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.

IC and ICL trains have first and second class accommodation. A second class ticket includes the trip itself and on some services, there will be a train trolley, from which you can buy drinks and snacks. On a first class ticket, some drinks and snacks are at your disposal during the trip.

On most trains you will find specific areas designated for wheelchairs. Seats can be reserved for wheelchairs on all IC and ICK trains.

There are different railways companies that operate different parts of the railway network in Denmark. The largest railway operator is the railway company DSB (Danske Stats Baner). Read more about DSB, on DSB’s website www.dsb.dk.

Besides DSB, services are also operated in Denmark by private railway companies. Find details of the companies operating rail services in Denmark at the Danish Road Directorate’s website. Please note that you will be directed to a Danish site.

On many IC and ICL trains, you will find family zones (familiezone) and quiet zones (stillezone).

If you sit in a quiet zone you are expected to respect the other travellers’ desire for peace and quiet. You are required to switch off the sound on all your electronic devices, standing is not permitted in quiet zones and conversation must be kept to a minimum. Animals are not allowed in quiet zones.

Family zones are primarily intended for passengers travelling with children. If you wish to sit in a family zone it is a good idea to reserve seats.

Most trains have areas that are designated for prams. Note that on IC and ICL trains you are required to reserve space for your pram in advance and that such reservation cannot be made online.

You can take your bike on most of trains. The area that is designated for bikes are usually marked, showing an illustration of a bike on or beside the door. If you take a bike, you must buy a supplementary ticket for it. Note that there is only space for a limited number of bikes on any one train and that it is up to the conductor to decide whether or not there is room for your bike. During the summer the railways companies often require you to reserve a space for your bike. You can neither reserve nor buy bike tickets online.

In Denmark you must buy a ticket before you travel. Tickets are checked by a conductor on the train and if you cannot produce a valid ticket you will be fined.

When you buy tickets, you can buy either one-way tickets or return. On IC or ICL trains, you can choose between second or first class tickets.

You are not required to reserve a seat for your train journey but it is the only way you are guaranteed not to be left standing. If you wish to reserve a seat you must specify this when you buy your ticket. Seat reservations coast approximately DKK 25. Note that even though you are not required to reserve a seat for your journey, it is recommended that you do so for journeys during peak periods.

Unless you ask for a ticket for a specific departure, the ticket you buy is likely to be valid for two hours. This means that you can use the ticket on any train that leaves for your destination within two hours of buying your ticket. Remember that if you make a seat reservation, it is only valid for the specified departure. The time validity of your ticket is stated on your ticket.

A DSB orange is a discount ticket. The price of a DSB Orange ticket varies and they are not available for all train departures. The number of tickets available for a given departure varies, so your chance of getting an orange ticket is greater, the sooner you book.

Orange tickets are only valid for the specified departure day and time and are not valid on bus or Metro services. Orange tickets can be bought two months prior to departure. They are non-refundable and cannot be changed after the purchase has been made.

DSB orange tickets can only be bought online at DSB´s Online ticket shop. You find DSB´s online ticket shop at www.dsb.dk. Note the service is in Danish only. You have to print the Orange ticket yourself and a seat reservation is required. The seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. Adults travelling with an Orange ticket can take two children under the age of 12 with them free of charge, but you must remember to reserve seats for the children when you book the ticket. Children from age 12 to 15 years pay half price.

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”.

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.

Your health insurance card is a proof of the fact that you are covered by the Danish healthcare system. You will have to present your health insurance card in connection with all health care services, such as when you visit your GP or a hospital - including the accident and emergency department.

Your health insurance card is also often requested as a means of proof of your CPR number. You will be asked for your health insurance card by most public and many private service points as a means of identification of your CPR number. It is recommended that you always have your health insurance card with you.

Read more about how to get a CPR number under CPR Number.

Residents of Denmark are legally required to have a CPR number. You will also notice that your CPR number is your access number to a number of services in Denmark. You will need it to open a bank account, get a Danish phone number, borrow books at the library, take out insurance, etc.

Small towns may only have one or two local taxi operators, but in most cities you will find that many taxis belong to large companies. All taxis in Denmark are licensed by the authorities. They are equipped with meters and fares are regulated. Danish taxis are easily recognised by the green and yellow illuminated on their roof or in the windshield. The light indicates whether or not the taxi is free. If it is on it is available for service the light will be on. If the light is off, the taxi is occupied.

Many train and bus services correspond, and the internet journey planner, www.rejseplanen.dk, simplifies finding out which services that do so. Rejseplanen.dk (the Journey Planner) is based on data provided by all the bus and rail operators and most of the ferry services in Denmark – local as well as national.
 

Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for, and be issued with, a residence andawork permit to reside and work in Denmark. The forms you need to fill in to apply for a residence and work permit depends on your reason for moving to Denmark. It is your own responsibility to obtain a residence and a work permit. If you reside and work illegally in Denmark, you can be deported, fined or imprisoned.

CPR stands for Centrale Person Register, which translates as the Civil Registration System.

A CPR number is a personal identification number which, among other things, facilitates accurate linkage between all Danish national registers.

Your CPR number consists of ten digits. The first six digits are your date of birth, and the last four are your unique identification number. The last digit of your CPR number indicates your sex. If it is an odd digit you are male, and if it is an even digit you are female. For example, if your CPR number is 220550-6218, you were born on 22 May 1950 and you are female.

You can read more about the Civil Registration System at their website.

Citizens from EU/EEA countries can reside and work in Denmark in accordance with the EU rules of free movement of services and people. You can read more about free movement within the EU ate the European Commission’s website.

EU/EEA citizens are exempt from the regulations concerning residence and work permits, but must instead apply for a Certificate of Registration, also referred to as a Registration Certificate. Read more about Certificate of Registration at the Danish State Administration’s website.

IC and ICL trains have first and second class accommodation. A second class ticket includes the trip itself and on some services, there will be a train trolley, from which you can buy drinks and snacks. On a first class ticket, some drinks and snacks are at your disposal during the trip. 

On most trains you will find specific areas designated for wheelchairs. Seats can be reserved for wheelchairs on all IC and ICK trains.

There are different railways companies that operate different parts of the railway network in Denmark. The largest railway operator is the railway company DSB (Danske Stats Baner). Read more about DSB, on DSB’s website www.dsb.dk.

Besides DSB, services are also operated in Denmark by private railway companies. Find details of the companies operating rail services in Denmark at the Danish Road Directorate’s website. Please note that you will be directed to a Danish site.

On many IC and ICL trains, you will find family zones (familiezone) and quiet zones (stillezone). If you sit in a quiet zone you are expected to respect the other travellers’ desire for peace and quiet. You are required to switch off the sound on all your electronic devices, standing is not permitted in quiet zones and conversation must be kept to a minimum. Animals are not allowed in quiet zones.

Family zones are primarily intended for passengers travelling with children. If you wish to sit in a family zone it is a good idea to reserve seats.

Most trains have areas that are designated for prams. Note that on IC and ICL trains you are required to reserve space for your pram in advance and that such reservation cannot be made online.

You can take your bike on most of trains. The area that is designated for bikes are usually marked, showing an illustration of a bike on or beside the door. If you take a bike, you must buy a supplementary ticket for it. Note that there is only space for a limited number of bikes on any one train and that it is up to the conductor to decide whether or not there is room for your bike. During the summer the railways companies often require you to reserve a space for your bike. You can neither reserve nor buy bike tickets online.

In Denmark you must buy a ticket before you travel. Tickets are checked by a conductor on the train and if you cannot produce a valid ticket you will be fined.
When you buy tickets, you can buy either one-way tickets or return. On IC or ICL trains, you can choose between second or first class tickets.

You are not required to reserve a seat for your train journey but it is the only way you are guaranteed not to be left standing. If you wish to reserve a seat you must specify this when you buy your ticket.  Seat reservations coast approximately DKK 25. Note that even though you are not required to reserve a seat for your journey, it is recommended that you do so for journeys during peak periods.

Unless you ask for a ticket for a specific departure, the ticket you buy is likely to be valid for two hours. This means that you can use the ticket on any train that leaves for your destination within two hours of buying your ticket. Remember that if you make a seat reservation, it is only valid for the specified departure. The time validity of your ticket is stated on your ticket.

Cities and regions are usually divided into travel zones. Your fare depends on the number of zones you travel through. However the minimum fare is often the price of two travel zones. You will find zone maps on the station. In most cities, you can use your ticket as long as it is valid on most public transport, both train and bus services within the number of zones you have paid for.

You can also buy an Orange billet (Orange ticket) discount ticket for many national and regional train departures. Note that special rules apply to these tickets, for further information go to About DSB Orange tickets and Booking a DSB Orange ticket. 

If you are between 16-26 years of age or are on SU, a Danish government education grant, you are entitled to a DSB Wildcard. A DSB wildcard gives you discounts on many train tickets. Read more about DSB Wildcard under DSB Wildcard.

If you frequently travel to one destination or within the same number of zones, it may be a good idea to buy a travel card (månedskort/periodekort) or a discount card (klippekort). The smartest buy depends on how frequently you travel.

A travel card entitles you to travel as many times you like within the number of zones for which you have bought your travel card, for as long as the card is valid.

Discount cards are valid for 10 journeys within a specified number of zones. You pay less per journey using a discount card than with a single ticket. When travelling with a discount card you must punch the card at the beginning of your journey. Punching machines are situated on stations where you enter the platform.

There are ticket machines on most stations, most of which accept both cash and credit/debit cards. You will find them either in the station’s main hall or on the platform. At serviced stations, you can also buy tickets at the service office or in the station kiosk.

If the station you depart from is not manned and the ticket machine is out of order, contact the conductor as soon as you get on the train. If you do not do so you risk being fined when the conductor asks to see your ticket.  If the telephone number to the operation company is listed on the machine, it is also a good idea to call the operation company and inform them that the machine is out of order.

To buy and reserve tickets you can also contact DSB. You can find the contact information to DSB, on DSB’s website.

Note that DSB Orange tickets can only be bought online on DSB´s Online ticket shop. Read more about Orange tickets under About DSB Orange tickets and Booking a DSB Orange ticket.

On most standard tickets, one adult can take two children under the age of twelve with them free of charge. However, children under age 12 travelling alone must pay a children’s fare. Children under 16 can buy children’s tickets and discount cards.

A DSB orange is a discount ticket. The price of a DSB Orange ticket varies and they are not available for all train departures. The number of tickets available for a given departure varies, so your chance of getting an orange ticket is greater, the sooner you book. 

Orange tickets are only valid for the specified departure day and time and are not valid on bus or Metro services. Orange tickets can be bought two months prior to departure. They are non-refundable and cannot be changed after the purchase has been made.

DSB orange tickets can only be bought online at DSB´s Online ticket shop. You find DSB´s online ticket shop at www.dsb.dk. Note the service is in Danish only. You have to print the Orange ticket yourself and a seat reservation is required. The seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. Adults travelling with an Orange ticket can take two children under the age of 12 with them free of charge, but you must remember to reserve seats for the children when you book the ticket.  Children from age 12 to 15 years pay half price.

To get a DSB orange ticket you must book and pay for the ticket online at DSB´s Online ticket shop, www.dsb.dk. Note the service is only in Danish.

You print the ticket yourself. A seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. When you book an Orange ticket you will be asked to state you email address.  Your e-ticket and your order confirmation will be sent to this email address. You will also be asked to provide proof of ID when you present your ticket on the train. The ID you use can be your credit card (not necessarily the one you used to pay for the ticket), driving licence, passport, etc.  When booking the ticket, you will be asked for the name of the person (your name) to whom the ID was issued , along some of the digits printed on the ID. The ID information you provide is called Print Selv-ID (Print it yourself-ID) and is requested to prevent tickets being copied. 

