Guidance: Living in Denmark

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Danish Government and your local authority. You can also read our Denmark travel advice for our latest guidance.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national living in Denmark see our coronavirus travel advice.

Stay up to date

You should:

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

The British Embassy holds events across Denmark for UK nationals to present the information in this guide. Details of upcoming events will be posted on the British Embassy in Denmark Facebook page.

You can also:

The Withdrawal Agreement

If you were legally resident in Denmark before 1 January 2021, your rights will be protected by the Withdrawal Agreement. You must apply for a new residence status before 31 December 2021 to secure your rights.

You should also read:

Visas and residency

Read custody and residence of children in Denmark.

Residency

If you were legally resident in Denmark before 1 January 2021 you must apply for a new residence document before 31 December 2021. Make sure you read the “How to apply” pages before you start your application, they include list of supporting documentation you will need to provide.

Once you have applied online, you will receive an invitation to have your biometrics taken. You will need to book an appointment at your nearest SIRI branch office

Read the Danish government’s guidance on the new residence document and application procedure. You should also read SIRI’s FAQs on residency.

All UK nationals must register with their local civil registration office (Folkeregistret). When you register you will get a Central Person Register (CPR) number. If you move house, you should make sure you re-register again at your new address.

Moving to Denmark

You should:

Passports and travel

You should carry your residence document, as well as your valid passport when you travel. If you have applied but not yet received your document, carry your certificate of application.

If you have not yet applied for a residence document, you should carry evidence that you are resident in Denmark. This could include a tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020.

If you cannot show that you are resident in Denmark, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen area, and your passport may be stamped. This will not affect your rights in Denmark.

Passports

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You can apply for or renew your British passport from Denmark.

You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

Renew your passport before you book your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. You may also need to show a return or onward ticket.

Entry requirements

You can travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To stay for longer than 90 days in any 180-day period to work or study, or for business travel, you must meet the entry requirements set out by the country you are travelling to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit.

Periods of time authorised by a visa or permit will not count towards your 90-day limit.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

Travel to the UK and Ireland has not changed.

Driving in Denmark

If you live in Denmark and have a driving licence issued in the UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, you must exchange your licence for a Danish one.

This table explains when you need to exchange your licence and whether you need to take a test:

If your UK licence is lost, stolen or expired, you will not be able to exchange it for a Danish one. You will need to apply for a Danish licence and may have to retake your driving test.

For information on driving in Denmark, read the guidance on:

Driving in the UK with a Danish licence

You can use your Danish licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Denmark

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

Read the Danish Customs and Tax Administration’s guidance on car registration rules and taxes in Denmark.

You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.

Healthcare

If you are legally resident in Denmark, you are entitled to treatment on the same basis as Danish insured citizens.

When you register with your local civil registration office (Folkeregistret) you will receive a national health insurance card (Sygesikringsbevis), which gives you access to free medical treatment.

Read our guidance on healthcare for UK nationals living in Denmark and make sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances.

Read the STPS guidance on access to healthcare and Danish EHICs after 31 December 2020 (in Danish).

State healthcare S1

You may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK if you live in Denmark and you:

• are receiving a UK State Pension
• are receiving some other ‘exportable benefits’
• are a frontier worker who lives in Austria and commutes to work in the UK
• have been sent to Denmark temporarily by your UK employer

Read our guidance on using an S1 in Denmark to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

If you are resident in Denmark, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC or GHIC for healthcare in Denmark, unless you are a student or a detached (posted) worker. Current EHICs will remain valid until the expiry date on the card.

If you are living in Denmark, you may be eligible for a new UK-issued EHIC or GHIC if you’re:

• a UK student in Denmark
• a UK State Pensioner with a registered S1
• a frontier worker with a registered S1

The card you receive will depend on when you moved to Denmark.

Apply now for a new UK EHIC or GHIC.

An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.

For more information read our guidance on healthcare when travelling in Europe and advice on foreign travel insurance.

If you are registered for public healthcare as a resident before 1 January 2020, you will be able to use your Danish issued EHIC when you travel outside of Denmark until the end of the transition period.

You should also read guidance on:

Working in Denmark

If you were legally resident in Denmark before 1 January 2021, you have the right to work, as long as you remain legally resident.

Read our guidance on working in an EU country and Life in Denmark.

Some jobs may require a UK police certificate.

Once you have registered residence in Denmark and have a CPR number, you should apply for an income tax card (Skattekort). Your employer will need this card.

If you are planning to come to Denmark to work, you may need a visa. Read the Department for International Trade’s guidance on working or providing services in Denmark and sign up for their updates.

Frontier workers

If you live in Denmark and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country, before 1 January 2021 you may need a permit to show that you are a frontier worker. You must also apply for the new residence document in Denmark.

If you live in the UK or another EU or EFTA country and regularly commuted to work in Denmark before 1 January 2021 you need a frontier worker document. Read the Danish government’s guidance on the new document and application procedure.

Education and professional qualifications

You will be eligible for broadly the same support as Danish nationals, as long as you were legally resident in Denmark before 1 January 2021. You must apply for the new residence document.

Read our guidance on:

Moving to Denmark to study

If you are planning to study in Denmark, make sure you meet all visa requirements before you arrive. Contact the relevant Higher Education provider in Denmark to check what fees you may have to pay.

For more information read studying in the European Union.

Professional qualifications

You may need to get your professional qualification recognised if you want to work in a profession that is regulated in Denmark. When doing this, you will be subject to the third country regulations.

You should read:

If your qualification was officially recognised by the relevant regulator in Denmark before 1 January 2021, make sure you understand the terms of your recognition decision by checking with that regulator.

Money and tax

Denmark and the UK have a double taxation agreement to prevent income being taxed in both countries.

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Denmark have not changed. You should send your questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

Once you have registered as a resident in Denmark and have a CPR number, you must apply for an income tax card – Skattekort. Your employer will need this card.

Read the guidance on:

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Denmark. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Denmark.

Declaration of overseas assets

When you move to Denmark, you have a duty to inform the Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen) of any assets or savings you have abroad.

You will not be taxed on any savings or assets that you bring with you from abroad when moving to Denmark, but you may be taxed on interest income and any dividends.

National Insurance

Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Denmark.

Banking

Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation. Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. If you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.

Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on banking, insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.

Pensions

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Denmark.

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

If you retire in Denmark, you can claim:

Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.

Life certificates

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

Benefits

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Denmark.

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.

Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Danish benefits

You may be entitled to Danish benefits. To find out if you are entitled to Danish benefits and how to claim, you can read the EU´s guidance on Danish social security benefits. Your local municipality (Kommune) will be able to help you with any questions about Danish benefits.

Voting

You cannot vote in general elections in Denmark.

If you were registered as resident in Denmark before 31 January 2020 you can vote and stand in local and European Parliament elections.

If you moved to Denmark after 31 January 2020, you will be able to vote and stand in local elections after you have been a permanent resident for 4 years. You cannot vote in European Parliament elections.

Read the Danish government’s guidance on elections and voting in Denmark.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Denmark, you will need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Denmark you can:

Find out how you can get married abroad.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Denmark.

Accommodation and buying property

Read guidance on how to buy or let property in Denmark.

Pets

If you have a pet passport issued by Denmark or another EU member state, you can use it to travel with your pet to Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU.

A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. You should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.

Read guidance on:

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number on 112 or:

• 114 for police
• 1813 for health emergencies
• 114 for firefighters
• 114 for local police

If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.

Returning to the UK

Tell the UK and Danish authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

Read Life in Denmark’s information about leaving Denmark.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

Disclaimer

This information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Danish authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

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