In Denmark you will find Regional trains (Re), InterCity trains (IC) and InterCityLyn trains (ICL – ‘lyn’ stands for ‘lightening’).

Re services connect local stations to main junctions throughout Denmark. IC and ICL trains connect major stations on the islands of Zealand (Sjælland), Funen (Fyn) and in Jutland (Jylland). The difference between IC and ICL services is that ICL are express trains which make fewer stops. Ticket prices to a destination are the same, whether you travel by IC or ICL train.

Copenhagen also has suburban, so-called S-trains. Read more about Copenhagen’s S-trains at Visit Copenhagen’s website.

A rail map of Denmark is available at Banedanmark’s website.

ICS is a joint initiative by International Community, Aarhus Municipality Citizens’ Services, the Danish tax agency, SKAT, the State Administration for Central Jutland, Workindenmark and Immigration Service. At ICS, representatives of the various authorities will assist you with legal documents that you are required to deal with upon arrival when moving to Denmark.

The service is based on International Community's One Stop Shop, which was initiatated in collaboration with Aarhus Municipality Citizens’ Services, the Danish tax agency, SKAT, the State Administration for Central Jutland in December 2009.

The authority that issues tax cards and collects tax in Denmark is SKAT. You can read more about SKAT on the authority’s homepage www.skat.dk.

Your tax card states your CPR number or your tax ID number, your address, the percentage of tax that your employer is required to deduct from your salary, your tax allowances and deductions, and the date from which the tax card is valid. The tax card in Denmark is an e-card. This means that once you have registered with SKAT your employer can access information about your taxation percentage electronically.

Please note, however, that although your employer can access your tax information electronically, it is your responsibility to check that the information on your tax card is accurate.

The Danish tax card is divided into two parts - a primary card and a secondary card. The two cards state the same information. The difference is that the primary card is used by your main employer and the secondary card is only used if you have an extra job.

You can also read about taxation in Denmark at SKAT´s website and in the tax guide published by SKAT, “Tax in Denmark – an introduction for new citizens”.

Thirty party/personal liability insurance provides cover when the insured incurs legally binding liability for damage to people or property.

Depending on your property, of the insurance cover you are legally required to have includes:

• Third-party/liability insurance if you own a car, motorcycle, scooter or moped.
• Fully comprehensive motor insurance if you have borrowed money to finance the purchase of a motor vehicle.
• A dog-owner’s third-party insurance, if you own a dog.
• A horse-owner’s third-party insurance, if you own a horse.
• a Fire insurance for buildings if you are a homeowner with a loan secured against your house.

Read more about the above mentioned insurances in the booklet Insurance for everyday needs.

In Denmark European Health Insurance Cards are only issued to citizens from the European Union Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway who are legally receding in Denmark. Residing nationals of third countries are not covered by the European Health Insurance Card. This also applies to third country citizens visiting Denmark who have been issued with a European Health Insurance Card in the EU country in which they normally reside.

SOS International (SOS) administers the Danish tourist health insurance scheme on behalf of the Danish Government. Read more about SOS on their website: www.sos.dk.

As explained under General Practitioner, your GP is usually the first person to contact in the event of illness. If you fall ill and need to see a doctor outside your GP´s opening hours, you must call the regional emergency doctor service. In an emergency, e.g. if someone has collapsed, is suffocating or has been involved an accident and is badly hurt, you must call the emergency call centre. Note that in an emergency, you are not required to go via your GP.

NemKonto means easy account. The NemKonto easy account system enables Danish authorities and institutions to transfer money directly to citizens’ bank accounts, such as tax refunds, social welfare payments, salaries, etc.

A NemKonto account is a normal bank account. The only thing that differentiates a NemKonto account from other bank accounts you may have is its designation as a NemKonto account. When you designate an account as your NemKonto account, the Danish authorities will know that this is the one to which all your payments from the public sector should be transferred. You can designate any Danish bank account e.g. a budget or savings account as your NemKonto account.