Remember to have both your printed ticket and your Print Selv-ID with you when you travel because the conductor will ask for both.

If you are between 16-26 years of age or get SU, a Danish government education grant, you are entitled to a DSB Wildcard. A DSB Wildcard costs DKK 180 and gives you discounts on many train tickets.

With a DSB wildcard you get:

• 50% discount on train tickets Monday-Thursday and on Saturdays.
• 25% discount on train tickets on Fridays and Sundays
• 25% discount on general products from DSB's shops in the trains.

Conductors check tickets on most trains. If you are unable to present a valid ticket you will be fined DKK 600.

The online journey planner, www.rejseplanen.dk, is a very useful site when you are looking for travel routes, departure and arrival times. Rejseplanen.dk is based on data provided by all bus and railway operators, as well as most ferry services in Denmark. The journey planner can also help you to find coordinating buses if you cannot reach your destination by train.

DSB Customer Centre: +45 70 13 14 15, for other contact information to DSB, go to DSB’s website. 

Find details of the companies operating rail services in Denmark on the Danish Road Directorate’s website. Please note that you will be directed to a Danish site.

The online journey planner, Rejseplanen, provides information about all public transport in Denmark: www.rejseplanen.dk.

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.

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”.

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.

Nordic citizens are automatically covered by the Danish Health Security Act.

For people who are neither citizens of an EU country, EEA country, Switzerland nor a Nordic country the rules regarding residence and work for non EU/EEA citizens apply. You can find out what defines EU/EEA citizens under Residence and work permits – EU/EEA citizens, and Nordic Citizens under Residence and work permits – Nordic citizens.

If you hold a driving license from a non-EU/EEA or non-Nordic country, you are required to exchange your license for a Danish equivalent. You must do so within 14 days of being issued a Danish CPR number. Read more about the rules and how to exchange your license under Driving Licenses.

Your health insurance card is a proof of the fact that you are covered by the Danish healthcare system. You will have to present your health insurance card in connection with all health care services, such as when you visit your GP or a hospital - including the accident and emergency department.

Your health insurance card is also often requested as a means of proof of your CPR number. You will be asked for your health insurance card by most public and many private service points as a means of identification of your CPR number. It is recommended that you always have your health insurance card with you.

Read more about how to get a CPR number under CPR Number.

Under the heading Legal Documents and Tax card you will find information about and how to obtain a tax card.

When you are liable to pay tax in Denmark you must report your income(s) and/or property to SKAT. It is your responsibility to inform SKAT about your financial situation - both incomes in and outside of Denmark. How much you have to pay in tax depends on your income as well as a number of other factors, such as whether you are paying interest on a loan or loans, whether you own property, etc. Your tax card states the percentage of tax you are required to pay.

When non-Danish citizens move to Denmark they are required to have a number of legal documents, such as application for EU registration certificate (For EU/EEA and Swiss citizens), getting a CPR number and health insurance card, and acquiring a Danish tax card. These are documents that are handled by different authorities, who are all located at different addresses.

The ICS is based on International Community's One Stop Shop service since 2009. The service was initiated to make the process of acquiring different legal documents easier for international workers and their families, when they arrive in the Aarhus area. At International Citizen Service internationals can meet with The State Administration of Central Jutland, Aarhus Municipality’s Citizens’ Services, and SKAT, at the same time, in the same office.

If your driving licence was issued by a Nordic or EU/EEA country, you are not required to exchange your driving licence with a Danish equivalent. However, you should be aware of the fact that if you lose your original driving licence, it may be difficult to obtain documentary proof required to apply for a new driving licence from the country that issued your licence.

To obtain a Danish driving licence, go to Citizens’ Services, taking with you your current EU/EEA or Nordic driving licence, along with a passport photo - see examples of the format required and restrictions that apply regarding size, image quality, etc. at the Danish National Police’s website. A Danish driving licence costs DKK 260. It will be forwarded to your home address within 2 weeks.

If you present Citizens’ Services with a health certificate issued by your Danish doctor, your Danish driving licence can be made valid until age 70. If you do not present a health certificate, the expiry date on your foreign driving licence will be transferred to your Danish driving licence.

Most libraries in Denmark will require you to sign up as a user before you can make use of their services. To sign up you will need some form of photo-ID and your health insurance card as proof that you have a CPR number. Read more about the CPR number under CPR number.

If possible, you should get your European health insurance card from your local authority before leaving for Denmark. This card is proof that you are entitled to health insurance in your home country. Above all, it gives you access to free medical care in Denmark until you have been issued a CPR number and a Health insurance card.

Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for, and be issued with, a residence andawork permit to reside and work in Denmark. The forms you need to fill in to apply for a residence and work permit depends on your reason for moving to Denmark. It is your own responsibility to obtain a residence and a work permit. If you reside and work illegally in Denmark, you can be deported, fined or imprisoned.

If you hold a driving license from a Nordic or an EU/EEA country you are allowed to drive in Denmark using your foreign licence. However, note that if you lose your driving licence you may have difficulty obtaining the necessary documentary proof from the authorities in the country that issued your driving licence. It is therefore a good idea to obtain a Danish driving licence. Read about the rules and how to obtain a Danish license under Driving licences.

Everyone who is legally residing and/or working in Denmark can get a Danish tax card.

At ICS you can get assistance with:

• residence permit for non-EU citizens
• registration certificate for EU citizens (for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens)
• tax card
• social security number - CPR (residents of Aarhus Municipality only)
• health insurance card
• Danish driver’s licence
•  

At ICS you will also meet representatives of International Community who will help you deal with any other enquiries you may have.

• ICS cannot help you to obtain a CPR number and health insurance card if you do not live in Aarhus Municipality.
• To obtain a CPR number you must contact your own Municipality’s Citizens’ Services.
•  
• You will not get a CPR number or a health insurance card on the day of your visit to ICS. The service assistants from Aarhus Citizens’ Services will assist you with your application for a CPR number and a health insurance card. Your CPR number and your health insurance card will be sent to your Danish address within 1-2 weeks of submission of your application.

A Certificate of Registration is a document which affirms that you have been registered as an EU citizen in Denmark and that you are permitted to reside and work here. Application for a Certificate of Registration is made using a form called “Application for EU residence document”. Read more about Certificate of Registration at the Danish State Administration’s website: www.statsforvaltning.dk.

We strongly advise you to take out health insurance in your home country to cover any medical care costs  until you have register with Citizens’ Services and been issued a CPR number and health insurance card.

A residence permit verifies that you are legally residing in Denmark, and a work permit verifies that you are permitted to work here.

If you have questions regarding rules on residence and work in Denmark for Nordic citizens contact Citizens’ Services in the Municipality in which you live.

Everyone who relocates to Denmark with a non-EU/EEA driving licence is required to exchange their licence for a Danish equivalent to drive in Denmark.

Drivers with non-EU/EEA driving licences are required to apply to have their driving licence exchanged no later than 14 days after they are issued with a Danish CPR number. You are only allowed to drive with a non-EU/EEA driving licence for 14 days after being issued a CPR number. Driving in Denmark after 14 days have elapsed without a Danish driving licence is illegal and the penalty for doing so is DKK 5,000.

Non-EU/EEA citizens who intend to stay in Denmark for more than three months are required to register with the Danish Civil Registration System upon arrival.
Nordic citizens, citizens of EU and EEA countries and Switzerland are required to register with the Danish Civil Registration System and obtain a CPR number within six months of their arrival in Denmark.

Respectively, Residence and Work – non-EU/EEA Citizens, Residence and Work – Nordic Citizens and Residence and Work – EU/EEA and Swiss citizens provide information about the various types of citizenship.

You should report you income to SKAT upon arrival in Denmark. If you start working without having a Danish tax card, your employer is obliged to deduct 55 percent of your pay as provisional tax.

To make your visit at ICS as efficient as possible, there are different documents you can fill out before you arrive. There are also a range of items you must remember to bring with you to ICS, depending on what you need assistance with. 

You may also find it helpful to read up on what legal documents you are required to have in order upon arrival in Denmark, before you go to ICS. By doing so, you are better prepared for the meeting, and you get to know what questions are relevant for you to ask, when you meet with the different authorities.

Remember to get an overview of all the documents and items you are required to bring. Below you will find a list of what you need to take with you.

You obtain a Danish tax card by reporting your finical income to SKAT. SKAT issues tax cards and collects tax in Denmark. You can read more about SKAT and their work on SKAT’s homepage www.skat.dk.

As an international student from a country outside of EU/EEA and a non-Nordic country, you are covered by the Danish Health Insurance Act as soon as you register at Citizens’ Service. You must register at Citizens’ Services within five days after your arrival in Denmark.

We strongly advise you to take out health insurance prior to your departure for Denmark to cover you until you have registered with the Danish authorities.

In general, anyone from a non-EU/EEA country who wants to take up residence and employment in Denmark is required to have a residence and a work permit in order to do so.

Drivers with non-EU/EEA driving licences are required to apply to have their driving licence exchanged no later than 14 days after they are issued with a Danish CPR number.

If you are an EU citizen and need to apply for a Certificate of Registration we suggest that you print out The Application of EU Residence Document and fill in what you can before you visit ICS. This will save time at ICS, as well as giving you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the process before your meeting with a representative of the State Administration for Central Jutland.

You must submit your application in person. This also applies to accompanying family members. When you go to ICS, take:

• Your passport
• A passport photo
• Documentation for the reason of your stay – you can find examples of which documentation this may be at the State Administration’s website.

Furthermore:

• If your child/children is/are moving with you to Denmark, the child/children must also appear in person when you submit your application. And you must present your child’s/children’s birth certificate(s) (the original or a certified copy) and a passport photo of each child.
• If you are bringing a child/children from a previous relationship with you to Denmark, you must present to the Regional State Administration a document which verifies that the other legal parent has given his/her permission for you to relocate the child/children to Denmark. You must also take with you a verified copy of a photo ID of the other legal parent. 

In order to register and be issued with a CPR number you need to show up in person at Citizens’ Services in the Municipality in which you live. This also applies to accompanying spouses and/or children.

To obtain a CPR number you must have an address in Denmark. You must also present a variety of documents depending on your current civil status (see below). Please note that if your documents are not in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English or German, you should bring along a certified translation of them.

At Citizens’ Services you will be asked for:

• Your Danish residence and work permit (non-EU/EEA citizens), or certificate of registration (for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens). Nordic citizens must bring proof of their Nordic personal identification number, e.g. your passport. 
• Some form of photo id, e.g. your passport 
• If you are married, your marriage certificate or a certified copy of it.
• If you have children, your child/children’s birth certificate(s).
• If you are divorced, your divorce certificate.
• If you are a widow/widower, the death certificate of your husband/wife.

You will find a detailed step guide to where, when and how to apply for a CPR number under Step Guides.

There is no simple answer to the question as to who is eligible for residence and work permits in Denmark. Non-EU/EEA citizens must submit an application for both a residence permit and a work permit. 

A number of schemes have been designed in order to make it easier for highly qualified professionals to get a residence and work permit in Denmark. You can find a list and explanation of the various schemes on the Danish Immigration Services’ website. 

If you want to bring your family (spouse/partner and children under the age of 18) with you, they must submit their own application. You can read more about the rules that apply for accompanying family members under “Family members” on the Danish Immigration Services’ website.

An application to exchange your driving licence for a Danish equivalent is made to Citizens’ Services. Citizens’ Services are responsible for issuing driving licences, and collecting payment.

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.

