Nordic country, an EU country, an EEA country or Switzerland, you have the right to register with the National Register in Denmark if you stay in the country for more than three months, and you are obliged to register if you stay for more than six months. The same applies if you move to Denmark from another Nordic country, regardless of your citizenship. You must register your change of address at your municipality of residence within five days of moving to Denmark.

Please note that in some countries, you also have to report the move to the National Register of the country from which you are moving.

MitID

MitID is the log-in service for citizens and residents to obtain access to digital self-service solutions in Denmark. You can order MitID via borger.dk, or through your bank, or by contacting the local citizen service centre (Borgerservice) in your municipality in person.

NemKonto

In order for you to be able to receive payments from the public sector, such as a tax rebate, pension payments, pay from employers in the public sector or family allowance, one of your bank accounts must be a “NemKonto” (MitID account). You can make one of your bank accounts a NemKonto at borger.dk. Your NemKonto account may be in a foreign bank.

Post forwarding

You should contact the postal service in the country from which you are moving to hear more about your options for your post to be forwarded to your new address in Denmark.

Housing

There are several different types of housing in Denmark, and there are certain restrictions on who is entitled to own real estate in Denmark.

Car

If you have a car, you must register it in Denmark within 30 days.

Driving licence

If you have a driving licence issued in the Faroe Islands, an EU country or an EEA country, you can use it in Denmark. If you are resident in Denmark, you can choose to have your licence exchanged for a Danish EU driver’s licence without having to take a driving test.

If you have a driver’s licence issued in Greenland you may use it for up to 90 days, after which you can exchange it for a Danish licence if you take a driving test.

Tax

Once you are registered with the Danish National Register, you should call the Tax Agency at (+45) 7222 2892. The Tax Agency will then issue you with a tax card. You will need to know how much you will be earning, and any other income or deductions you expect to have.

As a general rule, you should also inform the tax authorities of the country from which you are moving that you have moved to another country.

You can find information about taxation in the Nordic region at Nordisk eTax, which is a collaboration between the tax authorities of the Nordic countries.

Social insurance

The country in which you are covered by social insurance has a bearing on which country’s rules will apply to your pension, unemployment insurance, sickness benefit, family allowance, maternity leave and more. As a general rule, you are covered by social insurance in the country in which you work. If you are unemployed, you are as a general rule covered by social insurance in the country in which you live. However, there are many special situations, so if you are in doubt, you should contact the authorities in the country in which you live, work or study.

Pension

If you receive a pension from another Nordic country, you should contact the pension authority concerned to find out how much you can receive if you move to Denmark. You should also check the rules for taxation of pensions, both in the country you are moving from and in Denmark. You can do this at Nordisk eTax, which is a collaboration between the tax authorities of the Nordic countries.

If you have pension savings in another country, you should contact your pension company for more information on how it will be affected if you move to Denmark.

In Denmark, you earn the right to Danish social pensions (disability pension and old age pension) while you are covered by social insurance in Denmark.

 

Unemployment insurance fund

If you are covered by social insurance in Denmark, the Danish rules on unemployment insurance apply. If you wish to have unemployment insurance and earn the right to Danish unemployment benefit, you must join a Danish unemployment insurance fund. You must do this within eight weeks if you wish to be able to include insurance periods from other Nordic countries or EU/EEA countries.

Health services and the health card

When you are registered with the Danish National Register, you will be issued with a health card that certifies that you are entitled to healthcare in Denmark. If you are covered by social insurance in Denmark, you must apply for the European Health Card (EHIC) in Denmark.

Insurance

Certain types of insurance are mandatory in Denmark.

Pets

If you have a dog, you must have dog liability insurance. Certain breeds of dog are prohibited in Denmark. 

School and childcare

In Denmark, the municipalities are responsible for schools and day-care centres. You should contact the municipality to which you are moving to for further information on childcare and schooling.

Voting rights

If you are a citizen of of an EU country or a Nordic country, and you are permanently resident in Denmark, you can vote in Danish municipal and regional elections. If you are a citizen of an EU country and are resident in Denmark, you can vote in European Parliamentary elections in Denmark, provided you do not also vote in your home country at the same time. To vote in general elections, you must be a Danish citizen and be permanently resident in Denmark.
 

What should you consider in the country from which you are moving?
Ask Info Norden

Please fill in our contact form if you have any questions or if you have encountered an obstacle in another Nordic country.

NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.

Info Norden is the information service of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Here you can find info and tips if you wish to move, work, study, seek support or start a business in the Nordic region.