Moving to Denmark

Planning to move to Denmark, or just arrived? This page puts your first steps in order – from SIRI and your CPR number to MitID, tax card and a GP – and gathers the emergency numbers, agencies and offices you need for living in Denmark as a foreigner.

This guide is for you if you are moving to Denmark – for a job or a research post, to study, to join a partner or family, as a refugee, or to come home after years abroad. Whether you are an EU citizen who registers after you arrive or you need a permit before you move to Denmark, living in Denmark as a foreigner starts with the same few offices: SIRI (the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration), your kommune (municipality), Skattestyrelsen (the Danish Tax Agency), a bank and a GP.

Start by choosing your profile below, then read the 15 guides in the series – they go deeper into each step, from the CPR-nummer (personal identification number) to permanent residence. Keep this page as your address book. The step table shows what usually comes first, and every phone number, price, opening hour and address comes from an official source checked on 23 September 2026. Where we could not confirm a detail, we say so rather than guess.

Comparing countries? See how Denmark measures up against Sweden and Norway on jobs, pay and prices: Moving to Scandinavia.

Already living in Sweden or Norway? Moving or commuting between the Nordic countries has its own rules: Moving within Scandinavia.

Who are you? Choose your guide

Choose what fits you best and get your own step-by-step path, the rules that apply to you and which guides to read.

EU/EEA or Swiss citizen

Since 2026 a tax reform has brought new top-bracket taxes, and the personfradrag (personal allowance) is DKK 54,100. You can start work the day you arrive with no permit, but if you stay more than 3 months you need an EU residence document (no fee) before you can get a CPR number (civil registration number).

Step	What to do
Apply online for an EU residence document	Staying over 3 months? Apply within 3 months of entry (within 6 months if you are job-seeking). There is no fee. To count as a worker you normally need 10–12 hours a week for 10–12 weeks. – Where: SIRI
Show up in person within 30 days	Visit a SIRI branch office within 30 days of applying online, or the case is closed as withdrawn. With all documents, processing is normally immediate (0 days), up to 1 month if more is needed. – Where: SIRI branch office (e.g. at International House Copenhagen)
Find a home you actually live in	You cannot get a CPR number until you live at a Danish address; municipalities usually expect 1 to 3 months there. Never pay a deposit before viewing the home and signing a lease. – Where: Private landlord or housing association
Register for your CPR number	Go in person to Borgerservice (Citizen Service) or an International Citizen Service centre with your EU residence document, passport or ID and proof of address, such as your rental contract. – Where: Citizen Service or International Citizen Service
Get your health card and GP	Once registered you choose a GP and get the yellow sundhedskort (health insurance card), posted about 2 to 3 weeks later (International House Copenhagen says 4). Seeing your GP is free. – Where: Your municipality
Set up MitID and your NemKonto	MitID (Denmark's digital ID) needs a CPR number and age 15+. Then register a NemKonto (the account public authorities pay into); processing takes about 1 week. – Where: Citizen Service or your bank
Sort out your tax card	Without a skattekort (tax card) your employer must withhold 55%. With a health card, a Danish address and MitID you can create it in TastSelv (E-tax); manual approval can take up to 5 days. – Where: Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen)
Consider joining an A-kasse	Unemployment insurance is voluntary: join an A-kasse (unemployment insurance fund) to be covered. Among other conditions, you need 1 year's membership before you can get dagpenge (unemployment benefit). – Where: An A-kasse of your choice

Rules that apply to you
Your EU residence document has no expiry date: it stays valid as long as you meet the EU conditions.
After 5 years of actual and real residence under EU rules you gain the right to permanent residence (no fee, normally 3 months' processing).
Each family member, including each child, must submit their own EU residence application.
As an EU worker, receiving public benefits will normally not end your right to live in Denmark.
Running your own registered business? Apply as a self-employed person instead: no fee, normally 2 months' processing.

Source: SIRI (New to Denmark), Life in Denmark, Danish Tax Agency, read 23 September 2026

Nordic citizen

Since 2026 new income-tax brackets apply and the personfradrag (personal allowance) is DKK 54,100. You need no visa, residence permit or EU residence document, but if you stay 6 months or more you must notify Folkeregistret (Civil Registration Office) and get a CPR number (civil registration number).

Step	What to do
Find a home you actually live in	You cannot get a CPR number before you live at a Danish address; municipalities usually expect 1 to 3 months there. Never pay a deposit before viewing the home and signing a lease. – Where: Private landlord or housing association
Register with Folkeregistret	Go in person with your passport or ID, proof of address and the social security number from the Nordic country you are moving from. – Where: Citizen Service or International Citizen Service
Get your yellow health card	Your sundhedskort (health insurance card) is issued when you register and posted about 2 to 3 weeks later (International House Copenhagen says 4). It shows your GP. – Where: Your municipality
Sort out your tax card	You need a skattekort (tax card) to work; without one, 55% is withheld. Working here 3 months or less? You get a personal tax number instead of a CPR number. – Where: Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen)
Get MitID and a NemKonto	MitID (Denmark's digital ID) needs a CPR number and age 15+. All residents must have a NemKonto (the account public authorities pay into); it takes about 1 week to register. – Where: Citizen Service or your bank
Read your Digital Post	With a CPR number you automatically receive Digital Post (official digital mail) from public authorities from age 15, and reading it is your obligation. – Where: Agency for Digital Government
Ask about cross-border questions	Moving between Nordic countries raises its own questions. Info Norden, the Nordic Council of Ministers' official information service, is the place to ask. – Where: Info Norden (Nordic Council of Ministers)

Rules that apply to you
You are free to enter, live, study and work in Denmark without a visa or residence permit.
Family members who are Nordic citizens need no family reunification; non-Nordic family members apply under EU rules.
Nordic citizens meet the citizenship residence requirement after 2 years' uninterrupted residence.
Citizenship bill L98 lapsed on 26 February 2026 because an election was called; the ministry will as a rule not process applications until conditions are clear after the election.
You can enter without a passport, but must be able to identify yourself if asked; a driving licence or other official photo ID is enough.

Source: SIRI (New to Denmark), Life in Denmark, Ministry of Immigration and Integration, read 23 September 2026

From the UK

Moving now, you apply as a non-EU national: in 2026 the Pay Limit Scheme requires a salary of at least DKK 552,000 a year. The Withdrawal Agreement only covers British citizens who took up residence before 31 December 2020, and its application period ended on 31 December 2023.