To obtain a Danish tax card, please, contact SKAT. You will need to:

• Fill out this form 04.063 E.
• Get a declaration or contract of employment from your employer stating your salary and terms of employment.
• Provide your CPR number, by bringing your health insurance card. If you have not been issued a CPR number, bring some form of a valid photo-ID, such as your passport.

If you are eligible for tax deductions it is up to you to report these to SKAT. Read more about tax deductions in SKAT’s leaflet “About tax – for people resident abroad and working in Denmark”.

If you have any questions about CPR numbers contact Citizens’ Services in the municipality in which you live. You can find the address and phone number of your Municipal Citizens’ Services here. 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 meet service assistants from Citizens’ Services and get assistance acquiring a CPR number in International Citizen Service Aarhus, located at Nordhavnsgade 4, 8000 Aarhus C. For more information about the International Citizen Service Aarhus, go to International Citizen Service.

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

As a general rule, you must apply for, and be issued with, a residence permit and a work permit before moving to Denmark. The processing time varies, depending on whether all the required documentation and necessary correct information are provided.

The Immigration Service has defined customer service goals for maximum processing time for a number of case types. You can read more about the Immigration Service's service goals for maximum processing on their website.

If you want to know more about the processing process, you find more information under “Processing application” and “How do you receive the ruling? on the Immigration Service’s website.

At ICS, SKAT will ask:

• You to fill out form number 04.063 EN. It may be a good idea to print out the form, fill in what you can and take it with you to ICS.
• For a declaration or contract of employment from your employer stating your salary and terms of employment.
• For your CPR number. If you have not yet been issued with a CPR number, bring some form of a valid photo-ID, such as your passport.

If you are eligible for tax deductions it is up to you to report these to SKAT. Read more about tax deductions in SKAT’s leaflet “About tax – for people resident abroad and working in Denmark”.

SKAT’s website www.skat.dk provides information about SKAT and the tax rules and regulations that apply in Denmark.

Learn more about the Danish tax system in the guide "Taxation - when moving to Denmark". If you are interested in learning more about how and why we pay tax in Denmark, most common tax rules are described in the guide "Tax in Denmark - An introduction for new citizens".

You can call SKAT on +45 72 22 18 18 or go to your local SKAT service office.

You can find your local service office, at SKAT’s website - If you do not understand Danish, please follow this guide: 

• Tick the box in front of the word “Skattecentre”, which is listed in the column on the left hand side.
• Enter “the post code of your town” (4 digits only) in the search area “Postnr. eller by:”,
• Click on the “søg” button.

The location of SKAT’s service centers in your area will then be marked of as small buildings on the map. Place the arrow over the building, and the address of the service office will be displayed.

“Skattecentre” means tax service offices, “Postnr. eller by” means post code or town, “Søg” means search.

If you live in the Aarhus area, you can also meet representatives of SKAT at International Citizen Service. Read more about International Citizen Service here.

Residence and work permit applications are submitted to the Danish Diplomatic Mission in your country of legal residence. You can find contact information of Danish missions abroad on the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website. When you have submitted your applications, the Danish diplomatic mission will forward the application to the Danish Immigration Service in Denmark, which is the legal authority that issues resident and work permits.

If you are already legally residing in Denmark on a resident permit or Visa, and need to renew your permit, you can submit your application at your local police station. The police will then forward your application to the Danish Immigration Service. You can also submit your application directly to the Danish Immigration Service at their service centre in Copenhagen.

ICS is at International Community’s office. When you visit the service, you will also be met by a representative of International Community, who will answer queries you may have and introduce you to our services and offers.

Which application form and documentation you will be required to submit when you apply depends on whether are applying for a residence and a work permit as an employee, a self-employed person, a job seeker, or as a spouse/partner, and/or if you are bringing with you children under the age of 18. You can read more about how to apply for residence and work permits, and download the relevant application forms on the Danish Immigration Services’ website.

Office hours:
Thurs. 1 pm. - 5 pm.
Fri. 9 am. - 1 pm. 

Please note that Citizens’ Services of Aarhus Municipality will only have office hours Thursday from 3 pm. to 5 pm. and Friday from 11 am. to 1 pm. Enquiries regarding CPR number, health insurance card and other issues handled by the Citizens’ Services of Aarhus Municipality can only be processed during these hours.

Outside opening hours you may contact International Citizen Service Aarhus by telephone: +45 7222 3375, or by e-mail: west@icitizen.dk.

Address and contacts:
International Citizen Service Aarhus
Nordhavnsgade 4
8000 Aarhus C

The Regional State Administrations is responsible for handling EU/EEA citizens’ applications for an EU residence document. For more about the Regional State Administration and their work, visit the website: www.statsforvaltning.dk.

For questions regarding Certificate of Registration, call the Regional State Administrations’ EU residence office on +45 72 56 84 56.
The Central Jutland State Administration EU-residence office handles applications for Certificate of Registration for people resident in the Aarhus area and Central Jutland. The office is located at Lyseng Alle 1, 8270 Højbjerg.

You can also obtain assistance with, and submit your Application for EU Residence Document, at International Citizen Service Aarhus. Read more about International Citizen Service here.

The Danish Immigration Service is responsible for issuing residence and work permits for non-EU/EEA citizens. You can read about the Danish Immigration Service, their work, and which rules apply for residence and work permits on their website www.nyidanmark.dk.

The Danish Immigration Services
Ryesgade 53
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Telephone: +45 35 36 66 00
Telephone hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fax: +45 35 36 19 16
E-mail: us@us.dk

Note: The Danish Immigration Service has made a telephone guide that tells you what questions you can expect to get answered when you contact them.

If you want to contact the Danish mission in your country, you can find the relevant contact information at www.um.dk.

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

The ICS is located at International Community’s office: 
International Citizen Service Aarhus
Nordhavnsgade 4
8000 Aarhus C

Bus number 13 stops at Europaplads, and bus number 200 stops at Skolebakken. The office is approximately 10 minutes walk from the Aarhus railway station and Aarhus Central Bus Station.

If you have any practical questions regarding ICS, you can contact Workindenmark.

Note that representatives of Immigration Service, the State Administration for Central Jutland, Aarhus Municipal Citizens’ Services and SKAT are only available at ICS during the service's opening hours. If you have got questions outside ICS' opening hours, please, contact the respective authority directly.

You can contact the Regional State Administrations’ EU residence office at: +45 7256 8456.

You can contact SKAT at: +45 7222 1818.

In Aarhus you will find Citizens’ Services at the following addresses:

Rådhuset (City Hall)
Park Allé
8000 Aarhus C

Aaby Bibliotek
Ludvig Feilbergs Vej 7
8230 Aabyhøj

Risskov Bibliotek
Fortebakken 1
8240 Risskov

Viby Bibliotek
Skanderborgvej 170
8260 Viby J

Opening hours:

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 8.00-16.00
Thursday 10.00-19.00
Friday 8.00-16.00

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.

A DSB orange is a discount ticket. The price of a DSB Orange ticket varies and they are not available for all train departures. The number of tickets available for a given departure varies, so your chance of getting an orange ticket is greater, the sooner you book.

Orange tickets are only valid for the specified departure day and time and are not valid on bus or Metro services. Orange tickets can be bought two months prior to departure. They are non-refundable and cannot be changed after the purchase has been made.

DSB orange tickets can only be bought online at DSB´s Online ticket shop. You find DSB´s online ticket shop at www.dsb.dk. Note the service is in Danish only. You have to print the Orange ticket yourself and a seat reservation is required. The seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. Adults travelling with an Orange ticket can take two children under the age of 12 with them free of charge, but you must remember to reserve seats for the children when you book the ticket. Children from age 12 to 15 years pay half price.

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.

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.

Your health insurance card is a proof of the fact that you are covered by the Danish healthcare system. You will have to present your health insurance card in connection with all health care services, such as when you visit your GP or a hospital - including the accident and emergency department.

Your health insurance card is also often requested as a means of proof of your CPR number. You will be asked for your health insurance card by most public and many private service points as a means of identification of your CPR number. It is recommended that you always have your health insurance card with you.

Read more about how to get a CPR number under CPR Number.

Residents of Denmark are legally required to have a CPR number. You will also notice that your CPR number is your access number to a number of services in Denmark. You will need it to open a bank account, get a Danish phone number, borrow books at the library, take out insurance, etc.

Small towns may only have one or two local taxi operators, but in most cities you will find that many taxis belong to large companies. All taxis in Denmark are licensed by the authorities. They are equipped with meters and fares are regulated. Danish taxis are easily recognised by the green and yellow illuminated on their roof or in the windshield. The light indicates whether or not the taxi is free. If it is on it is available for service the light will be on. If the light is off, the taxi is occupied.

Many train and bus services correspond, and the internet journey planner, www.rejseplanen.dk, simplifies finding out which services that do so. Rejseplanen.dk (the Journey Planner) is based on data provided by all the bus and rail operators and most of the ferry services in Denmark – local as well as national.
 

Under the heading Legal Documents and Tax card you will find information about and how to obtain a tax card.

When you are liable to pay tax in Denmark you must report your income(s) and/or property to SKAT. It is your responsibility to inform SKAT about your financial situation - both incomes in and outside of Denmark. How much you have to pay in tax depends on your income as well as a number of other factors, such as whether you are paying interest on a loan or loans, whether you own property, etc. Your tax card states the percentage of tax you are required to pay.

When non-Danish citizens move to Denmark they are required to have a number of legal documents, such as application for EU registration certificate (For EU/EEA and Swiss citizens), getting a CPR number and health insurance card, and acquiring a Danish tax card. These are documents that are handled by different authorities, who are all located at different addresses.

The ICS is based on International Community's One Stop Shop service since 2009. The service was initiated to make the process of acquiring different legal documents easier for international workers and their families, when they arrive in the Aarhus area. At International Citizen Service internationals can meet with The State Administration of Central Jutland, Aarhus Municipality’s Citizens’ Services, and SKAT, at the same time, in the same office.

Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for, and be issued with, a residence andawork permit to reside and work in Denmark. The forms you need to fill in to apply for a residence and work permit depends on your reason for moving to Denmark. It is your own responsibility to obtain a residence and a work permit. If you reside and work illegally in Denmark, you can be deported, fined or imprisoned.

CPR stands for Centrale Person Register, which translates as the Civil Registration System.

A CPR number is a personal identification number which, among other things, facilitates accurate linkage between all Danish national registers.

Your CPR number consists of ten digits. The first six digits are your date of birth, and the last four are your unique identification number. The last digit of your CPR number indicates your sex. If it is an odd digit you are male, and if it is an even digit you are female. For example, if your CPR number is 220550-6218, you were born on 22 May 1950 and you are female.

You can read more about the Civil Registration System at their website.

Citizens from EU/EEA countries can reside and work in Denmark in accordance with the EU rules of free movement of services and people. You can read more about free movement within the EU ate the European Commission’s website.

EU/EEA citizens are exempt from the regulations concerning residence and work permits, but must instead apply for a Certificate of Registration, also referred to as a Registration Certificate. Read more about Certificate of Registration at the Danish State Administration’s website.

Everyone who is legally residing and/or working in Denmark can get a Danish tax card.

At ICS you can get assistance with:

• residence permit for non-EU citizens
• registration certificate for EU citizens (for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens)
• tax card
• social security number - CPR (residents of Aarhus Municipality only)
• health insurance card
• Danish driver’s licence
•  

At ICS you will also meet representatives of International Community who will help you deal with any other enquiries you may have.

• ICS cannot help you to obtain a CPR number and health insurance card if you do not live in Aarhus Municipality.
• To obtain a CPR number you must contact your own Municipality’s Citizens’ Services.
•  
• You will not get a CPR number or a health insurance card on the day of your visit to ICS. The service assistants from Aarhus Citizens’ Services will assist you with your application for a CPR number and a health insurance card. Your CPR number and your health insurance card will be sent to your Danish address within 1-2 weeks of submission of your application.