Read also the Danish Agency for Governmental Management’s information about NemKonto easy accounts.

This insurance pays a lump sum in the event of personal accident. The compensation paid depends on the degree of disability resulting from the injury. For the insured or his/her surviving relatives to be entitled to compensation, the accident must comply with the insurer’s definition of an accident.

You can read more about personal accident insurance on page nine in the booklet Insurance for everyday needs.

Depending on your assets and circumstances, some optional insurance cover may constitute a sound investment. Optional types of insurance include:

• Home content insurance (combined contents and liability insurance).
• Building insurance if you are a homeowner (usually combined with fire insurance for buildings).
• Fully comprehensive motor insurance (usually combined with compulsory third-party motor liability insurance).
• Personal accident insurance.
• Life and pension insurance.
• Health and/or medical expense insurance.

Read more about the above mentioned insurance types in the booklet, Insurance for everyday needs.

It is always advisable for EU and EEA citizens to carry a European Health Insurance Card when travelling within the EU and EEA. However, you are required to carry a European Health Insurance Card with you when travelling in EU/EEA countries, if you:

• are going on holiday for more than one month – the yellow Danish health insurance card covers up to 30 days
• are doing an internship or going to work abroad as an au-pair
• are studying at university in another EU/EEA country
• suffer from a chronic illness
• are working temporarily abroad for your Danish Employer. If temporarily based in another country you must have an approved E101 form.

Holders of a Danish CPR number and a yellow health insurance card are covered by the public tourist health insurance in the event of acute illness, injury or death during the first month of a vacation within the EU or EEA.

If you need medical attention outside your General Practitioner’s opening hours, call the emergency doctor service.

You will find the telephone number of your regional emergency doctor service on your municipal authority’s website, in the telephone dictionary or on the website www.laegevagten.dk. Note that the information on the different websites is often only available in Danish. 

You can also look up the number on the Yellow Pages www.dgs.dk. Enter Lægevagten (emergency doctor service)in the Hvad/What search box. Then click on Vælg område/Select area and select the region in which you want the number for the emergency doctor service, and click on Søg/Search. Alternatively, you can enter your postal code in the Hvor/Were search box.

If you need to see a doctor within normal opening hours – weekdays between 08.00 and 16.00 – contact your General Practitioner.

If you need to see a doctor outside normal opening hours – after 16.00, at weekends and on public holidays – you must call the emergency doctor service. You should, however, only use the emergency doctor service when absolutely necessary, or if you are in doubt as to how sick your child may be.

In Danish the emergency doctor service is called Lægevagten and a doctor on call is a Vagtlæge

Your health insurance card proves that you are covered by the Danish National Health Insurance. It is a yellow plastic card the same size as a credit card. The card states your name, your address and the name and address of your General Practitioner. It also carries the municipality that issued the card and the date from which the card is valid. You must sign your card on the reverse in the white space provided.

Read more about the rules regarding General Practitioners in Denmark under general practitioners.

The booklet ”Insurance for everyday needs” published by the Danish Insurance Association contains more information about insurance in Denmark. Visit the Danish Insurance Association website at www.forsikringogpension.dk.

E101 is a posting certificate which you are required to have approved if your Danish Employer sends you abroad to work temporarily (up to 12 months). An approved E101 obviates the need to join the social security system of the country to which you are posted. Your employer will usually apply for an E101 form for you. In Denmark E101 forms are issued by Sikringsstyrelsen.

Read more about postings abroad and the required formalities on the European Commission website.

The public tourist health insurance covers all EU Member States as well as the EEA countries of Andorra, the Azores, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, the Isle of Man, Iceland, the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands, Liechtenstein, Madeira, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican State.

When you call the emergency doctor service you will be asked for your CPR number, or if you are calling on behalf of someone else the CPR number of the person concerned. The doctor on call will ask how you or the person on whose behalf you are calling is feeling. Typical questions you may be asked include: “Do you have a fever?” and “Are you experiencing pain?” If you have been injured, the doctor will ask you questions to help determine the extent and seriousness of the injury.