Step	What to do
Choose your permit route	New arrivals since 1 January 2021 apply as third-country nationals, for example via the Pay Limit Scheme (DKK 552,000 a year in 2026), a Positive List or as a student. – Where: SIRI
Apply and pay the fee	Work-based permits (Pay Limit Scheme, Fast-track, Positive List, Researcher) cost DKK 6,810. Normal processing under the Pay Limit Scheme is 1 month (up to 3). – Where: SIRI
Register for your CPR number	Once you live at a Danish address, take your permit, passport and proof of address to Borgerservice (Citizen Service) or an International Citizen Service centre for a CPR number (civil registration number). – Where: Citizen Service or International Citizen Service
Get your tax card	Without a skattekort (tax card), 55% tax is withheld. You can apply no earlier than 1 month before your job starts; the digital form route takes about 2 weeks. – Where: Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen)
Open a Danish bank account	Under the Pay Limit Scheme your salary must be paid into a Danish account in your own name, opened within 180 days of the permit being granted or of your entry. – Where: Your bank
Exchange your UK driving licence	A licence from Great Britain or Northern Ireland can be used for 180 days after you take up residence; as a rule it can then be exchanged for a Danish one without a driving test. – Where: Your municipality
Covered by the agreement? Renew your card	Your Withdrawal Agreement residence card is valid for up to 10 years and must then be renewed; the card's limited validity does not affect your right to permanent residence. – Where: SIRI
Cross-border worker? Get the card	If you live in one country and work in the other, apply for a cross-border worker card to keep your right to work in Denmark. – Where: SIRI

Rules that apply to you
To be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement you must have taken up residence before 31 December 2020; no dispensation is granted.
Applied after 31 December 2023? Your agreement rights have lapsed; only reasonable grounds for the delay, set out on form BR1, can be considered.
Withdrawal Agreement status applies only in Denmark, but you can still travel in Schengen for 90 days within 180 days.
Close family of a covered UK citizen can still join later, as long as the relationship continues and the UK citizen still lives in Denmark.
British citizens who also hold Danish or other EU nationality may, but need not, apply for a Withdrawal Agreement document.

Source: SIRI (New to Denmark), Danish Tax Agency, Life in Denmark, read 23 September 2026

From the US or elsewhere outside the EU

From 1 January 2026 the Pay Limit Scheme requires at least DKK 552,000 a year (up from DKK 514,000 in 2025), and the Positive Lists were updated on 1 July 2026. Your first step is a residence and work permit, so check which scheme your job offer fits before anything else.

Step	What to do
Pick your scheme	Pay Limit Scheme: DKK 552,000+ a year (2026). Supplementary Pay Limit: DKK 446,000+. Or a Positive List job matching your education. SIRI-certified employers can use Fast-track. – Where: SIRI
Apply and pay the fee	The fee is DKK 6,810. Normal processing: Pay Limit Scheme 1 month (up to 3); Positive List for Skilled Work 3 months (up to 4). – Where: SIRI
Plan your arrival	Applying from abroad, your permit can start 1 month before your job begins, or only 14 days before if you cannot declare funds to support yourself and your family. – Where: SIRI
Register for your CPR number	Staying 3 months or more, you need a CPR number (civil registration number). Bring your permit, passport and proof of address to Borgerservice (Citizen Service) or an International Citizen Service centre. – Where: Citizen Service or International Citizen Service
Get your tax card	Without a skattekort (tax card), 55% is withheld. Apply no earlier than 1 month before you start; with a health card, address and MitID (digital ID) you can create it yourself. – Where: Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen)
Open a Danish bank account	Pay Limit salary must go into a Danish account in your own name, opened within 180 days of the permit or your entry. Most banks also ask US citizens for their social security card. – Where: Your bank
Bring your family	Your spouse, registered or cohabiting partner and children under 18 living at home can be granted permits with you. – Where: SIRI
Swap your driving licence	Drive on your licence for 180 days after taking up residence. US, Canadian and Australian licences can then be exchanged without a test; licences from countries not on the lists need theory and practical tests. – Where: Your municipality

Rules that apply to you
A new role with the same employer is fine under the Pay Limit Scheme; a new employer means a new permit application.
If a job of under 4 years ends, you automatically get a 6-month job-seeking permit, but you may not work during it.
A Danish residence and work permit does not allow you to work in other Schengen countries.
A new Pay Limit Scheme based on collective agreements is due on 1 January 2027; employers will need a separate certification for it.
Positive List job titles cannot be removed sooner than 2 years after they were added.

Source: SIRI (New to Denmark), Danish Tax Agency, Life in Denmark, read 23 September 2026

Highly qualified specialist

Since 1 January 2026 the Pay Limit Scheme requires DKK 552,000 a year, and a new top-bracket tax applies above DKK 777,900. Denmark does not offer the EU Blue Card (SIRI's list of schemes has none), so specialists use the Pay Limit Scheme, Fast-track or the Positive Lists. Key employees guaranteed DKK 65,400 a month may pay a flat 32.84% for up to 7 years.

Step	What to do
Check the salary threshold	The Pay Limit Scheme needs DKK 552,000 a year (2026). Cash salary, pension contributions and paid holiday allowance count; a company car, phone, internet or housing do not. – Where: SIRI
Ask if your employer is certified	A SIRI-certified employer (at least 10 full-time permanent staff) can hire you through Fast-track, without waiting for SIRI to finish processing. – Where: Your employer and SIRI
Or use the Positive List	If your job is on the Positive List for People with a Higher Education (164 titles from 1 July 2026), your education must qualify you for it. The fee is DKK 6,810. – Where: SIRI
Apply and pay the fee	The Pay Limit Scheme fee is DKK 6,810, with normal processing of 1 month (up to 3). A contract of 4 years or more normally gives a 4-year permit, which can be extended. – Where: SIRI
Open a Danish bank account	Your salary must be paid into a Danish account in your own name, opened within 180 days of the permit being granted or of your entry. – Where: Your bank
Check the researcher tax scheme	Under forskerskatteordningen (researcher tax scheme), key employees guaranteed DKK 65,400 a month (2026) pay 32.84% for up to 7 years, if not liable to Danish tax for 10 years. – Where: Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen)
Bring your family	Your spouse, registered or cohabiting partner and children under 18 living at home can be granted permits with you. – Where: SIRI

Rules that apply to you
Danish permits for specialists are national residence and work permits: they do not let you work in other Schengen countries.
2026 brackets: 7.5% middle-bracket tax above DKK 641,200, 7.5% top-bracket tax above DKK 777,900 and 5% additional top-bracket tax above DKK 2,592,700.
You can use the researcher tax scheme only once in your life, but the 7 years may be split into several periods.
A new role with the same employer is fine; a new employer means a new permit application.
A Pay Limit Scheme based on collective agreements is due on 1 January 2027 and will need its own employer certification.

Source: SIRI (New to Denmark), Danish Tax Agency, read 23 September 2026

Researcher or PhD student

From 1 October 2026 SIRI checks whether your pay meets Danish standards against updated income statistics, and unsalaried PhD students must show DKK 7,426 a month (2026 level). The big advantages: the researcher tax scheme can tax gross pay at a flat 32.84% for up to 7 years, and your permit does not lapse if you give up your Danish address while abroad.