You should report you income to SKAT upon arrival in Denmark. If you start working without having a Danish tax card, your employer is obliged to deduct 55 percent of your pay as provisional tax.

To make your visit at ICS as efficient as possible, there are different documents you can fill out before you arrive. There are also a range of items you must remember to bring with you to ICS, depending on what you need assistance with. 

You may also find it helpful to read up on what legal documents you are required to have in order upon arrival in Denmark, before you go to ICS. By doing so, you are better prepared for the meeting, and you get to know what questions are relevant for you to ask, when you meet with the different authorities.

Remember to get an overview of all the documents and items you are required to bring. Below you will find a list of what you need to take with you.

You obtain a Danish tax card by reporting your finical income to SKAT. SKAT issues tax cards and collects tax in Denmark. You can read more about SKAT and their work on SKAT’s homepage www.skat.dk.

To obtain a Danish tax card, please, contact SKAT. You will need to:

• Fill out this form 04.063 E.
• Get a declaration or contract of employment from your employer stating your salary and terms of employment.
• Provide your CPR number, by bringing your health insurance card. If you have not been issued a CPR number, bring some form of a valid photo-ID, such as your passport.

If you are eligible for tax deductions it is up to you to report these to SKAT. Read more about tax deductions in SKAT’s leaflet “About tax – for people resident abroad and working in Denmark”.

At ICS, SKAT will ask:

• You to fill out form number 04.063 EN. It may be a good idea to print out the form, fill in what you can and take it with you to ICS.
• For a declaration or contract of employment from your employer stating your salary and terms of employment.
• For your CPR number. If you have not yet been issued with a CPR number, bring some form of a valid photo-ID, such as your passport.

If you are eligible for tax deductions it is up to you to report these to SKAT. Read more about tax deductions in SKAT’s leaflet “About tax – for people resident abroad and working in Denmark”.

SKAT’s website www.skat.dk provides information about SKAT and the tax rules and regulations that apply in Denmark.

Learn more about the Danish tax system in the guide "Taxation - when moving to Denmark". If you are interested in learning more about how and why we pay tax in Denmark, most common tax rules are described in the guide "Tax in Denmark - An introduction for new citizens".

You can call SKAT on +45 72 22 18 18 or go to your local SKAT service office.

You can find your local service office, at SKAT’s website - If you do not understand Danish, please follow this guide: 

• Tick the box in front of the word “Skattecentre”, which is listed in the column on the left hand side.
• Enter “the post code of your town” (4 digits only) in the search area “Postnr. eller by:”,
• Click on the “søg” button.

The location of SKAT’s service centers in your area will then be marked of as small buildings on the map. Place the arrow over the building, and the address of the service office will be displayed.

“Skattecentre” means tax service offices, “Postnr. eller by” means post code or town, “Søg” means search.

If you live in the Aarhus area, you can also meet representatives of SKAT at International Citizen Service. Read more about International Citizen Service here.

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.

A DSB orange is a discount ticket. The price of a DSB Orange ticket varies and they are not available for all train departures. The number of tickets available for a given departure varies, so your chance of getting an orange ticket is greater, the sooner you book.

Orange tickets are only valid for the specified departure day and time and are not valid on bus or Metro services. Orange tickets can be bought two months prior to departure. They are non-refundable and cannot be changed after the purchase has been made.

DSB orange tickets can only be bought online at DSB´s Online ticket shop. You find DSB´s online ticket shop at www.dsb.dk. Note the service is in Danish only. You have to print the Orange ticket yourself and a seat reservation is required. The seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. Adults travelling with an Orange ticket can take two children under the age of 12 with them free of charge, but you must remember to reserve seats for the children when you book the ticket. Children from age 12 to 15 years pay half price.

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”.

It is advisable to make an appointment with the bank of your choice when you want to open a bank account. This will allow the bank to ensure that your advisor speaks English and conversant with international banking legislation. At the meeting you can discuss with your advisor your needs, wishes and expectations. Remember to take with you your CPR number, passport and employment contract or documentation for educational programme if you are a student.

You can designate your basic bank account as your Easy Account for the receipt of public-sector payments such as child benefits.

When opening a bank account tell the bank advisor that you would like to receive information in English, otherwise you will automatically receive information in Danish.

Your health insurance card is a proof of the fact that you are covered by the Danish healthcare system. You will have to present your health insurance card in connection with all health care services, such as when you visit your GP or a hospital - including the accident and emergency department.

Your health insurance card is also often requested as a means of proof of your CPR number. You will be asked for your health insurance card by most public and many private service points as a means of identification of your CPR number. It is recommended that you always have your health insurance card with you.

Read more about how to get a CPR number under CPR Number.

Residents of Denmark are legally required to have a CPR number. You will also notice that your CPR number is your access number to a number of services in Denmark. You will need it to open a bank account, get a Danish phone number, borrow books at the library, take out insurance, etc.

Small towns may only have one or two local taxi operators, but in most cities you will find that many taxis belong to large companies. All taxis in Denmark are licensed by the authorities. They are equipped with meters and fares are regulated. Danish taxis are easily recognised by the green and yellow illuminated on their roof or in the windshield. The light indicates whether or not the taxi is free. If it is on it is available for service the light will be on. If the light is off, the taxi is occupied.

Many train and bus services correspond, and the internet journey planner, www.rejseplanen.dk, simplifies finding out which services that do so. Rejseplanen.dk (the Journey Planner) is based on data provided by all the bus and rail operators and most of the ferry services in Denmark – local as well as national.
 

Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for, and be issued with, a residence andawork permit to reside and work in Denmark. The forms you need to fill in to apply for a residence and work permit depends on your reason for moving to Denmark. It is your own responsibility to obtain a residence and a work permit. If you reside and work illegally in Denmark, you can be deported, fined or imprisoned.

CPR stands for Centrale Person Register, which translates as the Civil Registration System.

A CPR number is a personal identification number which, among other things, facilitates accurate linkage between all Danish national registers.

Your CPR number consists of ten digits. The first six digits are your date of birth, and the last four are your unique identification number. The last digit of your CPR number indicates your sex. If it is an odd digit you are male, and if it is an even digit you are female. For example, if your CPR number is 220550-6218, you were born on 22 May 1950 and you are female.

You can read more about the Civil Registration System at their website.

Citizens from EU/EEA countries can reside and work in Denmark in accordance with the EU rules of free movement of services and people. You can read more about free movement within the EU ate the European Commission’s website.

EU/EEA citizens are exempt from the regulations concerning residence and work permits, but must instead apply for a Certificate of Registration, also referred to as a Registration Certificate. Read more about Certificate of Registration at the Danish State Administration’s website.

All companies and residents over age 18 who are registered at an address in Denmark and have a Danish CPR number are required to designate a bank account as their NemKonto account. When you have a NemKonto easy account, all payments from Danish authorities will be transferred directly to this account. The same rules apply to people under age 18, who have a Danish CPR number and receive payments from Danish public authorities.

All residents over age 18 who have a registered address in Denmark and a Danish CPR number are required to designate an account as their NemKonto account. This also applies to people under the age 18, who have a Danish CPR number and receive payments from Danish public authorities.

You can open an account and designate it as your NemKonto at the bank of your choice. According to the Executive Order on Good Business Practice for Financial Undertakings, all citizens in Denmark have the right to open a deposit account without credit facilities. Exceptions to this rule may apply for example if a person has demonstrated violent or offensive behavior at the bank. Debt, however, is not a valid reason for rejecting a citizen as a customer. 

If you do not have a Danish bank account, nor wish to open one, you can designate your spouse’s Danish bank account as your NemKonto account.

If you already have a Danish bank account you can designate this account as your NemKonto account. You can also designate a foreign bank account as your NemKonto account.

Note that you can only designate one account as your NemKonto account.

If you do not have a Danish bank account, and you would like to have one as your NemKonto account, you have to open a Danish bank account. To open a bank account, go to the bank of your choice. You will need to present your health insurance card to prove that you have a CPR number, together with some form of photo ID. When opening your account remember to inform the bank that you want to designate the account as your NemKonto account.

If you already have a bank account you wish to designate as your NemKonto account, you can notify the authorities electronically at www.nemkonto.dk using your digital signature. A digital signature is free of charge and can be obtained from www.danid.dk. Please note that the information on the DanID site is only available in Danish.

In March your tax assessment notice is available online in your personal tax folder (See Tax calendar). The figures in your tax assessment notice are based on your personal tax information, and relate to the previous assessment year. Your tax assessmentstates your income, tax allowances and deductions and taxes paid the previous year. And in accordance with the information in your tax information, your tax assessment notice includes a calculation of your tax payments in the previous year, and will state if you have paid too much or too little. If you have paid too much tax, SKAT will credit any overpaid tax to your Nemkonto Easy Account.

It is your responsibility to check that the figures on your tax assessment notice are correct. If there are any wrong or missing figures on your tax assessment notice, you are required to report this to SKAT. The deadline for changing your tax assessment notice is in early May.

The e-tax system enables you to access your tax file, notify SKAT about incorrect and/or missing figures and submit your tax assessment notice electronically. You find more information about submitting your tax assessment notice on SKAT’s website. You can also obtain help changing your tax assessment notice by calling SKAT on:  +45 72 22 18 18.

Unless you have deselected the paper version of the tax assessment notice via e-tax, you will also receive a paper copy of your tax assessment notice by post in March or April.

On SKAT’s website, you will find an example of a preliminary income assessment of 2009. The example includes an explanation of the different elements of an assessment.

You can change your NemKonto account, but if you do so you must inform the Danish authorities. You can inform the authorities in different ways:

• You can do it electronically if you have a digital signature.
• Most banks will allow you to change your NemKonto account via your online banking site.
• You can contact your bank and ask them to change your NemKonto account for you.

Designating a bank account as your NemKonto account and changing your NemKonto account is free of charge.

No one, besides you and your bank can see your entire NemKonto account number or information about your account.

You can read more about NemKonto accounts at www.nemkonto.dk. You can also call NemKonto support at +45 44 60 63 68, or contact a Danish bank.

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.

A DSB orange is a discount ticket. The price of a DSB Orange ticket varies and they are not available for all train departures. The number of tickets available for a given departure varies, so your chance of getting an orange ticket is greater, the sooner you book.

Orange tickets are only valid for the specified departure day and time and are not valid on bus or Metro services. Orange tickets can be bought two months prior to departure. They are non-refundable and cannot be changed after the purchase has been made.

DSB orange tickets can only be bought online at DSB´s Online ticket shop. You find DSB´s online ticket shop at www.dsb.dk. Note the service is in Danish only. You have to print the Orange ticket yourself and a seat reservation is required. The seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. Adults travelling with an Orange ticket can take two children under the age of 12 with them free of charge, but you must remember to reserve seats for the children when you book the ticket. Children from age 12 to 15 years pay half price.

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”.

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.

For people who are neither citizens of an EU country, EEA country, Switzerland nor a Nordic country the rules regarding residence and work for non EU/EEA citizens apply. You can find out what defines EU/EEA citizens under Residence and work permits – EU/EEA citizens, and Nordic Citizens under Residence and work permits – Nordic citizens.

If you hold a driving license from a non-EU/EEA or non-Nordic country, you are required to exchange your license for a Danish equivalent. You must do so within 14 days of being issued a Danish CPR number. Read more about the rules and how to exchange your license under Driving Licenses.

Your health insurance card is a proof of the fact that you are covered by the Danish healthcare system. You will have to present your health insurance card in connection with all health care services, such as when you visit your GP or a hospital - including the accident and emergency department.