Based on the answers you give, the doctor will determine whether a doctor should be sent to your home, whether you should visit your GP the next day, or whether you should go to the emergency medical clinic or a hospital.

When you call the emergency doctor service, it is a good idea to:

• Have your health insurance card ready (Remember you must also have your health insurance card with you when you attend an emergency medical clinic, your GP or a hospital.
• Have a list of any medicines you are using or usually use.
• Have taken your temperature if you suspect that you have a fever.

This insurance covers content of your home and possessions in the event of damage/loss due to theft, fire, storm, etc. The insurance also comprises liability insurance that covers members of the household in the event of them incurring liability as private individuals. The insurance comprises legal aid insurance which covers the cost in the event of several types of private legal action in which members of the household may become involved. This type of insurance also goes under the name of family insurance, household insurance or Basic Family Insurance.

It covers, among other things, fire, theft, water damage, liability and legal aid.

The European Health Insurance Card gives you access to the same public sector health care as nationals of the country you are visiting during your temporary stay abroad. Read more about what the EU Health Insurance Card covers on the European Commission Website.

In an emergency, e.g. if someone has collapsed, is suffocating or has been involved an accident and is badly hurt, call the emergency call centre on telephone 112. When you call 112 you will be asked to state your name and the address and telephone number from which you are calling. You will also be asked to explain the circumstances about which you are calling. The call centre will then ensure that the necessary help is dispatched immediately.

Depending upon your personal circumstances, you may want to take out additional insurance to cover:

• Your means of transport: car, motorbike, bike, moped, scooter or boat.
• Any pets you may have.
• Own your own house or holiday cottage, and your belongings there.
• Your spare-time interests and international travel.

If you live in the Central Denmark Region and need to contact an emergency doctor, call +45 70 11 31 31. The telephone number is the same, regardless of from where in the region you are calling. Exceptions to this are the islands of Anholt and Endelave, where you must contact the island doctor.

If the doctor on call decides that you should come in for a personal consultation, he/she will refer you to one of the region’s 12 emergency medical consultations, depending on which is closet to your address. In the Central Denmark Region the emergency medical service has after-hours medical consultations at the hospitals in Horsens, Aarhus, Randers, Viborg, Silkeborg, Herning, Holstebro and Skive. Emergancy medical stations are also open during certain periods at the hospitals in Tarm, Ringkøbing, Lemvig and Grenaa.

Note that you are responsible for transport to and from the emergency medical station.

In Aarhus, the after hour doctor consultation is located at:

Lægevagten,
Aarhus Universitetshospital, Aarhus Sygehus
Nørrebrogade 44, Building. 02A, Ground Floor.
8000 Arhus C

You can find the address of the other hospitals in the Central Denmark Region that have after hour doctor consultations at sundhed.dk. On the bottom of the page to the left('Akut hjælp'), you find a list of links that will direct you to a site containing the contact information of the regional hospital (Regionshospital), where there are after-hour doctor consultations.

Remember: You must call the emergency medical service, before you go for a consultation.

The European Health Insurance Card does not cover medical repatriation. Read more about the EU Health Insurance Card on the European Commission Website.

If you have a Danish health insurance card, you are covered by the public tourist health insurance if you fulfil the following requirements:

• Your trip lasts one month or less
• The sole purpose of your trip is vacation or study trip
• You travel within the EU and EEA (see In which countries are you covered?)
• You do not suffer from a chronic illness such as high blood pressure.

If you suffer from a chronicle illness, you should always contact SOS International prior to departure, to check if you are covered by the public tourist health insurance.

One month’s cover means that if you e.g. leave on your vacation on the 5^th you are covered up to and including the 4^th of the following month.

If you are in doubt about the cover provided by the tourist health insurance scheme when already abroad you are encouraged to call the emergency service number printed on the back of your card.