Step	What to do
Check you qualify as a researcher	There must be a research-related reason for the job, and research must be the main purpose of your stay. You do not have to be employed full time. – Where: Your host institution
Apply for the researcher permit	The fee is DKK 6,810, with normal processing of 1 month (up to 2). Benefits in kind such as housing, a car, phone or per diems do not count when SIRI checks your pay. – Where: SIRI
PhD student? Use the PhD route	A full-degree PhD permit costs DKK 3,060. Unsalaried, you must show DKK 7,426 a month (up to DKK 89,112); if you are salaried, your contract proves you can support yourself. – Where: SIRI
Guest researcher? Show your funds	Unpaid guest researchers need at least a Master's degree and funds of DKK 12,770 a month alone, or DKK 25,540 with a spouse (2025 level). – Where: SIRI
Short visit of 90 days or less	Invited to teach or research for 90 days or less? You may not need a permit. If you know you will stay longer, your permit must also cover the first 90 days. – Where: SIRI
Register for CPR and a tax card	Register for a CPR number (civil registration number) in person at Borgerservice (Citizen Service) or an International Citizen Service centre, then get your skattekort (tax card). – Where: Citizen Service and Danish Tax Agency
Ask about the researcher tax scheme	Forskerskatteordningen (researcher tax scheme) taxes gross pay at 32.84%: 8% AM-bidrag (labour market contribution) plus 27%, with no deductions. You must not have been liable to Danish tax for 10 years. – Where: Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen)
Bring your family	Your spouse or partner and children under 18 can be granted residence permits alongside you. – Where: SIRI

Rules that apply to you
Your researcher permit lets you take sideline jobs with other employers without a separate work permit.
Researchers and full-degree PhD students may give up their Danish address while abroad without the permit lapsing.
A new role or project with the same employer is fine; a new workplace needs a new permit.
With a contract of 4 years or more you normally get a 4-year permit; a shorter job gives a permit matching it.
Changing jobs on the researcher tax scheme? There may be no more than 1 month between the two jobs.

Source: SIRI (New to Denmark), Danish Tax Agency, Life in Denmark, read 23 September 2026

Student

Since 1 July 2024 students with a work permit may work 90 hours a month and full-time in June, July and August. Since 2 May 2025, new applicants to non-state-approved programmes get no work permit and cannot bring family. EU/EEA and Swiss students need no permit, only an EU residence document.

Step	What to do
Secure a full-time place	You must be admitted to a full-time higher educational programme; permits are not granted for part-time study. Check whether your programme is state-approved. – Where: Your university or college
Show your funds	Non-EU students must show DKK 7,426 for each month of study (2026 level), up to DKK 89,112 for a programme of 12 months or more. – Where: SIRI
Apply and pay the fee	The fee is DKK 3,060, with normal processing of 2 months (up to 3). Under 18? Both parents must sign a consent and the school must confirm proper living conditions. – Where: SIRI
EU/EEA or Swiss? Get a residence document	You need no residence permit. Staying over 3 months, apply for an EU residence document and appear in person at SIRI within 30 days of applying online. – Where: SIRI
Register for your CPR number	Living at a Danish address? Get a CPR number (civil registration number) at Borgerservice (Citizen Service) or an International Citizen Service centre with your permit or EU document, ID and address proof. – Where: Citizen Service or International Citizen Service
Get a tax card before your first job	Without a skattekort (tax card), 55% is withheld. On a frikort (tax-exemption card) you can earn DKK 54,100 in 2026 before income tax; the 8% AM-bidrag (labour market contribution) still applies. – Where: Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen)
Keep track of your hours	Stay within 90 hours a month from September to May. Working more is illegal work and can mean a warning, a fine or losing your permit. Unpaid non-profit volunteering does not count. – Where: SIRI
Plan for after graduation	After a full state-approved programme you can normally get a 6-month or 3-year job-seeking permit, with the same work rights as during your studies. – Where: SIRI

Rules that apply to you
Applied on or after 2 May 2025 for a non-state-approved programme? You get no permits for family, and no work permit unless you are covered by the EU-Turkey Association Agreement.
Since 15 September 2026 non-state-approved programmes are assessed by the Danish Accreditation Council's secretariat; EVA (Danish Evaluation Institute) closed on 1 July 2026.
A mandatory internship in your programme automatically comes with a full-time work permit for its duration.
Your permit can be extended by up to 1 year if your studies run over, or up to 2 years in total after pregnancy or parental leave.
A student permit can only be valid until 3 months before your passport expires.

Source: SIRI (New to Denmark), Life in Denmark, Danish Tax Agency, read 23 September 2026

Joining a partner or family

For spousal family reunification at 2026 levels, your partner in Denmark normally sets aside a DKK 61,709.34 guarantee and you pay a DKK 8,490 fee, with up to 10 months' processing. Since 2 May 2025, family cannot join a student on a non-state-approved programme who applied on or after that date. Joining a worker or student is a separate scheme.

Step	What to do
Work out which scheme fits	Joining a worker or student? Apply as an accompanying family member. Joining a Danish citizen, permanent resident or refugee? That is family reunification, with its own requirements. – Where: SIRI or Danish Immigration Service
Check the age and visit rules	You and your partner normally must both be 24 (you may apply once the younger is 23 years and 6 months), and you must normally have visited Denmark legally at least once. – Where: Danish Immigration Service
Meet 4 of 6 integration conditions	Together you must meet 4 of 6 conditions (3 for each of you), covering Danish language, years in work, education and, for your partner, income or active citizenship. – Where: Danish Immigration Service
Arrange the guarantee and housing	Your partner normally sets aside DKK 61,709.34 (2026) as a bank guarantee or in escrow. The home needs 20 sq. metres per person or no more than twice as many residents as rooms, outside listed areas. – Where: Your partner's bank
Apply and pay the fee	The fee is DKK 8,490 and the expected maximum processing time is 10 months. Your first permit is typically valid for 2 years. – Where: Danish Immigration Service
Pass your Danish tests	After approval you normally must pass a Danish test at A1 level within 6 months and at A2 level within 9 months, or your permit can be revoked. – Where: Municipal language centre
Register and start Danish classes	Register for a CPR number (civil registration number) at Borgerservice (Citizen Service). At 18+ you can take free municipal Danish courses; Copenhagen asks a refundable DKK 2,000 deposit. – Where: Citizen Service and your municipality
Check family benefits	Children over 26 weeks are guaranteed a daycare place. Børne- og ungeydelse (child and youth benefit) normally needs 6 years' residence or work in Denmark within the last 10. – Where: Your municipality and Udbetaling Danmark

Rules that apply to you
A partner who has received certain social benefits in the past 3 years cannot sponsor you.
Unmarried partners must have lived together at the same address for at least 18 months.
Both spouses must have attended the wedding in person, and both must have been at least 18 at the time.
If your partner is not a Danish or Nordic citizen, they must have held permanent residence for at least the past 3 years.
Your permit can be extended if you continue to meet the requirements.

Source: SIRI and Danish Immigration Service (New to Denmark), Life in Denmark, Udbetaling Danmark, read 23 September 2026

Refugee or protection status

A new regulation on the introduction programme took effect on 1 February 2026: within a 5-year introduction period, a contract must be agreed within 1 month of your municipality taking over, aimed at ordinary work within 1 year if possible. People admitted under the special Ukraine law stay under the older rules.