Your health insurance card is also often requested as a means of proof of your CPR number. You will be asked for your health insurance card by most public and many private service points as a means of identification of your CPR number. It is recommended that you always have your health insurance card with you.

Read more about how to get a CPR number under CPR Number.

Nordic citizens are citizens of the countries Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

EU is an abbreviation of European Union. An EU citizen is a citizen of a European Union member state. For a list of the EU member countries, visit the website EUROPA.

EEA stands for European Economic Area. Read more EEA at the European Commission’s website. Please note that if you are a citizen of a Nordic country which is also an EU or an EEA country, the rules for Nordic citizens normally apply.

As regards work and residence permits, Swiss citizens are covered by the same rules as EU and EEA citizens. Accordingly, the rules mentioned in relation to EU/EEA citizens below also apply to Swiss citizens.

Residents of Denmark are legally required to have a CPR number. You will also notice that your CPR number is your access number to a number of services in Denmark. You will need it to open a bank account, get a Danish phone number, borrow books at the library, take out insurance, etc.

When non-Danish citizens move to Denmark they are required to have a number of legal documents, such as application for EU registration certificate (For EU/EEA and Swiss citizens), getting a CPR number and health insurance card, and acquiring a Danish tax card. These are documents that are handled by different authorities, who are all located at different addresses.

The ICS is based on International Community's One Stop Shop service since 2009. The service was initiated to make the process of acquiring different legal documents easier for international workers and their families, when they arrive in the Aarhus area. At International Citizen Service internationals can meet with The State Administration of Central Jutland, Aarhus Municipality’s Citizens’ Services, and SKAT, at the same time, in the same office.

CPR stands for Centrale Person Register, which translates as the Civil Registration System.

A CPR number is a personal identification number which, among other things, facilitates accurate linkage between all Danish national registers.

Your CPR number consists of ten digits. The first six digits are your date of birth, and the last four are your unique identification number. The last digit of your CPR number indicates your sex. If it is an odd digit you are male, and if it is an even digit you are female. For example, if your CPR number is 220550-6218, you were born on 22 May 1950 and you are female.

You can read more about the Civil Registration System at their website.

For more information on the Nordic countries’ joint labour market and for further information about the rules which apply when Nordic citizens move to another Nordic country visit www.hallonorden.org.

Citizens from EU/EEA countries can reside and work in Denmark in accordance with the EU rules of free movement of services and people. You can read more about free movement within the EU ate the European Commission’s website.

EU/EEA citizens are exempt from the regulations concerning residence and work permits, but must instead apply for a Certificate of Registration, also referred to as a Registration Certificate. Read more about Certificate of Registration at the Danish State Administration’s website.

Small towns may only have one or two local taxi operators, but in most cities you will find that many taxis belong to large companies. All taxis in Denmark are licensed by the authorities. They are equipped with meters and fares are regulated. Danish taxis are easily recognised by the green and yellow illuminated on their roof or in the windshield. The light indicates whether or not the taxi is free. If it is on it is available for service the light will be on. If the light is off, the taxi is occupied.

Many train and bus services correspond, and the internet journey planner, www.rejseplanen.dk, simplifies finding out which services that do so. Rejseplanen.dk (the Journey Planner) is based on data provided by all the bus and rail operators and most of the ferry services in Denmark – local as well as national.
 

At ICS you can get assistance with:

• residence permit for non-EU citizens
• registration certificate for EU citizens (for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens)
• tax card
• social security number - CPR (residents of Aarhus Municipality only)
• health insurance card
• Danish driver’s licence
•  

At ICS you will also meet representatives of International Community who will help you deal with any other enquiries you may have.

• ICS cannot help you to obtain a CPR number and health insurance card if you do not live in Aarhus Municipality.
• To obtain a CPR number you must contact your own Municipality’s Citizens’ Services.
•  
• You will not get a CPR number or a health insurance card on the day of your visit to ICS. The service assistants from Aarhus Citizens’ Services will assist you with your application for a CPR number and a health insurance card. Your CPR number and your health insurance card will be sent to your Danish address within 1-2 weeks of submission of your application.

A Certificate of Registration is a document which affirms that you have been registered as an EU citizen in Denmark and that you are permitted to reside and work here. Application for a Certificate of Registration is made using a form called “Application for EU residence document”. Read more about Certificate of Registration at the Danish State Administration’s website: www.statsforvaltning.dk.

We strongly advise you to take out health insurance in your home country to cover any medical care costs  until you have register with Citizens’ Services and been issued a CPR number and health insurance card.

A residence permit verifies that you are legally residing in Denmark, and a work permit verifies that you are permitted to work here.

If you have questions regarding rules on residence and work in Denmark for Nordic citizens contact Citizens’ Services in the Municipality in which you live.

Everyone who relocates to Denmark with a non-EU/EEA driving licence is required to exchange their licence for a Danish equivalent to drive in Denmark.

Drivers with non-EU/EEA driving licences are required to apply to have their driving licence exchanged no later than 14 days after they are issued with a Danish CPR number. You are only allowed to drive with a non-EU/EEA driving licence for 14 days after being issued a CPR number. Driving in Denmark after 14 days have elapsed without a Danish driving licence is illegal and the penalty for doing so is DKK 5,000.

To make your visit at ICS as efficient as possible, there are different documents you can fill out before you arrive. There are also a range of items you must remember to bring with you to ICS, depending on what you need assistance with. 

You may also find it helpful to read up on what legal documents you are required to have in order upon arrival in Denmark, before you go to ICS. By doing so, you are better prepared for the meeting, and you get to know what questions are relevant for you to ask, when you meet with the different authorities.

Remember to get an overview of all the documents and items you are required to bring. Below you will find a list of what you need to take with you.

As an international student from a country outside of EU/EEA and a non-Nordic country, you are covered by the Danish Health Insurance Act as soon as you register at Citizens’ Service. You must register at Citizens’ Services within five days after your arrival in Denmark.

We strongly advise you to take out health insurance prior to your departure for Denmark to cover you until you have registered with the Danish authorities.

In general, anyone from a non-EU/EEA country who wants to take up residence and employment in Denmark is required to have a residence and a work permit in order to do so.

Everyone intending to reside in Denmark for longer than three months is required to register with the Danish National Register. To register with the National Register, you need to prove that you are eligible to reside and work in Denmark. Your Certificate of Registration is this proof. You can read more about how to register with the national register under CPR number.

Note: If you are seeking employment during your stay, you may reside in Denmark without a Certificate of Registration for up to six months.

If you are an EU citizen and need to apply for a Certificate of Registration we suggest that you print out The Application of EU Residence Document and fill in what you can before you visit ICS. This will save time at ICS, as well as giving you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the process before your meeting with a representative of the State Administration for Central Jutland.

You must submit your application in person. This also applies to accompanying family members. When you go to ICS, take:

• Your passport
• A passport photo
• Documentation for the reason of your stay – you can find examples of which documentation this may be at the State Administration’s website.

Furthermore:

• If your child/children is/are moving with you to Denmark, the child/children must also appear in person when you submit your application. And you must present your child’s/children’s birth certificate(s) (the original or a certified copy) and a passport photo of each child.
• If you are bringing a child/children from a previous relationship with you to Denmark, you must present to the Regional State Administration a document which verifies that the other legal parent has given his/her permission for you to relocate the child/children to Denmark. You must also take with you a verified copy of a photo ID of the other legal parent. 

There is no simple answer to the question as to who is eligible for residence and work permits in Denmark. Non-EU/EEA citizens must submit an application for both a residence permit and a work permit. 

A number of schemes have been designed in order to make it easier for highly qualified professionals to get a residence and work permit in Denmark. You can find a list and explanation of the various schemes on the Danish Immigration Services’ website. 

If you want to bring your family (spouse/partner and children under the age of 18) with you, they must submit their own application. You can read more about the rules that apply for accompanying family members under “Family members” on the Danish Immigration Services’ website.

An application to exchange your driving licence for a Danish equivalent is made to Citizens’ Services. Citizens’ Services are responsible for issuing driving licences, and collecting payment.

Citizens from EU and EEA countries can be issued with a Certificate of Registration if they:

• Are in a paid employment.
• Are self-employed.
• Provide services in Denmark.
• Are retired, self-employed or is a service provider.
• Have been seconded.
• Are studying at an educational institution accredited or financed by public authorities and is able to support themselves during their period of residence in Denmark.   
• Have sufficient disposable funds not to be a burden on the Danish public authorities.

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.

As a general rule, you must apply for, and be issued with, a residence permit and a work permit before moving to Denmark. The processing time varies, depending on whether all the required documentation and necessary correct information are provided.

The Immigration Service has defined customer service goals for maximum processing time for a number of case types. You can read more about the Immigration Service's service goals for maximum processing on their website.

If you want to know more about the processing process, you find more information under “Processing application” and “How do you receive the ruling? on the Immigration Service’s website.

If you have a job when you move to Denmark you should apply for a Certificate of Registration no later than three months after arriving in Denmark. If you are applying for jobs in Denmark you can stay here for up to six months before you obtain a Certificate of Registration.

If you expect to stay in Denmark for more than three months (or six months for job-seekers), you should apply for a Certificate of Registration immediately upon arrival. This is recommended because you can neither obtain a CPR number nor a tax card without a Certificate of Registration. Read more about the CPR number under CPR number.

Residence and work permit applications are submitted to the Danish Diplomatic Mission in your country of legal residence. You can find contact information of Danish missions abroad on the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website. When you have submitted your applications, the Danish diplomatic mission will forward the application to the Danish Immigration Service in Denmark, which is the legal authority that issues resident and work permits.

If you are already legally residing in Denmark on a resident permit or Visa, and need to renew your permit, you can submit your application at your local police station. The police will then forward your application to the Danish Immigration Service. You can also submit your application directly to the Danish Immigration Service at their service centre in Copenhagen.

Certificates of registration are issued by the regional state administrations (de regionale statsforvaltninger). To apply for a certificate of registration, you must contact your regional state administration. Read more about the regional state administrations at the State Administration’s website, www.statsforvaltning.dk.  

If you live in the Aarhus area or the Central Denmark Region, you must contact the State Administration for Central Jutland (Statsforvaltningen Midtjylland).

Which application form and documentation you will be required to submit when you apply depends on whether are applying for a residence and a work permit as an employee, a self-employed person, a job seeker, or as a spouse/partner, and/or if you are bringing with you children under the age of 18. You can read more about how to apply for residence and work permits, and download the relevant application forms on the Danish Immigration Services’ website.

To obtain a Certificate of Registration, you must submit an “Application for EU residence document” to the Regional State Administration. You can obtain the application form from the Regional State Administration’s office, or download it here.

You submit your application in person at the Regional State Administration. When you go, remember to take with you:  your passport, a passport photo/photos, and documentation for the reason for your stay – you can find examples of which documentation this may be at the State Administration’s website.

Furthermore,

• If your child/children is/are moving with you to Denmark, the child/children must also appear in person when you submit your application. And you must present your child’s/children’s birth certificate(s) (The original or a certified copy) and a passport photo of each child.
• If you are bringing child/children from a previous relationship with you to Denmark, you must present to the Regional State Administration a document which verifies that you are entitled to relocate them to Denmark.

The Regional State Administrations is responsible for handling EU/EEA citizens’ applications for an EU residence document. For more about the Regional State Administration and their work, visit the website: www.statsforvaltning.dk.

For questions regarding Certificate of Registration, call the Regional State Administrations’ EU residence office on +45 72 56 84 56.
The Central Jutland State Administration EU-residence office handles applications for Certificate of Registration for people resident in the Aarhus area and Central Jutland. The office is located at Lyseng Alle 1, 8270 Højbjerg.

