Original document : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-denmark

Change description : 2019-12-23 11:08:00: updated text to keep information on page up to date [Brexit]

Showing diff : 2019-09-23 17:16:33 +00:00..2019-12-23 11:13:17 +00:00

Guidance

Living in Denmark

Official information for BritishUK peoplenationals moving to andor living in Denmark, including Brexitguidance guidance,on Brexit, residency, healthcarepassports and driving.

This page tells you what to do ahead of Brexit. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.

Brexit: what you should do

Stay up to date

The onUK is leaving the EU. This page tells you how to prepare for Brexit and will be updated if anything changes. You should:

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

YouThe canBritish also:

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Denmark.

Read custody and residence of children in Denmark.

You must register as a Danish resident if you want to stay in Denmark for more than 3 months or more than 6 months if you are looking for a job.

Once you have an EU residence document (EU-opholdsdokument), you must register with your local civil registration office (Folkeregistret). When you register you will get a central person register (CPR) number.

Read the Danish government’s guidance for UK nationals in Denmark.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you are resident in Denmark before the end of the implementation period you will be able to stay.

If there are changes to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Denmark.

Passports and travel after Brexit

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

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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.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

If there’s no deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You should retain evidence of travel (such as train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence. We will update this guidance as more information becomes available.

Driving in Denmark

If you are a UK licence holder living in Denmark, you should exchange your UK licence for a Danish one. You can still use your Danish licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

If you have an old UK licence that does not have a 10 year validity period, you must renew or exchange it for a Danish licence once you’ve been resident in Denmark for 2 years.

If you are in Denmark and your UK driving licence is lost, stolen or expires you will not be able to renew it with the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will need to apply to the DVLA for a ‘certificate of entitlement’ in Danish to be able to apply for a Danish driving licence.

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

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.

Driving after Brexit

If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.

If there’s no deal and you arrive after Brexit you will have to pass a controlling driving test in order to exchange your driving license regardless of when your UK license was issued.

Read our guidance on driving in the EU after a no-deal Brexit.

Healthcare

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

When you registerwith atyour Folkeregistretlocal (civilcivil registration office)office (Folkeregistret) you will receive a national health insurance card (Sygesikringsbevis), which gives you access to free medical treatment.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Denmark, you must not use ayour EuropeanEHIC Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Denmark.

  • you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland
  • the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
  • an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
  • for more information read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

For an assessment of your Danish EHIC’s validity, contact Udbetaling Danmark.

Read the NHS guidance on healthcare in Denmark.

If you are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.

You can find English-speaking doctors in Denmark.

Check your prescriptions are legal in Denmark.

Read the guidance on healthcare in Denmark.

Healthcare after Brexit

If there is a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in Denmark will remain the same, as long as you remain acovered residentby inthe Denmark.Withdrawal Agreement. If you are registered for public healthcare as a resident, you will be able to use your EHIC when you travel outside of Denmark until the end of the implementation period.

If there’s no deal, UK nationals lawfully residing in Denmark before the day the UK leaves the EU will be entitled to the same healthcare benefits as today. UK nationals who obtain legal residency after Brexit will also be entitled to public healthcare in Denmark.

If you currently have your healthcare costs paid for by the UK government and you are asked to pay for treatment during the first 6 months after Brexit, we can help in some circumstances. To organise a payment, you must give your healthcare provider’s details to the NHS Business Services Authority’s Overseas Healthcare Services.

Read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals living in Denmark and how it may change after Brexit.

Your EHIC may not be valid if there’s no deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme if there’s no deal, however this is reliant on Denmark continuing to accept UK EHICs.

More information about your right to health services if thethere’s UKno leaves the EU without a deal is available from the Danish Patient Safety Authority.

Read the guidance on healthcare for UK nationals living in Denmark and how it may change after Brexit.

Working and studying in Denmark

If you are registered as a resident in Denmark, you have the right to work in Denmark. Read our guidance on working in another 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.

Read the guidance on providing services if you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after Brexit.

Working in Denmark after Brexit

If there is a deal, your right to work will stay the samesame, untilas thelong endas ofyou theremain implementationa period.resident in Denmark.

If there’s no deal and you are registered as a resident in Denmark before Brexit, you will have the right to work in Denmark.

If you were legally resident in another EU Member State and working across the Danish border before Brexit, your right to work in Denmark will continue.

If you want to work in Denmark after Brexit, you must apply for a work permit.

Studying in Denmark after Brexit

If you are resident in Denmark before the end of the implementation period, you will continue to access higher education on the same terms as you do now. This means you will only pay tuition fees for education in Denmark where EU and EEA citizens also pay tuition fees. You will also continue to have access to Danish student grants.

If there’s no deal, the same conditions apply if you are a resident before Brexit.

Read the Danish no-deal legislation and guidance on continuing your studies in the European Union after Brexit.

Money and tax

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

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 can pay National Insurance while abroad so that you protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

If you are employed or self-employed in the EU and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.

If there’s no deal and the end date on your form is after 31the Octoberday 2019,the UK leaves the EU, you should contact the relevant EU,EU or EEA orauthority. SwissThey authority towill confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31Brexit, October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.

Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.

Money and tax after Brexit

Brexit will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Denmark. You should send your questions about double taxation as a taxpayer to the relevant tax authority.

If there’s no deal, it may become more expensive to use your bank card in Denmark. Read our guidance on using a bank card, insurance or other financial services if there’s no Brexit deal.

Pensions

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:

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.

