Living in Denmark
Information about moving to, living or retiring in Denmark – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.
Getting help with living in Denmark
Help from the Danish government
For any questions about moving to or living in Denmark, you may be able to get help from the:
- Danish government’s official guide to life in Denmark
- Danish Embassy in the UK
- Danish Immigration Service
International House Copenhagen also provides information on living and working in Copenhagen and other municipalities.
The UK government and the British Embassy in Copenhagen cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Denmark.
Professional help in Denmark
You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Denmark, including:
- lawyers
- translators
- notaries
- funeral directors
Help from the UK government
Read the travel advice for Denmark to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Denmark. This includes the latest information on:
- visas and entry requirements
- laws and cultural differences
- safety and security
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.
Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.
Visas, residency and citizenship
Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Denmark before you travel.
Visas and residence permits
Check which visa or residence permit you need to live in Denmark.
You can get a visa to:
- work – including as an intern, religious worker or au pair
- study
- live with family in Denmark
For more information, read the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark’s guidance on travel and residence.
Registering as a resident
Once you arrive, you must register in Denmark.
To register, visit your local civil registration office (‘Folkeregisteret’). The office will give you a Central Person Register (CPR) number. You must re-register with the local civil registration office every time you move to another address in Denmark. Read guidance on changing address in Denmark.
If you have any problems or questions about registering your address, contact:
Extending or replacing your visa or residence permit
Contact the Danish Immigration Service for information on how to:
- extend your visa or residency permit
- replace a lost, damaged or stolen visa or residence permit
Permanent residency
You may be able to apply for permanent residency in Denmark.
To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read the Danish Immigration Service’s guidance on applying for a permanent residence permit.
Citizenship
Denmark recognises dual citizenship with the UK. This means you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Danish citizen.
To find out if you’re eligible for Danish citizenship:
- read guidance on Danish citizenship for foreign citizens
- contact the Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration
Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications
The British Embassy in Copenhagen cannot help with Danish visa, residency or citizenship applications.
For any questions or issues, contact:
- the Danish Immigration Service
- the Danish Embassy in the UK
- the Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration
- an English-speaking lawyer in Denmark
Residency if you moved to Denmark before 1 January 2021
If you moved to Denmark before 1 January 2021, and have been legally living there since then, you and your family members have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
Residence cards if you moved to Denmark before 1 January 2021
If you moved to Denmark before 1 January 2021, make sure you have a new residence card. This shows that you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES), you’ll need a residence card when entering or leaving Denmark. If you have one, you will not have to register with the EES when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Without it, you may be wrongly identified as overstaying in the Schengen area and denied entry to Denmark or other Schengen countries.
If you do not have a residence card
If you were living in Denmark before 1 January 2021, but have not applied for a residence card under the Withdrawal Agreement, you must register for residency. You’ll need to submit evidence to prove that you met the residency criteria at the time.
If your application is successful, you’ll get a new residence card.
If your application is unsuccessful, you may be able to appeal. Consider getting legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Denmark. You may also be able to apply for a different type of visa or residence permit.
For more information on how to apply or appeal, read the Danish government’s:
Renewing your residence card if you moved to Denmark before 1 January 2021
You’ll need to renew your residence card every 5 or 10 years, depending on how long you have been resident in Denmark.
Once you have lived in Denmark legally and continuously for 5 years, you can also apply for permanent residence.
For information on how to renew your residence card:
- read guidance on the new residence card
- contact the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI)
Bringing family members to Denmark if you moved there before 1 January 2021
The Danish government’s guidance on residence as a family member to a UK citizen explains:
- which family members can join you in Denmark
- how and when they should apply for their residence document
- fees and processing times
Passports and travel
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
- apply for a British passport from abroad
- travel urgently without your British passport
If you have a Danish residence permit or long stay visa, the time you spend in Denmark does not count towards the 90-day visa-free period you can spend in the Schengen area.
Always carry your passport and residence document when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. If you’re asked to show your passport at border control, make sure you also show your residence document or other evidence of residence status. Your passport may be stamped if you do not.
If you have dual citizenship with an EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country, you should enter and leave Denmark using your EU or EFTA passport.
Dual citizens travelling to the UK
When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.
European Entry/Exit System (EES)
Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) there are new rules for entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Non-EU nationals will need to have their photo and fingerprints taken or verified at the border. This data will be stored in a digital record and used to monitor how long visitors have spent in the Schengen area.
British nationals legally resident in Denmark, and who have a valid Danish residence card (‘opholdstilladelse’), do not need to register with the EES.
If you’re legally resident in Denmark but do not have a residence card, contact the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) for information on how to get one.
For more information about the EES, read:
Healthcare in Denmark
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
- plan your healthcare
- take medicine abroad
To find out how to get medical treatment:
- read guidance on healthcare in Denmark and health in Denmark
- find English-speaking medical facilities and doctors for British nationals in Denmark
- read the Danish government’s guidance on healthcare
Danish European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
If you were resident in Denmark and registered for public healthcare before 1 January 2021, you can use your Danish-issued EHIC when you travel outside of Denmark.
For more information, read the Danish government’s guidance on the Blue European EHIC.
Working in Denmark
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.
To work in Denmark, you may need a work permit or work visa. Our guidance on travelling to Denmark for work explains the different work permits and visas available to you.
You do not need a work permit or visa if you have been living in Denmark legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
To apply for a job, you may need to provide a UK police certificate.
You will also need to get a tax card as a non-Danish employee. Your employer will need this card.