Step	What to do
Apply for asylum in Denmark	You can only apply from inside Denmark: in person at a police station or the police in Center Sandholm. If you already hold another permit, go to the police where you live. – Where: Danish Police
Understand your status	Denmark grants Convention status (section 7(1)), protection status (section 7(2)) and temporary protection status (section 7(3)). Permit lengths and family rules differ. – Where: Danish immigration authorities
Start your introduction programme	Your contract can include Danish education, guidance and upskilling, virksomhedspraktik (workplace internship) and ansættelse med løntilskud (wage-subsidised job) for up to 1 year. – Where: Your municipality
Take free Danish classes	On an integration programme you can get free Danish classes for up to 5 years. They are offered to you automatically, and you pay no deposit. – Where: Municipal language centre
Get CPR, MitID and NemKonto	Register for a CPR number (civil registration number), then get MitID (Denmark's digital ID, age 15+) and a NemKonto (the account public authorities pay into). – Where: Citizen Service
Renew your permit in time	Convention status: extensions of up to 2 years at a time. Protection status: up to 1 year, then 2 years at a time. Temporary protection: 1 year at a time, 2-year extensions after 3 years. – Where: Danish immigration authorities
Consider a work permit	Even while your asylum case is pending, a job on a Positive List or paying the Pay Limit Scheme salary lets you apply for a permit under that scheme. – Where: SIRI

Rules that apply to you
Temporary protection status (section 7(3)) has special rules on when your family can apply for reunification.
Permanent residence normally needs 8 years' legal residence (4 if you meet all 4 supplementary requirements); the fee on asylum grounds is DKK 4,970.
Certain social benefits bar permanent residence until 4 years after you last received them.
Recognised refugees meet the citizenship residence requirement after 8 years' uninterrupted residence.
Citizenship bill L98 lapsed on 26 February 2026 because an election was called; the ministry will as a rule not process applications until conditions are clear after the election.

Source: SIRI and Danish Immigration Service (New to Denmark), Retsinformation, City of Copenhagen, read 23 September 2026

Returning Dane

The window for reclaiming lost Danish citizenship by declaration ran from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2026. Former Danes and people of Danish descent can apply for a residence permit based on strong ties, which can make you eligible for permanent residence after 1 or 2 years if you meet certain requirements.

Step	What to do
Re-register your address	Staying 3 months or more, notify Folkeregistret (Civil Registration Office) at Borgerservice (Citizen Service). Forgotten the last four digits of your CPR number (civil registration number)? Ask Folkeregistret. – Where: Citizen Service
Update tax, MitID and NemKonto	Get a skattekort (tax card) before your first Danish payday; without one, 55% is withheld. Check your MitID (digital ID) and NemKonto (the account public authorities pay into). – Where: Danish Tax Agency and your bank
Former Dane? Apply on strong ties	Former citizens, people of Danish descent and the Danish minority in South Schleswig or Argentina can apply (form SG3). The expected maximum processing time is 10 months. – Where: Danish Immigration Service
Document your Danish roots	Bring each dåbsattest (birth certificate). Descent normally means both parents, or all four grandparents, were natural-born Danish citizens. – Where: Danish Immigration Service
Submit from abroad or in Denmark	Abroad: apply at a Danish mission or outsourcing office. Legally in Denmark: send it to the Immigration Service's Citizen Service by contact form or post. Fingerprints and a photo are normally taken. – Where: Danish mission or Danish Immigration Service
Check your driving licence	If your Danish licence expired 3 years ago or more, you must pass a new theory and practical test before it can be renewed. – Where: Citizen Service
Join an A-kasse early	Unemployment insurance is voluntary. You need at least 1 year's membership of an A-kasse (unemployment insurance fund) before you can get dagpenge (unemployment benefit). – Where: An A-kasse of your choice

Rules that apply to you
A strong-ties permit is typically valid for 1 year at first, and you may work in Denmark while it is valid.
If you lost citizenship under section 8a or 8b of the Danish Citizenship Act, you cannot use the former-citizen route.
Child and youth benefit normally requires 6 years' residence or work in Denmark within the last 10 years.
Non-EU partner? Spousal family reunification applies, including the 24-year requirement and a DKK 61,709.34 guarantee (2026 level).
The researcher tax scheme is only open if you have not been liable to Danish tax for 10 years.

Source: Danish Immigration Service (New to Denmark), Ministry of Immigration and Integration, Life in Denmark, read 23 September 2026

Starting a business or self-employed

Planning to hire from outside the EU? A new Pay Limit Scheme based on collective agreements is due on 1 January 2027 and needs its own certification. Non-EU founders can apply through Start-up Denmark (at most 75 permits a year); EU/EEA and Swiss citizens instead apply, with no fee, for an EU residence document as self-employed.

Step	What to do
Get your idea approved first	A panel of experts appointed by Erhvervsstyrelsen (Danish Business Authority) must approve your idea as innovative, with growth potential, before you can apply to SIRI. – Where: Danish Business Authority
Show you can support yourself	Document funds for your first year: DKK 153,240 alone, DKK 306,480 with a spouse, or DKK 356,904 with a spouse and children (2025 level). – Where: SIRI
Apply and pay the fee	Submit form SD1 with the panel approval, proof of funds and proof of company ownership. The fee is DKK 3,060; normal processing is 2 months (up to 4). – Where: SIRI
Apply as a team if you like	Teams of up to 3 people can apply with one shared business plan. You must be an active owner: pure investors and holding companies do not qualify. – Where: SIRI
EU/EEA or Swiss? Register as self-employed	Establish and register your business in Denmark, then apply for an EU residence document as self-employed: no fee, normal processing 2 months (up to 4). – Where: SIRI
Business not running yet?	If your business is not yet fully established, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can apply for an EU residence document as a person with sufficient funds instead. – Where: SIRI
Register for your CPR number	Living at a Danish address? Get a CPR number (civil registration number) at Borgerservice (Citizen Service) or an International Citizen Service centre with your permit or EU document, ID and address proof. – Where: Citizen Service or International Citizen Service

Rules that apply to you
Restaurants, shops, smaller trade and import/export businesses are normally not approved under Start-up Denmark.
A Start-up Denmark permit runs for up to 2 years and can be extended for up to 3 years at a time.
You may only work in the approved business; a new business or salaried job needs a new application, but you can start once you have applied.
Tell SIRI about significant changes: a major change of plan or a new business requires a new permit.
Your spouse or partner and children under 18 living at home can be granted permits with you.

Source: SIRI (New to Denmark), Life in Denmark, read 23 September 2026

The 15 guides

Move

1. Part 1The first 30 days in Denmark
2. Part 2Work permit or EU residence document
3. Part 3CPR number in Denmark
4. Part 6Working in Denmark
5. Part 7Tax card in Denmark

Live

1. Part 4MitID, NemKonto, bank account and Digital Post
2. Part 5Renting a home in Denmark
3. Part 8Your GP, 1813 and the dentist
4. Part 10Childcare and school in Denmark
5. Part 11Learn Danish in Denmark
6. Part 12Driving licence in Denmark
7. Part 13Setting up home in Denmark

Settle

1. Part 9Child benefit, parental leave and sick pay in Denmark
2. Part 14Everyday life in Denmark
3. Part 15Permanent residence in Denmark and Danish citizenship

Denmark in numbers

Official statistics, fetched from the source. Each figure shows where it comes from and which period it covers.

Figure	Latest	Source and period
Population	6.03 million	Statistics Denmark, 1 Jul 2026
Size of the economy (GDP)	€418 billion	Eurostat, 2025
GDP per person	$76,970	World Bank, 2025
GDP growth	+4.6%	Eurostat, Q2 2026 vs a year earlier
Unemployment	3.0%	Statistics Denmark, registered gross unemployment (different measure), Jul 2026
Employment rate (age 20–64)	79.9%	Eurostat, Q2 2026
Inflation	2.0%	Statistics Denmark, CPI annual change, Aug 2026
Central bank rate	2.10%	Danmarks Nationalbank current-account rate, 22 Sep 2026
Average monthly pay	50,652 DKK	Statistics Denmark, standardised monthly earnings incl. pension, 2024
Price level (EU = 100)	143	Eurostat, 2024
Born abroad	14.4%	Eurostat, 1 January 2025
€1 buys	7.48 DKK	European Central Bank, 22 September 2026

Source: Eurostat, World Bank, European Central Bank and the national statistics office and central bank, read 23 September 2026.