Pensions after Brexit

The UK government will continue to pay a State Pension to those eligible in the EU after Brexit. Your UK State Pension will be uprated in April 2020, 2021 and 2022 if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

If there is a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Denmark, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Danish pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

Read our guidance on pensions if there’s no deal.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Denmark. You should:

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.

Benefits after Brexit

The UK government will continue to pay child and disability benefits to eligible UK nationals after Brexit.

If there is a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Denmark, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Danish contribution-based benefits.

If there’s no deal and you wereare registered as a resident in Denmark before the day before Brexitthe UK leaves the EU, you will have the right to contribution-based benefits. If you arrive after Brexit, you will not be entitled to contribution-based benefits until you have got a residence and work permit.

Driving in Denmark

If you are a UK licence holder living in Denmark, you should exchange your UK licence for a Danish one before the UK leaves the EU. If there’s no deal on 31 October 2019 and you have not applied to exchange your UK license for a Danish one beforehand, you will have to pass a controlling driving test to be able to carry on driving in Denmark. You can still use your Danish licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

If you have an old UK licence that does not have a 10 year validity period, you must renew or exchange it for a Danish licence once you’ve been resident in Denmark for 2 years.

If you are in Denmark and your UK driving licence is lost, stolen or expires you will not be able to renew it with the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will need to apply to the DVLA for a ‘certificate of entitlement’ in Danish to be able to apply for a Danish driving licence.

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

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Denmark

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

Read the European Union’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.

Driving after Brexit If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.

If the UK leaves without a deal and you arrive after Brexit you will have to pass a controlling driving test in order to exchange your driving license regardless of when your UK license was issued.

Read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit.

Voting

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

If you’re resident in Denmark, you can vote in local municipal and European parliamentary elections.

You cannot vote in general elections in Denmark.

Voting after Brexit

UK nationals resident in Denmark by the day the UK leaves the EU will continue to be able to vote and stand in local and European elections after Brexit.

If you move to Denmark after Brexit, you will be able to vote and stand in local elections if you have had permanent residency in Denmark for 4 years prior to the election. You will not be able to vote in European elections.

For more information about voting in Denmark after Brexit, please see the Danish Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Interior.

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 BritishUK nationals in Denmark.

Accommodation and buying property

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

Pets

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Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.

For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

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

YouTell shouldthe readUK our guidance on:

Before leaving Denmark

Read Life in Denmark’s information about leaving Denmark.members.

Disclaimer

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

You may also want to use this list of useful websites for British nationals living in Denmark.

Published 21 November 2013

Last updated 23 SeptemberDecember 2019 + show all updates
  1. updated text to keep information on page up to date
  2. Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
  3. Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
  4. EU Exit update: Change of information on driving licences in Denmark
  5. EU Exit update: EU Exit information updated - specifically on Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU, pensions and returning to the UK
  6. EU Exit update: information on EU Exit updated in healthcare, visas and residency, working and driving sections
  7. EU Exit update: new Danish authorities' websites with information on residence and custody in Denmark added to EU Exit section
  8. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.
  9. EU Exit update: Added in latest information on driving in Denmark
  10. EU Exit update: Updated information on passports. You must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip
  11. EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare
  12. EU Exit update: New link to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration website added to the EU Exit section.
  13. EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving
  14. EU Exit update: New website link to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs added with information about residency and rights in Denmark.
  15. EU Exit update: added in web link to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs page with information for UK nationals living in Denmark.
  16. EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section.
  17. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
  18. Added information on UK pension
  19. First published.

Update history

2024-08-05 10:57
EU’s frequently asked questions about the EES added.

2024-06-12 10:16
Information on EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

2024-01-04 10:36
Update to Visas and Residency section

2023-05-02 11:37
Updated guidance under Visas and residency if you were living in Denmark before 1 January 2021

2022-12-08 09:57
Updates to the ‘Visa and residency’ section for UK nationals living in Denmark before 1 January 2021

2022-05-12 17:24
updated text and added new links

2022-03-11 08:00
Important information in the Working in Denmark, and National insurance sections if you work in Denmark, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.

2022-01-01 07:00
Visas and residency guidance updated, following the 31 December 2021 residency deadline for people with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

2021-09-30 08:02
Guidance reviewed for Passports and travel, Healthcare, Working in Denmark, Professional qualifications, Studying in Denmark, Money, tax and banking, Pensions, Benefits, Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships, Emergencies, Returning to the UK and Useful information sections.

2021-03-04 15:31
Updated guidance on applying for a Danish licence if your UK licence is lost, stolen or expired

2021-02-16 09:07
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.

2021-02-11 11:18
Driving section updated with additional guidance on driving licence exchange

2021-02-03 15:15
Visas and residency section updated on how to apply for the new residence document

2020-09-08 09:39
Passport and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021

2020-07-10 12:03
Visas and Residency section updated with further information on the new residency system and a new link to Danish government guidance on residency.

2020-03-04 14:52
Updated information added to the Visas and Residency section.

2020-02-12 11:12
New information on the Withdrawal Agreement and how to get your professional qualifications recognised.

2020-01-23 16:06
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

2019-12-23 11:08
updated text to keep information on page up to date

2019-09-23 17:19
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement

2019-09-03 17:04
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.

2019-05-03 09:40
EU Exit update: Change of information on driving licences in Denmark

2019-04-16 15:35
EU Exit update: EU Exit information updated – specifically on Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU, pensions and returning to the UK

2019-04-11 15:05
EU Exit update: information on EU Exit updated in healthcare, visas and residency, working and driving sections