You can also obtain assistance with, and submit your Application for EU Residence Document, at International Citizen Service Aarhus. Read more about International Citizen Service here.

The Danish Immigration Service is responsible for issuing residence and work permits for non-EU/EEA citizens. You can read about the Danish Immigration Service, their work, and which rules apply for residence and work permits on their website www.nyidanmark.dk.

The Danish Immigration Services
Ryesgade 53
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Telephone: +45 35 36 66 00
Telephone hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fax: +45 35 36 19 16
E-mail: us@us.dk

Note: The Danish Immigration Service has made a telephone guide that tells you what questions you can expect to get answered when you contact them.

If you want to contact the Danish mission in your country, you can find the relevant contact information at www.um.dk.

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.

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.

A DSB orange is a discount ticket. The price of a DSB Orange ticket varies and they are not available for all train departures. The number of tickets available for a given departure varies, so your chance of getting an orange ticket is greater, the sooner you book.

Orange tickets are only valid for the specified departure day and time and are not valid on bus or Metro services. Orange tickets can be bought two months prior to departure. They are non-refundable and cannot be changed after the purchase has been made.

DSB orange tickets can only be bought online at DSB´s Online ticket shop. You find DSB´s online ticket shop at www.dsb.dk. Note the service is in Danish only. You have to print the Orange ticket yourself and a seat reservation is required. The seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. Adults travelling with an Orange ticket can take two children under the age of 12 with them free of charge, but you must remember to reserve seats for the children when you book the ticket. Children from age 12 to 15 years pay half price.

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”.

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.

Your health insurance card is a proof of the fact that you are covered by the Danish healthcare system. You will have to present your health insurance card in connection with all health care services, such as when you visit your GP or a hospital - including the accident and emergency department.

Your health insurance card is also often requested as a means of proof of your CPR number. You will be asked for your health insurance card by most public and many private service points as a means of identification of your CPR number. It is recommended that you always have your health insurance card with you.

Read more about how to get a CPR number under CPR Number.

Residents of Denmark are legally required to have a CPR number. You will also notice that your CPR number is your access number to a number of services in Denmark. You will need it to open a bank account, get a Danish phone number, borrow books at the library, take out insurance, etc.

Small towns may only have one or two local taxi operators, but in most cities you will find that many taxis belong to large companies. All taxis in Denmark are licensed by the authorities. They are equipped with meters and fares are regulated. Danish taxis are easily recognised by the green and yellow illuminated on their roof or in the windshield. The light indicates whether or not the taxi is free. If it is on it is available for service the light will be on. If the light is off, the taxi is occupied.

Many train and bus services correspond, and the internet journey planner, www.rejseplanen.dk, simplifies finding out which services that do so. Rejseplanen.dk (the Journey Planner) is based on data provided by all the bus and rail operators and most of the ferry services in Denmark – local as well as national.
 

When non-Danish citizens move to Denmark they are required to have a number of legal documents, such as application for EU registration certificate (For EU/EEA and Swiss citizens), getting a CPR number and health insurance card, and acquiring a Danish tax card. These are documents that are handled by different authorities, who are all located at different addresses.

The ICS is based on International Community's One Stop Shop service since 2009. The service was initiated to make the process of acquiring different legal documents easier for international workers and their families, when they arrive in the Aarhus area. At International Citizen Service internationals can meet with The State Administration of Central Jutland, Aarhus Municipality’s Citizens’ Services, and SKAT, at the same time, in the same office.

Most libraries in Denmark will require you to sign up as a user before you can make use of their services. To sign up you will need some form of photo-ID and your health insurance card as proof that you have a CPR number. Read more about the CPR number under CPR number.

Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for, and be issued with, a residence andawork permit to reside and work in Denmark. The forms you need to fill in to apply for a residence and work permit depends on your reason for moving to Denmark. It is your own responsibility to obtain a residence and a work permit. If you reside and work illegally in Denmark, you can be deported, fined or imprisoned.

Citizens from EU/EEA countries can reside and work in Denmark in accordance with the EU rules of free movement of services and people. You can read more about free movement within the EU ate the European Commission’s website.

EU/EEA citizens are exempt from the regulations concerning residence and work permits, but must instead apply for a Certificate of Registration, also referred to as a Registration Certificate. Read more about Certificate of Registration at the Danish State Administration’s website.

At ICS you can get assistance with:

• residence permit for non-EU citizens
• registration certificate for EU citizens (for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens)
• tax card
• social security number - CPR (residents of Aarhus Municipality only)
• health insurance card
• Danish driver’s licence
•  

At ICS you will also meet representatives of International Community who will help you deal with any other enquiries you may have.

• ICS cannot help you to obtain a CPR number and health insurance card if you do not live in Aarhus Municipality.
• To obtain a CPR number you must contact your own Municipality’s Citizens’ Services.
•  
• You will not get a CPR number or a health insurance card on the day of your visit to ICS. The service assistants from Aarhus Citizens’ Services will assist you with your application for a CPR number and a health insurance card. Your CPR number and your health insurance card will be sent to your Danish address within 1-2 weeks of submission of your application.

Non-EU/EEA citizens who intend to stay in Denmark for more than three months are required to register with the Danish Civil Registration System upon arrival.
Nordic citizens, citizens of EU and EEA countries and Switzerland are required to register with the Danish Civil Registration System and obtain a CPR number within six months of their arrival in Denmark.

Respectively, Residence and Work – non-EU/EEA Citizens, Residence and Work – Nordic Citizens and Residence and Work – EU/EEA and Swiss citizens provide information about the various types of citizenship.

To make your visit at ICS as efficient as possible, there are different documents you can fill out before you arrive. There are also a range of items you must remember to bring with you to ICS, depending on what you need assistance with. 

You may also find it helpful to read up on what legal documents you are required to have in order upon arrival in Denmark, before you go to ICS. By doing so, you are better prepared for the meeting, and you get to know what questions are relevant for you to ask, when you meet with the different authorities.

Remember to get an overview of all the documents and items you are required to bring. Below you will find a list of what you need to take with you.

Your Health Insurance Card proves that you are covered by the Danish National Health Insurance, and it identifies your CPR number. You must present your health insurance card to all health service points in Denmark.

You get a CPR number when you register with the Danish Civil Registration System at Citizens’ Services in the municipality you live. You find the contact information to Citizens’ Services under Contact Information.

In order to register and be issued with a CPR number you need to show up in person at Citizens’ Services in the Municipality in which you live. This also applies to accompanying spouses and/or children.

To obtain a CPR number you must have an address in Denmark. You must also present a variety of documents depending on your current civil status (see below). Please note that if your documents are not in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English or German, you should bring along a certified translation of them.

At Citizens’ Services you will be asked for:

• Your Danish residence and work permit (non-EU/EEA citizens), or certificate of registration (for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens). Nordic citizens must bring proof of their Nordic personal identification number, e.g. your passport. 
• Some form of photo id, e.g. your passport 
• If you are married, your marriage certificate or a certified copy of it.
• If you have children, your child/children’s birth certificate(s).
• If you are divorced, your divorce certificate.
• If you are a widow/widower, the death certificate of your husband/wife.

You will find a detailed step guide to where, when and how to apply for a CPR number under Step Guides.

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.

If you have any questions about CPR numbers contact Citizens’ Services in the municipality in which you live. You can find the address and phone number of your Municipal Citizens’ Services here. 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 meet service assistants from Citizens’ Services and get assistance acquiring a CPR number in International Citizen Service Aarhus, located at Nordhavnsgade 4, 8000 Aarhus C. For more information about the International Citizen Service Aarhus, go to International Citizen Service.

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

It is a good idea to get your CPR number immediately upon arrival if you intend to stay here for more than three months. You will need it to open a Danish bank account, get a Danish telephone number as well as to access many other services in Denmark.

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.

A DSB orange is a discount ticket. The price of a DSB Orange ticket varies and they are not available for all train departures. The number of tickets available for a given departure varies, so your chance of getting an orange ticket is greater, the sooner you book.

Orange tickets are only valid for the specified departure day and time and are not valid on bus or Metro services. Orange tickets can be bought two months prior to departure. They are non-refundable and cannot be changed after the purchase has been made.

DSB orange tickets can only be bought online at DSB´s Online ticket shop. You find DSB´s online ticket shop at www.dsb.dk. Note the service is in Danish only. You have to print the Orange ticket yourself and a seat reservation is required. The seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. Adults travelling with an Orange ticket can take two children under the age of 12 with them free of charge, but you must remember to reserve seats for the children when you book the ticket. Children from age 12 to 15 years pay half price.

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”.

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.

For people who are neither citizens of an EU country, EEA country, Switzerland nor a Nordic country the rules regarding residence and work for non EU/EEA citizens apply. You can find out what defines EU/EEA citizens under Residence and work permits – EU/EEA citizens, and Nordic Citizens under Residence and work permits – Nordic citizens.

Your health insurance card is a proof of the fact that you are covered by the Danish healthcare system. You will have to present your health insurance card in connection with all health care services, such as when you visit your GP or a hospital - including the accident and emergency department.

Your health insurance card is also often requested as a means of proof of your CPR number. You will be asked for your health insurance card by most public and many private service points as a means of identification of your CPR number. It is recommended that you always have your health insurance card with you.

Read more about how to get a CPR number under CPR Number.

Nordic citizens are citizens of the countries Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

EU is an abbreviation of European Union. An EU citizen is a citizen of a European Union member state. For a list of the EU member countries, visit the website EUROPA.

EEA stands for European Economic Area. Read more EEA at the European Commission’s website. Please note that if you are a citizen of a Nordic country which is also an EU or an EEA country, the rules for Nordic citizens normally apply.

As regards work and residence permits, Swiss citizens are covered by the same rules as EU and EEA citizens. Accordingly, the rules mentioned in relation to EU/EEA citizens below also apply to Swiss citizens.

Residents of Denmark are legally required to have a CPR number. You will also notice that your CPR number is your access number to a number of services in Denmark. You will need it to open a bank account, get a Danish phone number, borrow books at the library, take out insurance, etc.

Small towns may only have one or two local taxi operators, but in most cities you will find that many taxis belong to large companies. All taxis in Denmark are licensed by the authorities. They are equipped with meters and fares are regulated. Danish taxis are easily recognised by the green and yellow illuminated on their roof or in the windshield. The light indicates whether or not the taxi is free. If it is on it is available for service the light will be on. If the light is off, the taxi is occupied.

When non-Danish citizens move to Denmark they are required to have a number of legal documents, such as application for EU registration certificate (For EU/EEA and Swiss citizens), getting a CPR number and health insurance card, and acquiring a Danish tax card. These are documents that are handled by different authorities, who are all located at different addresses.

The ICS is based on International Community's One Stop Shop service since 2009. The service was initiated to make the process of acquiring different legal documents easier for international workers and their families, when they arrive in the Aarhus area. At International Citizen Service internationals can meet with The State Administration of Central Jutland, Aarhus Municipality’s Citizens’ Services, and SKAT, at the same time, in the same office.

If your driving licence was issued by a Nordic or EU/EEA country, you are not required to exchange your driving licence with a Danish equivalent. However, you should be aware of the fact that if you lose your original driving licence, it may be difficult to obtain documentary proof required to apply for a new driving licence from the country that issued your licence.

To obtain a Danish driving licence, go to Citizens’ Services, taking with you your current EU/EEA or Nordic driving licence, along with a passport photo - see examples of the format required and restrictions that apply regarding size, image quality, etc. at the Danish National Police’s website. A Danish driving licence costs DKK 260. It will be forwarded to your home address within 2 weeks.