Pros
The fastest-growing economy of the three: +4.6% in Q2 2026 compared with a year earlier (Eurostat), and 2.9% in 2025 (World Bank).
The shortest usual working week for full-time employees: 38.1 hours (Eurostat, 2025).
High incomes: median disposable income €36,192 (Eurostat, 2025).
Stable against the euro: €1 = 7.48 kroner (ECB), kept stable by Danmarks Nationalbank’s fixed-exchange-rate policy.

Cons
The most expensive of the three: consumer prices 43% above the EU average, housing and energy 86% above (Eurostat, 2024).
Housing hits hardest: 23.4% of residents spend more than 40% of their income on housing (Eurostat, 2025).
Unemployment of 6.7% in July 2026 – higher than Norway’s 4.2% (Eurostat).

Your first steps in Denmark, in order

Step	What	Where	Typical time
1	From outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the Nordic countries? Then you need a residence and work permit. The main work routes are the Pay Limit Scheme (at least DKK 552,000 a year for applications from 1 January 2026), the Fast-track scheme (only through SIRI-certified employers) and the Positive Lists. The EU Blue Card is not among SIRI's work schemes. The fee for a work-based application is DKK 6,810.	SIRI, online through New to Denmark	Researchers: normally 1 month, up to 2. Higher-education students: normally 2 months, up to 3. Spouses and partners: up to 10 months expected.
2	EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can stay up to 3 months without registering. To stay longer, apply online for an EU residence document (registration certificate) within 3 months of arriving – 6 months if you are looking for work – and turn up in person within 30 days of applying. There is no fee. Nordic citizens need neither a permit nor this document.	A SIRI branch office, or SIRI's EU desk at International House Copenhagen	Normally immediate if you bring all your documents; up to 1 month if SIRI needs more information.
3	Find a home and move in – you cannot get a CPR number until you actually live at the address. Never pay a deposit before you have a signed lease. The deposit is normally 3 months' rent for a flat and 1 month's for a room. Almene boliger (housing-association homes) usually cost less but are let through waiting lists.	Private landlords and housing associations. A standard lease is available in Danish and English	Report any defects within 14 days of taking over the home, or you may have to pay for them.
4	Register your address and get your CPR number in person. Bring your passport or ID, your permit or EU residence document, proof of your Danish address such as a rental contract, and marriage, birth or custody papers if they apply. From then on, letters from the authorities arrive as Digital Post.	Borgerservice (Citizen Service) in your municipality, or an International Citizen Service centre such as International House Copenhagen	Required if you stay 3 months or more – 6 months for EU/EEA, Swiss and Nordic citizens.
5	Get MitID, Denmark's national eID and your key to public self-service, Digital Post and tax. Scan your passport or chip ID card in the MitID app – you need at least an iPhone 7 or a newer Android phone, and without a CPR number you use an 8-digit P code – or book an appointment at Citizen Service.	The MitID app, or Citizen Service in your municipality	At International House Copenhagen you can apply at the same appointment as your CPR registration.
6	Get your skattekort (tax card) – without one, your employer must withhold 55% of your salary. You cannot get it more than 1 month before your job starts.	Skattestyrelsen: online in E-tax if you have a CPR number, a Danish address and MitID; otherwise with form 04.063, also at International Citizen Service centres	Instant online; up to 5 days if it is checked by hand; about 2 weeks with the form.
7	Open a bank account and register it as your NemKonto, the account where public payments land – tax refunds, child benefit and salary from a public employer. Most banks ask for ID and an employment contract or invitation letter. If you are legally resident in an EU country, a bank must offer you a basic payment account, although it may refuse if you already have one at another Danish bank.	A bank of your choice; register your NemKonto with MitID	NemKonto registration: about 1 week.
8	Choose your læge (GP, family doctor) – seeing your GP is free, and hospital treatment is free with a referral. Your yellow sundhedskort (health insurance card) shows your CPR number and your GP; the Sundhedskortet app is a digital version in English. Changing GP later usually costs DKK 40 (2026).	When you register for your CPR number; your municipality issues the card and posts it to your Danish address	Card: about 2–3 weeks, according to Life in Denmark; International House Copenhagen says about 4 weeks.
9	Decide whether to join an a-kasse (unemployment insurance fund). Cover is voluntary, not automatic, and you do not have to join a trade union to join a fund.	One of the 21 a-kasser, which are private funds	You need at least 1 year's membership, among other conditions, before you can get dagpenge (unemployment benefit).
10	Start danskuddannelse (Danish education for adults): Danish Education 1, 2 and 3, each of six modules with an exam at the end. In Copenhagen it is open to everyone aged 18 or over with a CPR number and is free, but you pay a refundable DKK 2,000 deposit before your first class; people on an integration programme and au pairs are exempt.	A language centre, through your municipality	In Copenhagen you get a referral letter when you register, then have 30 days to tell your chosen centre.
11	Bringing a car, or a driving licence from outside the EU/EEA? Register the car in Denmark, and swap the licence for a Danish one – some countries' licences without a test, others only after a full driving test.	Motorstyrelsen (the Danish Motor Vehicle Agency) for cars; your municipality for licences	Car on foreign plates: register within 30 days of moving. Licence: valid for 180 days after you take up residence.

Tax at a glance for 2026

Tax or allowance	2026	What it means for you
AM-bidrag (labour market contribution)	8% of your gross salary	Paid on all salary income. From 2026 it applies from the year you turn 18.
Personfradrag (personal allowance)	DKK 54,100 a year (age 18 and over)	Income up to this amount is free of ordinary income tax, though the 8% AM-bidrag still applies. It was DKK 51,600 in 2025 and will be DKK 55,700 in 2027.
Beskæftigelsesfradrag (employment allowance)	12.75% of earned income, at most DKK 63,300	A deduction for people in work. The rate rose from 10.65% under the old rules.
Kommuneskat (municipal tax)	Average 25.049%	Set by your municipality: Copenhagen 23.39% (the lowest of the 98 municipalities), Aarhus 24.52%, Odense 25.5%, Aalborg 25.6%.
Kirkeskat (church tax)	Average 0.867% for those who pay it	Paid by members of the Folkekirke (Church of Denmark), about 75% of taxpayers. Copenhagen 0.8%, Aarhus 0.74%, Odense 0.68%, Aalborg 0.98%.
Bundskat (bottom-bracket tax)	12.01%	State tax on personal income above the personal allowance.
Mellemskat (middle-bracket tax)	7.5% above DKK 641,200	Counted on personal income after AM-bidrag. Part of the bracket structure that a tax reform introduced from 2026.
Topskat (top-bracket tax)	A further 7.5% above DKK 777,900	On top of middle-bracket tax, after AM-bidrag.
Toptopskat (additional top-bracket tax)	A further 5% above DKK 2,592,700	A new bracket from 2026, after AM-bidrag.
No tax card	55% withheld	Without a Danish skattekort, your employer must withhold 55% of your salary – so get your tax card before your first payday.
Forskerskatteordningen (tax scheme for researchers and key employees)	32.84% flat, for up to 7 years	That is 27% plus the 8% AM-bidrag, with no deductions or allowances. Key employees need a guaranteed monthly salary of at least DKK 65,400 in 2026, and you must not have been liable to tax in Denmark in the 10 years before the job starts. You can use the scheme only once in your life.

