Basis for residence in Denmark
Depending on the type of job and your country of origin, different rules apply.
Different rules apply whether you are a Nordic citizen, a EU/EAA citizen or a citizen from outside Scandinavia, the EU/EAA and Switzerland.
Work permit
Depending on the type of job and your country of origin, different rules apply
If you are a citizen of Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden, you do not need to apply for a registration certificate because as a citizen of a Nordic country you have the right to reside in Denmark without permission. As a Nordic citizen, you are free to reside, study and work in Denmark.
Nordic nationals may enter Denmark without a passport, but you must always be able to identify yourself by means of, for example, a driving licence, a passport or a cash card.
The video
below is a guide to you as a citizen from Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden on
which steps you need to follow if you are staying in Denmark for more than 3
months.
More information for Nordic citizens:
As an EU citizen you may freely enter Denmark and remain in this country for up to 3 months without an EU residence document (registration certificate).
If you are a job seeker, you may reside in Denmark for up to 6 months without a registration certificate. The periods of 3 and 6 months are calculated from the date of entry.
If you expect that your stay in Denmark will last more than 3 months, you have to apply for an EU residence document (registration certificate) before the expiry of the 3 months. Job seekers are required to submit their application within 6 months after entry.
How to apply for an EU residence document
Read more about EU residence document at the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).
An EU residence document is your proof that as an EU citizen – or as a family member of an EU citizen – you have a right to reside in Denmark. You can also apply for EU residence document at International Citizen Service.
You must make a personal appearance and hand over the application.
When you have received your registration certificate, you may contact the Citizen Service in your municipality of residence in order to get a civil registration number (CPR number) and a health insurance card. Thus you first need a registration certificate in order to get a civil registration number (CPR number).
If you are a citizen of Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden, you need not apply for a registration certificate because as a citizen of a Nordic country you have a right to reside in Denmark without permission.
You can get help at one of the International Citizen Service centres:
The video below is a guide to you as a citizen from the EU, Lichtenstein or Switzerland or as a family member to an EU citizen, on the registrations you must attend to when taking up residence in Denmark for more than 3 months.
For more information about residence as an EU/EEA citizen:
There are a great many things to take care of when you arrive in Denmark as a foreign employee.
You can get help at one of the International Citizen Service centres (ICS). All the public authorities you typically need to contact are represented at these International Citizen Service centres. If you live far away from the ICS centres, you will probably have to contact your local municipality.
The ICS centres make the contact to Danish authorities as easy as possible.
In most cases, you will only need to visit an ICS centre in order to take care of your paperwork with regard to residence permit, registration certificate, tax card, civil registration number (CPR), health insurance card etc.
You can also get help at International House Copenhagen:
Video guides
Click the red + (plus) icons to find video guides on steps to follow when staying in Denmark.