In Denmark, unemployment insurance is provided by unemployment insurance funds - private associations associated with trade unions and other professional organisations. To become a member of an unemployment insurance fund, you must be between age 18 and 63 and be resident in Denmark (or another EU/EEA country and work in Denmark, in which case you must fulfil certain requirements). Read more about the requirements and find more information about unemployment insurance on Work in Denmark’s website.

To qualify for a CPR number you must have an address in Denmark. Furthermore, you must take with you a variety of certificates depending on your current civil status (see below). Please note that if your certificates are not in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English or German, you should take with you a certified translation of them. 

• Your Danish residence and work permit (Non-EU citizens), or Certificate of Registration (for EU/EEA citizens) if you have already been issued with one. Nordic citizens must take their passport. 
• Some form of photo ID e.g. your passport.
• If you have children, your child’s/ren’s birth certificate(s).
• If you are married, your marriage certificate or a certified copy of it.
• If you are divorced, your divorce certificate.
• If you are a widow/er, the death certificate of your husband/wife.

The European Health Insurance Card is free of charge.

You are not covered by the tourist health insurance card if you

• Go abroad on a combined business and vacation trip – regardless of how much of the trip is business related
• Go abroad to study or on business
• Travel outside of EU or EEA (see In which countries are you covered?)
• Go abroad to seek or apply for work.

The number of emergency doctor service depends on which region you live in.

You will find the telephone number for the emergency doctor service in the region in which you live on you municipal authority’s website, in the telephone dictionary or on the website www.sundhed.dk. Note that the information on the different websites is often only available in Danish. Thus, make sure that you find the number for the emergency doctor service , before you are in a situation when you need it. You can also look up the number on www.dgs.dk, by entering lægevagten in the Hvad/What search field, and click søg. The contact information of the different emergency doctor services in Denmark should then be displayed.

Remember: You must call the emergency doctor service, before you go for a consultation.

Note that all dental treatment and services have set prices and that all adults will be charged for all services. This means that if, for instance, you are offered anaesthesia when the dentist is filling your cavity, this service will be added to your bill in addition to the price of the filling. It is up to you to decide, in consultation with your dentist, whether or not this is necessary.

Ask your dentist for or the prices of the various services.

If you are a member of a private insurance scheme, you may be entitled extra financial assistance with regular or special dental treatment or operations. Read more about private health insurance under Insurance.

For questions regarding your health insurance card contact Citizens’ Services in the Municipality you live. You can find the address and phone number to your Municipality´s Citizens’ Services centres at kark.dk. If you do not understand Danish, please follow this guide:

In the window that opens you will see that Borgerservice (Citizens’ Services) has already been entered in the Hvad (What) search box near the top of the screen. You then:

• Enter “The name of the Municipality you live in” in the Hvor (Where) search box

• Then click on Søg (Search)

You will then see a list of the address and the phone number of the Citizens’ Services office(s) in your Municipality.

If you live in Aarhus you can meet Aarhus Municipality’s Citizens’ Services and get assistance with acquiring a CPR number at One Stop Shop on Wednesdays from 14.00-16.00. The One Stop Shop is located at Nordhavnsgade 1, 8000 Aarhus C. For more information about the One Stop Shop, go to One Stop Shop.

In Aarhus there are Citizens’ Services offices at:

City Hall (Rådhuset)
Rådhuspladsen 2
8000 Aarhus C

Viby Bibliotek (library)
Skanderborgvej 170
8260 Viby J

Risskov Bibliotek (library)
Fortebakken 1
8240 Risskov 

Aaby Bibliotek (library)
Lundvig Feibergs Vej 7
8230 Aabyhøj 

Before you take out insurance in Denmark we recommend that you contact several insurance companies to find the cover that best suits your needs.

European Health Insurance Cards are issued by municipal Citizens´ Services offices. A number of municipalities (including Aarhus) enable you to order a card online. However, many of these application forms are only available in Danish. If you have any questions about how to obtain a European Health Insurance Card, contact Citizens’ Service in your municipality.