The figures come from Skattestyrelsen and the tax ministry, Skatte- og Vækstministeriet. The Relocate in Europe salary calculator applies these 2026 rates to your own salary.

Emergency and health numbers

Number	For what
112	Emergencies: police, fire brigade, ambulance and environmental emergencies. Free from any landline or mobile, even without credit, and it works across the EU. Calls are recorded; the operator asks what happened, where, when, how many are hurt and your number.
114	Police, non-emergency: report a crime that needs no urgent response, or ask a general question. From abroad: +45 114.
1813	Akuttelefonen (medical helpline) in Region Hovedstaden, the Capital Region, including Copenhagen: medical help when your own GP is closed. For an acute injury you can call around the clock. Text "Opkald" to 1813 to ask for a call back.
1818	Lægevagten (out-of-hours doctor) in Region Sjælland (Zealand), if you fall acutely ill when your GP is closed.
70 11 07 07	Lægevagten in Region Syddanmark (Southern Denmark), including Odense.
70 11 31 31	Lægevagten in Region Midtjylland (Central Denmark), including Aarhus: weekdays 16–08, weekends and public holidays around the clock.
70 15 03 00	Lægevagten in Region Nordjylland (North Denmark), including Aalborg, when your GP is closed. Always call before you go.
82 12 12 12	Giftlinjen (poison information line).
+45 33 37 00 37	Block your MitID outside MitID Support's opening hours, for example if your phone is lost.

The address book

Grouped by what you need. Phone numbers are written as each agency publishes them, with +45 where the agency gives it, and the hours in the phone column are phone hours. Where we could not confirm a detail from an official source, the cell says "See the agency's website".

Residence and identity

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration)	EU residence document (registration certificate) for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens; residence and work permits, including the Pay Limit Scheme, Fast-track and the Positive Lists; researchers and students. Runs New to Denmark together with the Danish Immigration Service	72 14 20 00, with topic lines 72 14 20 01 to 72 14 20 05; EU line +45 72 14 20 04. Mon, Wed and Thu 9–15, Fri 9–12; closed on Tuesdays and public holidays	nyidanmark.dk (newtodenmark.dk), siri.dk	Copenhagen citizen centre, by appointment only: Carl Jacobsens Vej 39, 2500 Valby. Local offices in Aarhus (Dokk1, Hack Kampmanns Plads 2), Odense (Borgernes Hus, Østre Stationsvej 15), Aalborg (Badehusvej 7), Esbjerg (Esbjerg Rådhus, Torvegade 74), Sønderborg (Holger Drachmanns Plads 5) and Rønne (Bornholms Lufthavn). EU desk at International House Copenhagen
Udlændingestyrelsen (Danish Immigration Service)	Permanent residence permits; runs New to Denmark together with SIRI	35 36 66 00	us.dk, nyidanmark.dk	Head office: Farimagsvej 51A, 4700 Næstved. For opening hours and citizen service it refers you to New to Denmark
International House Copenhagen – International Citizen Service East	EU residence document, CPR number, yellow health card, MitID, tax card and U2 form (for transferring unemployment benefit) under one roof, free of charge. Handles CPR registration for Copenhagen and 37 partner municipalities	+45 33 66 10 00. Mon–Wed 8–16, Thu 8–17, Fri 8–15	ihcph.kk.dk, international.kk.dk	Nyropsgade 1, 1602 København V. Mon 9–15, Tue closed, Wed 11–17, Thu 9–15, Fri 9–14
International Citizen Service (ICS) centres	Registration paperwork with several authorities in one place. Besides Copenhagen: Aarhus (ICS West), Odense (ICS South), Aalborg (ICS North), Esbjerg and Sønderborg	See Cities below for Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg	lifeindenmark.dk	See Cities below for Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg
Borgerservice (Citizen Service) in your kommune, with Folkeregistret (Civil Registration Office)	Registering your address and getting a CPR number, in person; MitID if you cannot use the app; reporting a move within Denmark – online from 4 weeks before and no later than 5 days after. In Odense, for example, Borgerservice also handles passports and driving licences	Your municipality – see Cities below	borger.dk, lifeindenmark.dk	Your local Citizen Service; MitID help is by appointment
MitID Support (Denmark's national eID)	Help with MitID, your personal key to public and many private digital services	+45 33 98 00 10, in Danish and English. Mon–Fri 8–20; weekends, public holidays and 5 June 10–16; 24 and 31 December 10–14. To block your MitID outside these hours: +45 33 37 00 37	mitid.dk	Citizen Service in your municipality, by appointment
Digital Post Support	Your official mailbox: you receive Digital Post from the authorities from age 15, and reading it is an obligation. Read it on Life in Denmark, the Digital Post app, e-Boks or mit.dk. Since 9 July 2026 the app no longer works on older Android phones that cannot be upgraded	+45 33 98 00 33. Mon–Fri 8–20, weekends and holidays 10–16	lifeindenmark.dk	–

Money, work and social insurance

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
Skattestyrelsen (Danish Tax Agency)	Tax card, personal tax number, your forskudsopgørelse (preliminary income assessment, published each November) and årsopgørelse (tax assessment notice, each March) – all in E-tax	Individuals +45 72 22 28 92: Mon 9–17, Tue–Thu 9–16, Fri 9–14. First tax card +45 72 22 27 80. Preliminary income assessment +45 72 22 27 95. General 72 22 18 18	skat.dk	Tax card and personal tax number also at International Citizen Service centres
Udbetaling Danmark (the national benefits payment body)	Child and youth benefit, barselsdagpenge (parental leave benefit), housing benefit, pensions, holiday pay, the blue EU health insurance card and the special health card	No single newcomer line – each benefit area has its own contact point. International health insurance +45 70 12 80 81. Pension 70 12 80 61	borger.dk	See the agency's website
NemKonto – Digitaliseringsstyrelsen (Agency for Digital Government)	Your NemKonto, the bank account – Danish or foreign – where you receive public payments such as tax refunds, child benefit, unemployment benefit and holiday allowance. You need a CPR number to register one	+45 33 98 00 60	nemkonto.dk	Postal address: Slotsgade 1, 4800 Nykøbing F
STAR (Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment) – Jobnet and Workindenmark	Jobnet, the public employment service site with about 15,000 vacancies, mostly in Danish; Workindenmark, with 2,000–3,000 vacancies in English; and the unemployment-benefit system. To get dagpenge from day one, register as a jobseeker on Jobnet on your first day out of work	+45 72 21 74 00; EEA unemployment-insurance questions +45 72 21 74 03. Both Mon–Fri 9–15	star.dk, jobnet.dk, workindenmark.dk	Vermundsgade 38, DK-2100 København Ø
A-kasser (unemployment insurance funds)	The 21 private funds that run voluntary unemployment insurance. You join one yourself; union membership is not required. In 2026 dagpenge are at most DKK 22,041 a month if you are insured full-time, and never more than 90% of your previous salary	See the agency's website	star.dk	The fund you choose