If you present Citizens’ Services with a health certificate issued by your Danish doctor, your Danish driving licence can be made valid until age 70. If you do not present a health certificate, the expiry date on your foreign driving licence will be transferred to your Danish driving licence.

If possible, you should get your European health insurance card from your local authority before leaving for Denmark. This card is proof that you are entitled to health insurance in your home country. Above all, it gives you access to free medical care in Denmark until you have been issued a CPR number and a Health insurance card.

Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for, and be issued with, a residence andawork permit to reside and work in Denmark. The forms you need to fill in to apply for a residence and work permit depends on your reason for moving to Denmark. It is your own responsibility to obtain a residence and a work permit. If you reside and work illegally in Denmark, you can be deported, fined or imprisoned.

If you hold a driving license from a Nordic or an EU/EEA country you are allowed to drive in Denmark using your foreign licence. However, note that if you lose your driving licence you may have difficulty obtaining the necessary documentary proof from the authorities in the country that issued your driving licence. It is therefore a good idea to obtain a Danish driving licence. Read about the rules and how to obtain a Danish license under Driving licences.

CPR stands for Centrale Person Register, which translates as the Civil Registration System.

A CPR number is a personal identification number which, among other things, facilitates accurate linkage between all Danish national registers.

Your CPR number consists of ten digits. The first six digits are your date of birth, and the last four are your unique identification number. The last digit of your CPR number indicates your sex. If it is an odd digit you are male, and if it is an even digit you are female. For example, if your CPR number is 220550-6218, you were born on 22 May 1950 and you are female.

You can read more about the Civil Registration System at their website.

For more information on the Nordic countries’ joint labour market and for further information about the rules which apply when Nordic citizens move to another Nordic country visit www.hallonorden.org.

Many train and bus services correspond, and the internet journey planner, www.rejseplanen.dk, simplifies finding out which services that do so. Rejseplanen.dk (the Journey Planner) is based on data provided by all the bus and rail operators and most of the ferry services in Denmark – local as well as national.
 

At ICS you can get assistance with:

• residence permit for non-EU citizens
• registration certificate for EU citizens (for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens)
• tax card
• social security number - CPR (residents of Aarhus Municipality only)
• health insurance card
• Danish driver’s licence
•  

At ICS you will also meet representatives of International Community who will help you deal with any other enquiries you may have.

• ICS cannot help you to obtain a CPR number and health insurance card if you do not live in Aarhus Municipality.
• To obtain a CPR number you must contact your own Municipality’s Citizens’ Services.
•  
• You will not get a CPR number or a health insurance card on the day of your visit to ICS. The service assistants from Aarhus Citizens’ Services will assist you with your application for a CPR number and a health insurance card. Your CPR number and your health insurance card will be sent to your Danish address within 1-2 weeks of submission of your application.

A Certificate of Registration is a document which affirms that you have been registered as an EU citizen in Denmark and that you are permitted to reside and work here. Application for a Certificate of Registration is made using a form called “Application for EU residence document”. Read more about Certificate of Registration at the Danish State Administration’s website: www.statsforvaltning.dk.

A residence permit verifies that you are legally residing in Denmark, and a work permit verifies that you are permitted to work here.

If you have questions regarding rules on residence and work in Denmark for Nordic citizens contact Citizens’ Services in the Municipality in which you live.

To make your visit at ICS as efficient as possible, there are different documents you can fill out before you arrive. There are also a range of items you must remember to bring with you to ICS, depending on what you need assistance with. 

You may also find it helpful to read up on what legal documents you are required to have in order upon arrival in Denmark, before you go to ICS. By doing so, you are better prepared for the meeting, and you get to know what questions are relevant for you to ask, when you meet with the different authorities.

Remember to get an overview of all the documents and items you are required to bring. Below you will find a list of what you need to take with you.

In general, anyone from a non-EU/EEA country who wants to take up residence and employment in Denmark is required to have a residence and a work permit in order to do so.

Drivers with non-EU/EEA driving licences are required to apply to have their driving licence exchanged no later than 14 days after they are issued with a Danish CPR number.

Everyone intending to reside in Denmark for longer than three months is required to register with the Danish National Register. To register with the National Register, you need to prove that you are eligible to reside and work in Denmark. Your Certificate of Registration is this proof. You can read more about how to register with the national register under CPR number.

Note: If you are seeking employment during your stay, you may reside in Denmark without a Certificate of Registration for up to six months.

If you are an EU citizen and need to apply for a Certificate of Registration we suggest that you print out The Application of EU Residence Document and fill in what you can before you visit ICS. This will save time at ICS, as well as giving you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the process before your meeting with a representative of the State Administration for Central Jutland.

You must submit your application in person. This also applies to accompanying family members. When you go to ICS, take:

• Your passport
• A passport photo
• Documentation for the reason of your stay – you can find examples of which documentation this may be at the State Administration’s website.

Furthermore:

• If your child/children is/are moving with you to Denmark, the child/children must also appear in person when you submit your application. And you must present your child’s/children’s birth certificate(s) (the original or a certified copy) and a passport photo of each child.
• If you are bringing a child/children from a previous relationship with you to Denmark, you must present to the Regional State Administration a document which verifies that the other legal parent has given his/her permission for you to relocate the child/children to Denmark. You must also take with you a verified copy of a photo ID of the other legal parent. 

There is no simple answer to the question as to who is eligible for residence and work permits in Denmark. Non-EU/EEA citizens must submit an application for both a residence permit and a work permit. 

A number of schemes have been designed in order to make it easier for highly qualified professionals to get a residence and work permit in Denmark. You can find a list and explanation of the various schemes on the Danish Immigration Services’ website. 

If you want to bring your family (spouse/partner and children under the age of 18) with you, they must submit their own application. You can read more about the rules that apply for accompanying family members under “Family members” on the Danish Immigration Services’ website.

Citizens from EU and EEA countries can be issued with a Certificate of Registration if they:

• Are in a paid employment.
• Are self-employed.
• Provide services in Denmark.
• Are retired, self-employed or is a service provider.
• Have been seconded.
• Are studying at an educational institution accredited or financed by public authorities and is able to support themselves during their period of residence in Denmark.   
• Have sufficient disposable funds not to be a burden on the Danish public authorities.

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.

As a general rule, you must apply for, and be issued with, a residence permit and a work permit before moving to Denmark. The processing time varies, depending on whether all the required documentation and necessary correct information are provided.

The Immigration Service has defined customer service goals for maximum processing time for a number of case types. You can read more about the Immigration Service's service goals for maximum processing on their website.

If you want to know more about the processing process, you find more information under “Processing application” and “How do you receive the ruling? on the Immigration Service’s website.

If you have a job when you move to Denmark you should apply for a Certificate of Registration no later than three months after arriving in Denmark. If you are applying for jobs in Denmark you can stay here for up to six months before you obtain a Certificate of Registration.

If you expect to stay in Denmark for more than three months (or six months for job-seekers), you should apply for a Certificate of Registration immediately upon arrival. This is recommended because you can neither obtain a CPR number nor a tax card without a Certificate of Registration. Read more about the CPR number under CPR number.

Residence and work permit applications are submitted to the Danish Diplomatic Mission in your country of legal residence. You can find contact information of Danish missions abroad on the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website. When you have submitted your applications, the Danish diplomatic mission will forward the application to the Danish Immigration Service in Denmark, which is the legal authority that issues resident and work permits.

If you are already legally residing in Denmark on a resident permit or Visa, and need to renew your permit, you can submit your application at your local police station. The police will then forward your application to the Danish Immigration Service. You can also submit your application directly to the Danish Immigration Service at their service centre in Copenhagen.

Certificates of registration are issued by the regional state administrations (de regionale statsforvaltninger). To apply for a certificate of registration, you must contact your regional state administration. Read more about the regional state administrations at the State Administration’s website, www.statsforvaltning.dk.  

If you live in the Aarhus area or the Central Denmark Region, you must contact the State Administration for Central Jutland (Statsforvaltningen Midtjylland).

Which application form and documentation you will be required to submit when you apply depends on whether are applying for a residence and a work permit as an employee, a self-employed person, a job seeker, or as a spouse/partner, and/or if you are bringing with you children under the age of 18. You can read more about how to apply for residence and work permits, and download the relevant application forms on the Danish Immigration Services’ website.

To obtain a Certificate of Registration, you must submit an “Application for EU residence document” to the Regional State Administration. You can obtain the application form from the Regional State Administration’s office, or download it here.

You submit your application in person at the Regional State Administration. When you go, remember to take with you:  your passport, a passport photo/photos, and documentation for the reason for your stay – you can find examples of which documentation this may be at the State Administration’s website.

Furthermore,

• If your child/children is/are moving with you to Denmark, the child/children must also appear in person when you submit your application. And you must present your child’s/children’s birth certificate(s) (The original or a certified copy) and a passport photo of each child.
• If you are bringing child/children from a previous relationship with you to Denmark, you must present to the Regional State Administration a document which verifies that you are entitled to relocate them to Denmark.

The Regional State Administrations is responsible for handling EU/EEA citizens’ applications for an EU residence document. For more about the Regional State Administration and their work, visit the website: www.statsforvaltning.dk.

For questions regarding Certificate of Registration, call the Regional State Administrations’ EU residence office on +45 72 56 84 56.
The Central Jutland State Administration EU-residence office handles applications for Certificate of Registration for people resident in the Aarhus area and Central Jutland. The office is located at Lyseng Alle 1, 8270 Højbjerg.

You can also obtain assistance with, and submit your Application for EU Residence Document, at International Citizen Service Aarhus. Read more about International Citizen Service here.

The Danish Immigration Service is responsible for issuing residence and work permits for non-EU/EEA citizens. You can read about the Danish Immigration Service, their work, and which rules apply for residence and work permits on their website www.nyidanmark.dk.

The Danish Immigration Services
Ryesgade 53
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Telephone: +45 35 36 66 00
Telephone hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fax: +45 35 36 19 16
E-mail: us@us.dk

Note: The Danish Immigration Service has made a telephone guide that tells you what questions you can expect to get answered when you contact them.

If you want to contact the Danish mission in your country, you can find the relevant contact information at www.um.dk.

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.

A DSB orange is a discount ticket. The price of a DSB Orange ticket varies and they are not available for all train departures. The number of tickets available for a given departure varies, so your chance of getting an orange ticket is greater, the sooner you book.

Orange tickets are only valid for the specified departure day and time and are not valid on bus or Metro services. Orange tickets can be bought two months prior to departure. They are non-refundable and cannot be changed after the purchase has been made.

DSB orange tickets can only be bought online at DSB´s Online ticket shop. You find DSB´s online ticket shop at www.dsb.dk. Note the service is in Danish only. You have to print the Orange ticket yourself and a seat reservation is required. The seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. Adults travelling with an Orange ticket can take two children under the age of 12 with them free of charge, but you must remember to reserve seats for the children when you book the ticket. Children from age 12 to 15 years pay half price.

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”.

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.

Your health insurance card is a proof of the fact that you are covered by the Danish healthcare system. You will have to present your health insurance card in connection with all health care services, such as when you visit your GP or a hospital - including the accident and emergency department.

Your health insurance card is also often requested as a means of proof of your CPR number. You will be asked for your health insurance card by most public and many private service points as a means of identification of your CPR number. It is recommended that you always have your health insurance card with you.

Read more about how to get a CPR number under CPR Number.

Small towns may only have one or two local taxi operators, but in most cities you will find that many taxis belong to large companies. All taxis in Denmark are licensed by the authorities. They are equipped with meters and fares are regulated. Danish taxis are easily recognised by the green and yellow illuminated on their roof or in the windshield. The light indicates whether or not the taxi is free. If it is on it is available for service the light will be on. If the light is off, the taxi is occupied.