If you live in Denmark and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country before 1 January 2021, read guidance for frontier workers.
Recognition of qualifications
If you want to work in Denmark, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised.
Driving in Denmark
Read our guidance on moving, living and retiring abroad. This covers how to:
- drive abroad legally
- take your UK vehicle abroad
- get driving licence letters
The Danish Road Traffic Authority provides information on driving in Denmark, including:
You can also read the Danish government’s guidance on travel and transport.
For more information read guidance on:
- driving in the EU
- road travel in Denmark, in safety and security in the travel advice for Denmark
Driving in Denmark using a foreign driving licence
You can drive in Denmark for up to 180 days using a driving licence issued in:
- the UK
- Gibraltar
- Jersey
- Guernsey
- the Isle of Man
You cannot replace or renew any of these licences if you live in Denmark.
Exchanging a UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man driving licence
To continue driving after 180 days, you must exchange your driving licence. You can do this by making an appointment at your municipality’s local Citizen Service (‘Borgerservice’).
To check if you can exchange your licence, read Copenhagen Citizen Service’s guidance on foreign driving licences in Denmark.
In most cases, you will not have to take a theory or practical driving test.
You should apply for the exchange before the 180 days is over. Applications may take time to process. The Danish authorities will give you a temporary paper licence which you can use to drive in Nordic countries while they process the exchange.
Applying for a Danish driving licence
You cannot exchange your driving licence if:
- you have been resident in Denmark for more than 180 days without making the exchange
- your licence has expired
- your licence has been suspended or revoked
Instead, you must apply for a Danish driving licence as a non-EU national.
You may need to pass a theory or practical driving test.
Disabled drivers
You may be able to apply for an EU parking card for people with disabilities.
You can apply for a Danish disabled parking card through your municipality. If you live in Copenhagen, you can also apply for a disabled parking card online.
If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Denmark, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.
Tax
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.
In Denmark, you must register for tax and keep your information up to date. Read the Danish government’s general introduction to the Danish tax system.
The UK has a double taxation agreement with Denmark so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
Contact the Danish Tax Agency for any questions about double taxation relief.
Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Denmark. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Denmark.
Declaring your assets
You must tell the Danish Tax Agency about any assets or savings you have abroad.
You will not be taxed on any savings or assets that you bring with you when you move to Denmark. However, you may be taxed on interest income and any dividends.
National Insurance
Check if you need to pay National Insurance if you’re going to work in the EU, Gibraltar, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.
Pensions
Claiming your UK pension
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:
- how to claim your UK State Pension
- where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension
Your UK State Pension is calculated differently if you’ve previously lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and now live in the EU.
Claiming a Danish pension
Contact your local municipality (‘Kommune’) or ATP Livslang Pension to find out whether you can claim a Danish pension.
Benefits
Claiming UK benefits
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.
You can also read guidance on benefits and pensions for UK nationals in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
Claiming Danish benefits
You may be entitled to some Danish benefits.
To find out if you’re eligible and how to claim:
- read guidance on public benefits in Denmark
- contact your local municipality (‘Kommune’)
Buying and renting property in Denmark
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.
You can also read the Danish government’s guidance on:
Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Denmark if you’re considering buying property or land.
Voting in Denmark
UK elections
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
- vote in UK elections from abroad
- register as an overseas voter
Danish elections
You cannot vote in Danish general elections or referendums unless you hold Danish citizenship. In most cases you will be eligible to vote or stand in local elections.
You cannot vote in European elections unless you hold citizenship of an EU country.
Read the Danish government’s guidance on elections and voting in Denmark.
Studying in Denmark
If you plan to study in Denmark, you must apply for a residence and work permit as a student before you travel.
You do not need to do this if you have been living in Denmark legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
For more information, read guidance on:
- studying in Denmark
- studying in the EU
- travel grants for students studying abroad or on placements (England)
You can also contact:
- your higher education provider in the UK or Denmark
- Study in Denmark
- the Danish Embassy in the UK
Children
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:
- getting permission to take your child abroad
- claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
- child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad
Schools and education
The European Commission provides information about the school system in Denmark.
All children aged 6 or 7 to 16 must attend school or home school in Denmark.
For more information, read the Danish government’s guidance on school and education. This covers:
Childcare
Your local municipality is responsible for childcare services in Denmark.
For more information, read guidance on family daycare, nurseries and kindergartens.
Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships
Births
If your child is born in Denmark, register the birth with the Danish authorities. The Danish government’s guidance on pregnancy and birth explains how to do this.
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
- register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
- apply for your child’s first British passport
Deaths
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:
- what to do after someone dies abroad
- how to register the death with the UK authorities
If someone dies in Denmark, read guidance on:
- what to do when someone dies in Denmark
- English-speaking funeral directors in Denmark
- funeral benefits in Denmark
Marriages and civil partnerships
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.
The Danish government provides information on:
Divorce and separation
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.
The Danish government offers guidance on separation and divorce in Denmark.
Consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Denmark.
Documents for British people in Denmark
Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers:
- legalising and certifying UK documents
- marriage and civil partnership documents
- affirmations and affidavits
- witnessing signatures
Lawyers, translators and notaries
To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Denmark, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.
Pets
If you want to bring your pet with you to Denmark, read guidance on:
Returning to the UK
Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.
You can also read the Danish government’s guidance on leaving Denmark.
If the NHS funds your healthcare in Denmark through the S1 form, contact the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team to cancel it.
Disclaimer
We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the Danish authorities.
Read our consular information disclaimer.