Health and safety

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
112 (emergency number)	Police, fire brigade, ambulance and environmental emergencies. Free from any phone, even without credit	112	–	–
Politi (Danish Police)	Non-emergency matters and general enquiries; reporting a crime online; your police district's contact details	114; from abroad +45 114	politi.dk	Find your nearest station with the police's online tool. Copenhagen Airport Police Station: Petersdalvej 1A, 2770 Kastrup
Akuttelefonen 1813 (Region Hovedstaden – the Capital Region)	Medical help when your own GP is closed, if you are in the Capital Region, including Copenhagen. For an acute injury you can call around the clock. Text "Opkald" to 1813 for a call back	1813	akutberedskabet-regionh.dk	Call first
Lægevagten (out-of-hours doctor) in the four other regions	Medical help if you fall acutely ill outside your GP's opening hours	Region Sjælland 1818. Region Syddanmark (Odense) 70 11 07 07. Region Midtjylland (Aarhus) 70 11 31 31, weekdays 16–08, weekends and holidays around the clock. Region Nordjylland (Aalborg) 70 15 03 00	regionsjaelland.dk, regionsyddanmark.dk, sundhed.rm.dk, rn.dk	Call before you go. The doctor may advise you by phone, ask you to come to an emergency centre or, in special cases, visit you at home
Giftlinjen (poison information line)	Poison information	82 12 12 12	–	–
sundhed.dk (the official health portal)	Finding healthcare providers, hospitals and pharmacies; seeing your publicly funded consultations with GPs, specialists and dentists back to 2003	–	sundhed.dk	–
Lægemiddelstyrelsen (Danish Medicines Agency)	Medicine subsidy. In 2026 adults pay the first DKK 1,135 a year of subsidised medicine in full; above that the subsidy is 50%, then 75%, then 85%, and your own payment is capped at DKK 4,850 a year	See the agency's website	laegemiddelstyrelsen.dk	See the agency's website

Moving goods, cars and pets

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
Toldstyrelsen (Danish Customs Agency)	Household goods: if you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months in a row, your belongings can come in free of duty and VAT, among other conditions – no earlier than 6 months before the move (with security) and no later than 12 months after. Alcohol, tobacco, commercial vehicles and professional equipment are excluded. Since 1 July 2026, customs duty applies to all web-shop goods from outside the EU	Private individuals 72 22 28 02: Mon 9–17, Tue–Thu 9–16, Fri 9–14. General 72 22 12 12	toldst.dk	Head office: Lyseng Allé 1, 8270 Højbjerg
Færdselsstyrelsen (Danish Road Traffic Authority)	Driving licences. An EU/EEA licence needs no exchange. Other licences can be used for 180 days after you take up residence; licences from countries such as the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan can then be swapped without a test, others only after a full theory and practical test	+45 7221 8899. Mon–Thu 9.30–15.00, Fri 9.30–14.00	fstyr.dk	Sorsigvej 35, DK-6760 Ribe. You apply for the exchange through your municipality
Motorstyrelsen (Danish Motor Vehicle Agency)	Importing and registering a vehicle, and registration tax. Tell the agency online before you import a car on foreign plates, then register it within 30 days. From outside the EU, 10% duty and 25% VAT generally apply. The 2026 registration tax rates depend on Bill No. 79 of 19 November 2025 being adopted	+45 72 22 27 96	motorst.dk	See the agency's website
Fødevarestyrelsen (Danish Veterinary and Food Administration)	Travelling with pets: puppies and kittens must be at least 15 weeks old to move between EU countries, and since 22 April 2026 no more than 5 dogs, cats or ferrets may travel in one vehicle unless it is public transport. From outside the EU, pets enter through Copenhagen Airport, Billund Airport or Aalborg Airport (dogs and cats only). Also runs the Smiley food-hygiene scheme	Kundecenter (customer centre) 72 27 69 00 for TRACES and export-portal matters: Mon and Thu 9–12 and 13–15; Tue, Wed and Fri 9–12	foedevarestyrelsen.dk	See the agency's website

Education and qualifications

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
Uddannelses- og Forskningsstyrelsen (Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science)	Free assessment of your foreign qualifications, normally within 1–2 months; there is no appeal against what the assessment says. Denmark has more than 100 regulated professions – from doctor and nurse to fork-lift truck driver – and each needs recognition from its own authority	See the agency's website	ufm.dk	See the agency's website
Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed (Danish Patient Safety Authority)	Authorisation for health professionals, including doctors trained abroad, nurses, dentists, midwives, physiotherapists and psychologists – or registration as a temporary service provider	+45 7228 6600	stps.dk	Islands Brygge 67, 2300 Copenhagen S
Sprogcenter (language centre) – danskuddannelse	Danish Education 1, 2 and 3. Prøve i Dansk 2 (Danish test 2) is a basic requirement for permanent residence, and Prøve i Dansk 3 is the general language requirement for citizenship	Through your municipality – see Cities below	international.kk.dk (Copenhagen)	The centre you choose – in Copenhagen, after your referral letter

Your rights

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
Forbrugerombudsmanden (Consumer Ombudsman)	Complaints about spam and misleading marketing. It is free to contact, but it gives no individual legal advice on consumer rights – for that it points you to forbrug.dk	Mainly web contact forms rather than a public phone line	forbrugerombudsmanden.dk	See the agency's website
Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen (Danish Competition and Consumer Authority)	Consumer guidance on forbrug.dk; complaints about illegal card fees or about not being offered a free choice of card, such as Dankort or Visa	4171 5000. Mon–Thu 9–16, Fri 9–15	forbrug.dk	Carl Jacobsens Vej 35, 2500 Valby
Ankenævnet på Energiområdet (Danish Energy Supplies Complaint Board)	Complaints about an electricity bill or supply	See the agency's website	forbrug.dk (Klag online)	Contact through Digital Post or the online complaint service
Beredskabsstyrelsen (Danish Emergency Management Agency)	Preventing and responding to accidents and disasters, including fire-prevention advice for citizens; operates the warning sirens. The household advice to manage on your own for 3 days comes from Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed (Danish Agency for Societal Security), which also offers an online preparedness calculator	7285 2000 (National Preparedness unit)	brs.dk	National Preparedness unit: Datavej 16, 3460 Birkerød

Cities

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
Københavns Kommune (City of Copenhagen)	General enquiries and Citizen Service, including housing questions and exemptions from digital applications. International House Copenhagen is the city's one-stop entry point for newcomers	+45 33 66 33 66	kk.dk, international.kk.dk	International House Copenhagen, Nyropsgade 1, 1602 København V
Aarhus Kommune (City of Aarhus)	Citizen Service and the newcomer portal Moving to Aarhus from abroad, with step-by-step relocation guides	Citizen Service 89 40 22 22; general 89 40 20 00	international.aarhus.dk	Citizen Service at Dokk1, Hack Kampmanns Plads 2, 8000 Aarhus C – appointment required. General address: Rådhuspladsen 2, 8000 Aarhus C
Odense Kommune (Odense Municipality) and International House Odense	Kontaktcenter (contact centre) and Borgerservice: passports, driving licences, address changes, marriage, job-seeking and sickness benefit, and acute social problems around the clock. International House Odense has a Citizen Service, a Newcomer Service and a Spouse Service	Kontaktcenter 66 13 13 72; International House Odense +45 63 75 60 40 (call centre)	odense.dk, internationalhouseodense.dk	International House Odense: Østre Stationsvej 15, first floor, 5000 Odense (Borgernes Hus)
Aalborg Kommune (Aalborg Municipality) and International House North Denmark	International House North Denmark is Aalborg's newcomer service, staffed by the municipality's employees, with links to residence permits, CPR and health-card booking	Municipality: See the agency's website. International House North Denmark: +45 99 31 15 30, Mon–Fri 8.30–15.00	aalborg.dk, ihnd.dk	Rantzausgade 6, 9000 Aalborg: Mon 9–15, Tue and Wed closed, Thu 9–16.30, Fri 9–13.30

The four biggest cities

By train, Copenhagen to Odense takes about 1.5 hours, to Aarhus about 3 hours and to Aalborg about 4 hours. Transport prices below are for an adult 30-day Pendlerkort (commuter card) in 2026; Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg use the same zone prices.