The public tourist health insurance scheme covers the following expenses:

• Standard medical assistance and medicine prescribed by a doctor, medical equipment and aids.

• Admission to hospital on doctor’s orders, hospital treatment including operations. Note that the tourist health insurance only applies to standard class hospitals in the relevant country. If you are admitted to a hospital of a higher class than standard, you may be required to pay a surcharge of DKK 5.000-10.000 pr. day. If you are hospitalized, you should always contact SOS International emergency call centre as soon as possible. Never sign admission papers or any other documents without the acceptance of SOS International emergency call centre.   

• Transport costs to the nearest suitable treatment facility.

• The cost of phone calls or other forms of communication with the SOS International emergency call centre from abroad.

• Extra ordinary home transport costs from Greenland and the Faroe Islands to Denmark. Note that for the cost to be covered, transport home must have been prescribed by a SOS International doctor.

• Extraordinary home transport costs in the event of death.

• Hotel stays on doctor’s orders, in cases in which treatment which would otherwise require hospitalization can be performed on an outpatient basis.

• Hotel stays on doctor’s order after a hospital discharge until the patient can be transported home from Greenland or the Faroe Islands to Denmark.

• The cost of catching up with a pre-planned travel itinerary in the event of a delay as a consequence of bed rest on doctor’s orders.

To get a health insurance card you need a CPR number. When you register to get a CPR number you will be asked to choose a general practitioner. Read more about the rules for choosing a general practitioner under Choosing a General Practitioner. Your Health Insurance Card will be sent to your Danish address when you have been issued with a CPR number and have chosen a general practitioner.

The European Commission website provides practical answers to important questions when you need medical treatment abroad. You can also find national information and contact of relevant countries on the website.

If you require medical attention during your vacation call the SOS International emergency call centre on the phone number printed on the back of your yellow health insurance card. Alternatively you can ask service assistants at your hotel, your travel guide, etc. to help you get in contact with a doctor.

In the event of a serious illness or accident which require admission to hospital it is very important that you, your next of kin or the attending doctor, contact SOS International emergency call centre as soon as possible on telephone number: +45 70 10 75 10.

If the hospital or the attending doctor requires a payment guarantee contact the SOS International emergency call centre. 

If you are in doubt about what the public tourist health insurance covers, you should always check with SOS International prior to departure. You should also always contact SOS International if you require medical attention during your vacation abroad.

Expenses NOT covered by the public tourist health insurance include among others:

• Repatriation for medical reasons. For this reason, you are strongly encouraged to take out an extra private health travel insurance that covers medical related home transportation.  

• Dental treatment, physiotherapy, chiropractor treatment, etc.

• Treatment of chronic illnesses, or illness from which you suffered prior to departure, and for which you, with reasonable likelihood might expect to require medical treatment during your trip.

• Healthcare assistance in the ninth month of the pregnancy or induced abortion.

• Loss or damage of dentures, spectacles, hearing aids, etc.

• Continued medical treatment, despite an assessment by the SOS International doctor in consultation with the onsite doctor in charge that further treatment can be completed after the patient’s return to Denmark

• Communication costs with other parties than SOS International.

• Substitute travel

If you suffer from a chronicle illness, you should always contact SOS International prior to departure, to check if you are covered by the public tourist health insurance.

If you move to a new address you are required to register your new address at Citizens’ Services in the Municipality you move to. You must do so no later than five days after you have moved. When you have registered your new address you will receive a new health insurance card. If you move to a new municipality or more than 15 kilometres away from where your general practitioner is located you will need to choose a new general practitioner. Read more under General Practiioner - If you move to a new address.

On the European Commission website you will find practical advice on what to do in emergency situations, when travelling in another EU/EEA country.

The yellow health insurance card assures that the expenses for which you are entitled to cover will be refunded after you return to Denmark. You may, however, be required to pay for medical services and medicine yourself while on holiday. If this is the case, do not forget to get a receipt for presentation when you get home. You will have your expenses refunded upon arrival to Denmark when you have completed and submitted a claim form to SOS together with the original receipts and documents. Remember to make yourself a copy.