Many train and bus services correspond, and the internet journey planner, www.rejseplanen.dk, simplifies finding out which services that do so. Rejseplanen.dk (the Journey Planner) is based on data provided by all the bus and rail operators and most of the ferry services in Denmark – local as well as national.
 

When non-Danish citizens move to Denmark they are required to have a number of legal documents, such as application for EU registration certificate (For EU/EEA and Swiss citizens), getting a CPR number and health insurance card, and acquiring a Danish tax card. These are documents that are handled by different authorities, who are all located at different addresses.

The ICS is based on International Community's One Stop Shop service since 2009. The service was initiated to make the process of acquiring different legal documents easier for international workers and their families, when they arrive in the Aarhus area. At International Citizen Service internationals can meet with The State Administration of Central Jutland, Aarhus Municipality’s Citizens’ Services, and SKAT, at the same time, in the same office.

Most libraries in Denmark will require you to sign up as a user before you can make use of their services. To sign up you will need some form of photo-ID and your health insurance card as proof that you have a CPR number. Read more about the CPR number under CPR number.

Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for, and be issued with, a residence andawork permit to reside and work in Denmark. The forms you need to fill in to apply for a residence and work permit depends on your reason for moving to Denmark. It is your own responsibility to obtain a residence and a work permit. If you reside and work illegally in Denmark, you can be deported, fined or imprisoned.

CPR stands for Centrale Person Register, which translates as the Civil Registration System.

A CPR number is a personal identification number which, among other things, facilitates accurate linkage between all Danish national registers.

Your CPR number consists of ten digits. The first six digits are your date of birth, and the last four are your unique identification number. The last digit of your CPR number indicates your sex. If it is an odd digit you are male, and if it is an even digit you are female. For example, if your CPR number is 220550-6218, you were born on 22 May 1950 and you are female.

You can read more about the Civil Registration System at their website.

Citizens from EU/EEA countries can reside and work in Denmark in accordance with the EU rules of free movement of services and people. You can read more about free movement within the EU ate the European Commission’s website.

EU/EEA citizens are exempt from the regulations concerning residence and work permits, but must instead apply for a Certificate of Registration, also referred to as a Registration Certificate. Read more about Certificate of Registration at the Danish State Administration’s website.

At ICS you can get assistance with:

• residence permit for non-EU citizens
• registration certificate for EU citizens (for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens)
• tax card
• social security number - CPR (residents of Aarhus Municipality only)
• health insurance card
• Danish driver’s licence
•  

At ICS you will also meet representatives of International Community who will help you deal with any other enquiries you may have.

• ICS cannot help you to obtain a CPR number and health insurance card if you do not live in Aarhus Municipality.
• To obtain a CPR number you must contact your own Municipality’s Citizens’ Services.
•  
• You will not get a CPR number or a health insurance card on the day of your visit to ICS. The service assistants from Aarhus Citizens’ Services will assist you with your application for a CPR number and a health insurance card. Your CPR number and your health insurance card will be sent to your Danish address within 1-2 weeks of submission of your application.

Non-EU/EEA citizens who intend to stay in Denmark for more than three months are required to register with the Danish Civil Registration System upon arrival.
Nordic citizens, citizens of EU and EEA countries and Switzerland are required to register with the Danish Civil Registration System and obtain a CPR number within six months of their arrival in Denmark.

Respectively, Residence and Work – non-EU/EEA Citizens, Residence and Work – Nordic Citizens and Residence and Work – EU/EEA and Swiss citizens provide information about the various types of citizenship.

To make your visit at ICS as efficient as possible, there are different documents you can fill out before you arrive. There are also a range of items you must remember to bring with you to ICS, depending on what you need assistance with. 

You may also find it helpful to read up on what legal documents you are required to have in order upon arrival in Denmark, before you go to ICS. By doing so, you are better prepared for the meeting, and you get to know what questions are relevant for you to ask, when you meet with the different authorities.

Remember to get an overview of all the documents and items you are required to bring. Below you will find a list of what you need to take with you.

Your Health Insurance Card proves that you are covered by the Danish National Health Insurance, and it identifies your CPR number. You must present your health insurance card to all health service points in Denmark.

You get a CPR number when you register with the Danish Civil Registration System at Citizens’ Services in the municipality you live. You find the contact information to Citizens’ Services under Contact Information.

In order to register and be issued with a CPR number you need to show up in person at Citizens’ Services in the Municipality in which you live. This also applies to accompanying spouses and/or children.

To obtain a CPR number you must have an address in Denmark. You must also present a variety of documents depending on your current civil status (see below). Please note that if your documents are not in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English or German, you should bring along a certified translation of them.

At Citizens’ Services you will be asked for:

• Your Danish residence and work permit (non-EU/EEA citizens), or certificate of registration (for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens). Nordic citizens must bring proof of their Nordic personal identification number, e.g. your passport. 
• Some form of photo id, e.g. your passport 
• If you are married, your marriage certificate or a certified copy of it.
• If you have children, your child/children’s birth certificate(s).
• If you are divorced, your divorce certificate.
• If you are a widow/widower, the death certificate of your husband/wife.

You will find a detailed step guide to where, when and how to apply for a CPR number under Step Guides.

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.

If you have any questions about CPR numbers contact Citizens’ Services in the municipality in which you live. You can find the address and phone number of your Municipal Citizens’ Services here. 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 meet service assistants from Citizens’ Services and get assistance acquiring a CPR number in International Citizen Service Aarhus, located at Nordhavnsgade 4, 8000 Aarhus C. For more information about the International Citizen Service Aarhus, go to International Citizen Service.

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

It is a good idea to get your CPR number immediately upon arrival if you intend to stay here for more than three months. You will need it to open a Danish bank account, get a Danish telephone number as well as to access many other services in Denmark.

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.

A DSB orange is a discount ticket. The price of a DSB Orange ticket varies and they are not available for all train departures. The number of tickets available for a given departure varies, so your chance of getting an orange ticket is greater, the sooner you book.

Orange tickets are only valid for the specified departure day and time and are not valid on bus or Metro services. Orange tickets can be bought two months prior to departure. They are non-refundable and cannot be changed after the purchase has been made.

DSB orange tickets can only be bought online at DSB´s Online ticket shop. You find DSB´s online ticket shop at www.dsb.dk. Note the service is in Danish only. You have to print the Orange ticket yourself and a seat reservation is required. The seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. Adults travelling with an Orange ticket can take two children under the age of 12 with them free of charge, but you must remember to reserve seats for the children when you book the ticket. Children from age 12 to 15 years pay half price.

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”.

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.

Your health insurance card is a proof of the fact that you are covered by the Danish healthcare system. You will have to present your health insurance card in connection with all health care services, such as when you visit your GP or a hospital - including the accident and emergency department.

Your health insurance card is also often requested as a means of proof of your CPR number. You will be asked for your health insurance card by most public and many private service points as a means of identification of your CPR number. It is recommended that you always have your health insurance card with you.

Read more about how to get a CPR number under CPR Number.

Residents of Denmark are legally required to have a CPR number. You will also notice that your CPR number is your access number to a number of services in Denmark. You will need it to open a bank account, get a Danish phone number, borrow books at the library, take out insurance, etc.

Many train and bus services correspond, and the internet journey planner, www.rejseplanen.dk, simplifies finding out which services that do so. Rejseplanen.dk (the Journey Planner) is based on data provided by all the bus and rail operators and most of the ferry services in Denmark – local as well as national.
 

Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for, and be issued with, a residence andawork permit to reside and work in Denmark. The forms you need to fill in to apply for a residence and work permit depends on your reason for moving to Denmark. It is your own responsibility to obtain a residence and a work permit. If you reside and work illegally in Denmark, you can be deported, fined or imprisoned.

CPR stands for Centrale Person Register, which translates as the Civil Registration System.

A CPR number is a personal identification number which, among other things, facilitates accurate linkage between all Danish national registers.

Your CPR number consists of ten digits. The first six digits are your date of birth, and the last four are your unique identification number. The last digit of your CPR number indicates your sex. If it is an odd digit you are male, and if it is an even digit you are female. For example, if your CPR number is 220550-6218, you were born on 22 May 1950 and you are female.

You can read more about the Civil Registration System at their website.

Citizens from EU/EEA countries can reside and work in Denmark in accordance with the EU rules of free movement of services and people. You can read more about free movement within the EU ate the European Commission’s website.

EU/EEA citizens are exempt from the regulations concerning residence and work permits, but must instead apply for a Certificate of Registration, also referred to as a Registration Certificate. Read more about Certificate of Registration at the Danish State Administration’s website.

You can get a taxi by hailing one on the street or by requesting one by phone. There are taxi stands at all major transport nodes in Denmark, and you can always ask hotels and restaurants to call a taxi for you.

Many taxi companies operate different types of vehicles to accommodate customers' specific needs. "Ordinary" 4-seater sedans can accommodate four people and four medium-size suitcases. Station-car taxis can accommodate rather more luggage than a sedan. Many companies have larger cars or minibuses, which can carry more than four people, as well as taxis with wheelchair accessibility.

When you call for a taxi remember to inform the service assistant of the number of people travelling, where you want to be picked up, where you are going to, and whether you have a lot of luggage. Remember also to inform the taxi operator if you are travelling with children which require a special child seat. Some taxi operators will allow you travel with your dog in certain taxis, so remember to inform the taxi company if you have a dog with you. You should also inform the company if you need a taxi that you can access with wheelchair, or you are bringing a stroller. 

Many taxi service companies have an MSN service which lets you know when the taxi has arrived.

Some taxi companies enable frequent users to have a taxi turn out at a specific location on demand. If you are frequent user of taxis you should ask the taxi company if it offers such services.

All Danish taxis use meters and charge more or less the same basic fare per kilometre travelled. However, fares are higher in the afternoon, during the evenings and at night, as well as at weekends. Furthermore, if you order a taxi with more seats than an “ordinary” four-seat taxi the fare is likely to be higher. Also, some taxi companies will start on a higher fare if you call after a taxi by phone, instead of hailing one on the street. The taxi fares are non-negotiable.

Note that many companies charge extra for bicycles and prams/large strollers. Many companies also charge extra if the driver carries your luggage to the door.

In addition to cash, most taxis accept credit cards, but check with the driver as you enter the taxi. If you want to pay by credit card, many taxi companies request that you give your credit card to the driver when you enter the taxi. Your card will most likely be swiped two times; the first time to verify the card’s validity, the second time to make a withdrawal from your account.

Note that the taxi driver has the right to ensure that you as a passenger are able to pay the fare. If you request a receipt for the fare, the taxi driver will provide you one.

The fare includes a service charge, so you are not expected to tip. However, many taxi companies charge extra if the driver is asked to carry the luggage to the door.

You may come across so called black-market taxis in Denmark. A black-market taxi is basically a person driving a private car who offers to drive you to your destination for a certain sum of money. The car will not have a taxi light and the person driving the car will not have a licence to offer taxi services. Do not take a black-market taxi. Black-market taxis are illegal, and as a passenger you have no way of knowing who the driver is, or if he or she will drive you to your destination for the price you have agreed.

At www.gulesider.dk, you can search for a taxi services in your area by entering 'taxa' in the “Hvad/What” section, and where you are, or the postal code in the “Hvor/Where” section. 

You can also find a list of some of the taxi companies in Denmark listed on expats in Denmark’s website.

In Aarhus you can book a taxi from:

• Aarhus Taxa, www.aarhus-taxa.dk.  Phone number: (+45) 89 48 48 48.
• DanTaxi, Århus, www.dantaxi.dk. Phone number: (+45) 70 25 25 25.