Newly arrived international staff at AU

When you arrive to Denmark, there are a number of things you need to do to get settled. Below you can read more about the steps to go through during your first weeks and months in Denmark. 


Arrival 1-4 weeks

Step 1: Register for CPR number and MitID

When you arrive in Denmark and will be staying for more than 90 days you need to register with the Citizen Service to get a Civil Registration Number (CPR number) and MitID. You use a Danish CPR number when you deal with the public authorities, health authorities, libraries, banks, etc. By many it is called your key to living in Denmark. When you register for your CPR number, you will also be assigned a general practitioner (GP).

MitID is a common secure login on the internet to use for online banking, to change your address with the public authorities or to engage with one of the many businesses that use MitID. It is mandatory for all citizens in Denmark to have a MitID.

The steps to take to register for your CPR number and MitID depend on your nationality. Visit our registration page and choose your nationality to learn more. 

See our registration page

Step 2: Register with the Danish Tax Agency

Most people who work/ or live in Denmark are required to pay tax in Denmark and to register with the Danish Tax Agency. As an international /non-Danish researcher, you have different tax schemes and guidelines to choose between according to your status.

Read more about tax registration and tax card

Step 3: Open a bank account

When you have your Civil Registration Number (CPR number) and yellow health insurance card, you can open a Danish bank account. 

Read more about how to open a bank account

Step 4: Log on to Digital Post

When you have your Civil Registration Number (CPR number) and MitID, you can log on to your Digital Post. 

Digital Post is a platform that gives you access to mail from the public authorities. You will automatically be registered for Digital Post when you register with the Citizen Service for your Civil Registration Number (CPR number). 

It is important that you check your Digital Post not to miss important mail from the public authorities. The mail you receive in Digital Post may be letters from the hospital, pension statements, changes to housing benefits, replies to applications for childcare, letters from the Danish Tax and Customs Administration, etc.

Visit the Lifeindenmark website to read more about Digital Post

Step 5: Register your car

If you take up residence in Denmark and bring a vehicle, you are required by law to register your foreign registered vehicle within 30 days of arrival and pay a registration tax. The expenses in relation to bringing your car to Denmark are considerable, and for this reason many choose not to bring their car with them to Denmark.

Can I drive in Denmark without registering my car?

If you are staying in Denmark for a limited period of up to 185 days, you may drive a foreign registered vehicle during your stay in Denmark without paying the registration tax. 

If your stay exceeds 185 days, but you are on a fixed-term assignment in Denmark, you may pay a portion of the normal vehicle registration tax on a quarterly basis.

Read more about foreign vehicles and how to register your car on The Danish Motor Vehicle Agency page

Liability insurance

If you own a motor vehicle in Denmark, you are required by law to take out liability insurance on the vehicle. Read more about liability insurance for motor vehicles in the insurance guide Insurance and pension for everyday needs.

Within 8 weeks

Step 6: Take out unemployment insurance (optional)

In Denmark, insurance against unemployment is voluntary. If you want to be insured against unemployment, you must apply for admission into an unemployment insurance fund (a-kasse).

However, please read the following guide before you sign up with an a-kasse. Especially non-EU citizens may have difficulty to use the unemployment insurance system, since you may not be eligible for unemployment benefits.

Read more about unemployment insurance

Within 180 days

Step 7: Exchange driving licence (for non-EU/EEA driver's licences only)

Driving licences issued in a non-EU/EEA country

When you relocate to Denmark with a non-EU/EEA driving licence, you may be required to exchange it for a Danish driving licence within 180 days of arriving in Denmark. You may also need to complete a driving test (a theoretical and practical test) prior to the exchange. It depends on where your driving licence was issued whether you need to change your licence or not.

Where and how to exchange your driving licence

You can obtain a Danish driving licence at your local Citizen Service (Borgerservice). 

You must bring along your current driving licence holding the date of issue of the driving licence. If the date of issue of your driving licence does not appear on the driving licence, you must bring a confirmation from the country in which the licence was issued. The confirmation must state when your first driving licence was issued.

If your current driving licence is not in the Latin alphabet, you must present a certified translation of the licence. If you have any questions, or need to find a certified translator, contact your local Citizen Service for help.

For more details on the process of exchanging your licence, see Lifeindenmark.dk or Færdselsstyrelsen.

Driving licences issued in an EU/EEA country

You do not need to convert a driving licence issued in an EU country, Iceland, Lichtenstein or Norway. 

No deadline

Step 9: Take out private insurance

When you have a Civil Registration Number (CPR number), you can take out Danish private insurance. While most vital services are covered by the public healthcare system in Denmark, most Danes also take out private liability, home contents, accident, and travel insurance. In addition to these, it is mandatory by law to have third party insurance if you own a car. 

Read more about insurance

Step 10: Learn Danish

When you have a Civil Registration Number (CPR number), you can sign up to learn Danish through the state supported Danish education. The education is both for you and your accompanying partner and takes place either at the language school or at an AU location. 

Read more about the Danish Education

Step 11: Choose dentist

In Denmark, there is a partial charge for dental care. You must pay for check-ups and treatments, but part of the bill is government funded. This amount will be automatically deducted from your bill. You are free to choose any dentist. Children and young people below 18 years of age get free dental treatment.

Read more about dental care on Borger.dk (in Danish)

If children

Step 12: Sign up children for childcare and school

Childcare

Most children under the age of six are looked after by a childminder or a nursery from Monday to Friday. It is the task of the municipal authorities to provide day care facilities, and the options vary from municipality to municipality. It is your job to contact the municipal authorities to book a daycare spot for your child. To sign up for childcare you need a Civil Registration Number (CPR number) for your child and an address in Denmark. 

Read more about childcare

Primary and lower secondary education

In Denmark, education is mandatory for children aged 6-16. Education is free at state or public schools (Folkeskole). It is also possible for your child to attend private schools (including international schools), which cost a monthly fee. Children begin school in August the year they turn six years old. You must digitally enrol your child as a student at a municipal primary and lower secondary school. 

Read more about enrolment to start school on Lifeindenmark.dk