Copenhagen

Population	Public transport	Universities	Nearest airport	Newcomer service
671,714 in Copenhagen Municipality on 1 January 2026 (Statistics Denmark)	Movia buses, with tickets and passes through Din Offentlige Transport (DOT), the joint fare system for Movia, DSB, the Metro and Lokaltog. Pendlerkort: DKK 530 for 2 zones, DKK 710 for 3 zones; metro supplement DKK 70 per 30 days	University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet), founded in 1479	Copenhagen Airport, in Kastrup	International House Copenhagen, Nyropsgade 1, run by the City of Copenhagen

Copenhagen's municipal tax rate for 2026 is 23.39%, the lowest in the country. The districts (bydele) with their own lokaludvalg (local committee) include Indre By, Christianshavn, Østerbro, Nørrebro, Vesterbro, Kongens Enghave, Valby, Vanløse, Brønshøj-Husum, Bispebjerg, Amager Øst and Amager Vest. Cycling is the most popular way to get around, and SIRI's Copenhagen citizen centre is in Valby.

Aarhus

Population	Public transport	Universities	Nearest airport	Newcomer service
378,361 in Aarhus Municipality on 1 January 2026, 305,227 of them in the urban area (Statistics Denmark)	Midttrafik: yellow city buses with six main A-lines (1A–6A), blue regional buses and the Letbane (light rail). Pendlerkort: DKK 435 for 1–2 zones, DKK 585 for 3 zones	Aarhus University, founded in 1928 – Denmark's second-largest, with about 37,000 students	Aarhus Airport, with a direct airport bus; Billund Airport further away, via the Billund Airport Bus	The city portal Moving to Aarhus from abroad; Citizen Service at Dokk1, by appointment

The A-lines run 6–8 times an hour at rush hour along the main roads through the most populated areas. The Letbane links the city with Djursland to the north and Odder to the south, with a route towards Grenaa and more lines under development. Aarhus's municipal tax rate for 2026 is 24.52%.

Odense

Population	Public transport	Universities	Nearest airport	Newcomer service
213,168 in Odense Municipality on 1 January 2026, 187,558 of them in the urban area (Statistics Denmark)	FynBus buses and the Odense Letbane (light rail). Pendlerkort: DKK 435 for 1–2 zones, DKK 585 for 3 zones (prices from 18 January 2026)	University of Southern Denmark (SDU), main campus at Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M	See the agency's website	International House Odense, Østre Stationsvej 15

The Letbane runs just over 14 km from Tarup in the north to Hjallese in the south, and a second phase is planned. Borgernes Hus at Østre Stationsvej 15 houses both International House Odense and SIRI's Odense office. Odense's municipal tax rate for 2026 is 25.5%. We could not confirm from an official Odense source which airport counts as the nearest, so we have left that cell open.

Aalborg

Population	Public transport	Universities	Nearest airport	Newcomer service
226,033 in Aalborg Municipality on 1 January 2026 (Statistics Denmark)	Nordjyllands Trafikselskab (NT). Pendlerkort: DKK 435 for 2 zones, DKK 585 for 3 zones	Aalborg University (AAU): 17,692 full-time students in 2025, 2,528 of them international	Aalborg Airport (Aalborg Lufthavn), with direct routes including London, Amsterdam and Copenhagen	International House North Denmark, Rantzausgade 6

Statistics Denmark counts Aalborg (122,550 people) and Nørresundby, across the Limfjord, as separate localities, although the two form one connected city. SIRI has a citizen-service location at Badehusvej 7, and Aalborg's municipal tax rate for 2026 is 25.6%.

Embassies in Denmark

Your embassy issues passports, registers births and helps in an emergency. These are the embassies most people moving to Denmark need – 33 countries. Addresses, phone numbers and e-mails were read on each embassy’s official website on 23 September 2026. Most consular services are by appointment only – book before you go.

Good to know

Book ahead and check the weekday. SIRI's Copenhagen citizen centre sees you only with an appointment booked in advance – use its phone lines for general questions. SIRI's phone lines and International House Copenhagen's office are closed on Tuesdays, International House North Denmark on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Citizen Service at Dokk1 in Aarhus needs an appointment.

Cash, bottles and alcohol. Shops that take cards or payment apps must also accept cash from 06.00 to 22.00, or to 20.00 in areas designated as high robbery risk. Most drinks carry a pant (deposit) of DKK 1, DKK 1.50 or DKK 3 depending on the container, refunded when you return it to a shop that sells that kind. Shops may not sell drinks of 1.2% alcohol or more to anyone under 16, or 16.5% or more to anyone under 18.

Be ready for a crisis. The authorities recommend that every household can manage on its own for 3 days, with 3 litres of drinking water per person per day, food, medicine and a battery or wind-up radio. If there is serious danger in your area, warnings come as a mobile-phone alert, through outdoor sirens telling you to go indoors and follow DR or TV2, and as official preparedness announcements. Your phone can always call 112, even without credit.

What changed in 2026. Since 1 July, customs duty applies to everything you buy from web shops outside the EU, including parcels worth EUR 150 or less: a flat EUR 3 (about DKK 22) per item line, on top of VAT and the carrier's fee. The physical Rejsekort travel card closed on 30 June and remaining balances went to holders' NemKonto; travel with the Rejsekort app, a Basiskort or the Rejsebillet app instead. For refugees, the introduktionsprogram (introduction programme) has run under new rules since 1 February: within a five-year introduction period, your contract aims for ordinary work within a year where possible.

Renamed, closed and pending. The Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA) closed on 1 July 2026, and since 15 September its advisory statements on non-state-approved higher-education programmes come from the Danish Accreditation Council's secretariat. In June 2026 several Fødevarestyrelsen units moved to other ministries, and the tax ministry is now Skatte- og Vækstministeriet, successor to Skatteministeriet. The citizenship bill L98 lapsed on 26 February 2026 when a general election was called, and the Ministry of Immigration and Integration will not process applications under new conditions until it is clear after the election which conditions apply. Store Bededag (Great Prayer Day) has not been a public holiday since 1 January 2024.

Relocate in Europe provides general information, not legal or financial advice. Numbers, prices and opening hours were checked on 23 September 2026 – check with the agency before you visit.