Note that for EU and EEA citizens it is always a good idea to take the blue EU health insurance card with you on your travels, even though your vacation will not exceed one month. Read more about the EU health insurance card under the heading EU health insurance card

For questions regarding your health insurance card contact Citizens’ Services in the Municipality you live. You can find the address and phone number to your Municipality´s Citizens’ Services centres at krak.dk. If you do not understand Danish, please follow this guide:

In the window that opens you will see that Borgerservice (Citizens’ Services) has already been entered in the Hvad (What) search box near the top of the screen. Enter “The name of the Municipality you live in” in the Hvor (Where) search box. Then click on Søg (Search).

You will then see a list of the address and the phone number of the Citizens’ Services office(s) in your Municipality.

If you live in Aarhus you can also meet Citizens’ Services and get assistance with acquiring a CPR number at International Citizen Service, located at Nordhavnsgade 4, 8000 Aarhus C. Read more about International Citizen Service here.

In Aarhus there are Citizens’ Services offices at:

City Hall (Rådhuset)
Rådhuspladsen 2
8000 Aarhus C.

Viby Bibliotek (library)
Skanderborgvej 170
8260 Viby J.

Risskov Bibliotek (library)
Fortebakken 1
8240 Risskov

Aaby Bibliotek (library)
Lundvig Feibergs Vej 7
8230 Aabyhøj

If you have any questions regarding the European Health Insurance Card or wish to obtain one, please contact Citizens’ Services. 

You can find a thorough introduction to rules concerning European Health Insurance Cards on the European Commission website.

Questionsregarding E 101:

Sikringsstyrelsen
International Office
Landemærket 11
1119 Copenhagen K 

Opening hours: 10.00 - 14.00
Telephone: +45 33 95 50 00
Fax 33 95 51 56,
E-mail: 6kt@sist.dk

On your return to Denmark after a vacation during which you have incurred medical treatment costs, you are required to complete a claim form and submit it, along with the relevant original receipts and documents, to SOS International. Remember to make yourself a copy. You must submit the form and documents to SOS within six months of the occurrence of injury/illness. This means that if the injury/illness incurred February 6 2010, you must report your claim to SOS no later than August 5 2010.

Note that you are required to complete the claim form and submit it, along with a copy of all relevant receipts and documents, whether you paid the expenses yourself or not.

You can not report your claims by phone. You report and submit your notice claim by using one of the following alternatives:

Fill in an online notice claim using your digital signature (directions and form only available in Danish)

Fill in the online notice claim without using a digital signature (directions and form available in Danish only)

Download the notice claim on the SOS International website (pdf. available in multiple languages). Print the form and fill it in, then fax, or scan and attach the document to an e-mail, or mail it to:

SOS International a/s
Attn: Den Offentlige Rejsesygesikring (The public tourist health insurance).
Nitivej 6
2000 Fredriksberg

It is your responsibility to ensure that SOS receives the required documentation and receipts. SOS will not start processing your case until it has all the required documentation and receipts.

When completing the claim form:

• Make sure you answer all the questions on the claim form. Failing to do so will extend the processing time as SOS will have to procure answers to the questions you have not answered.
• Attach the original receipts and other documents, and other documents include among others prescriptions and medical reports from the foreign treatment facility. Remembering to keep a copy yourself.

Remember that you are required to fill out the claim form and submit it to SOS International within six months after the injury/illness occurred. If you receive a bill from the foreign treatment facility after the six month period has elapsed you are required to submit the bill to SOS within one month from the day you received it.

SOS International a/s
Att: Den Offentlige Rejsesygesikring
Nitivej 6
2000 Fredriksberg 

SOS emergency call centre (24/7 service)
Telephone: +45 70 10 50 50

Fax: +45 70 10 50 56
Email: sos@sos.dk.