Key information for moving to Denmark

1/ Residence permit
2/ Vehicle registration

Key information for obtaining insurance in Denmark

1/ Automobile insurance
2/ Home insurance
3/ Health insurance 

Your contact

For European citizens whose stay in Denmark is longer than three months (or six months if they are seeking employment), it is necessary to register with the Danish departmental authorities in order to obtain a residence permit.  This formality is an essential first step for further contacts with the Danish authorities (registering for social security, for example).

For this purpose you must apply for a residence permit at the government office (Statsforvaltning) in your place of residence, and bring with you the following documents:  your valid passport or identity card, two identity photos, a document attesting that you have adequate resources, an employment certificate if you are employed, a university registration certificate if you are a student and proof of relationship for the members of your family (marriage certificate for your spouse, birth certificate for the children).

You will then receive a civil registration number as well as a health insurance certificate, which will enable you to obtain health care in Denmark.

The procedure for vehicle registration must be carried out within 14 days after your arrival.
You must first take your vehicle for a technical control and obtain approval from the vehicle inspection service of the Transport Ministry (Færdselsstyrelsen).

You must then go to the registration section (Motorkontor) at the local Danish police station, or directly to the central registry of motor vehicles (Centralregister for Motorkøretøjer), bringing with you the above authorisation, the technical control certificate and a European conformity certificate (which you can obtain from the manufacturer of your vehicle).

After receiving your registration certificate, you must go to the nearest police station to register your vehicle.

Taxes to pay:

There is a registration fee for the registration procedure, which must be paid to the local customs and payments office.  The amount is calculated on the basis of the estimated value of your vehicle.  The final amount will then be calculated on the taxable value of your vehicle as established by an expert body (the normal price for which your vehicle could be sold in Denmark, plus the VAT).

You must also pay, to your dealer, a licence plate fee.

The VAT to be paid in Denmark for the purchase of a vehicle is 25%.  

Third party automobile liability insurance is compulsory in Denmark.

If you are the victim of an accident caused by a non-identified or non-insured vehicle, you should apply to the guarantee fund of the Danish international automobile insurance federation (DFIM: Dansk Forening for International Motorkøretøjsforsikring).

Multi-risk home insurance is compulsory for the owner of a residence.  Third party liability is covered by the family’s basic insurance and includes cover for personal effects.

A health insurance card will be given to you when you obtain your residence permit, which will enable you and family members to receive health care.

You will be covered from your first day in Denmark by the Danish public health insurance programme if you have an E104 form (attestation regarding total insurance, employment or residence periods).  If you do not have this form there will be a waiting period of six weeks (between the initiation of rights and the payment of claims) before you are covered by this programme.

For further information you can consult the web site of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation at www.workindenmark.dk.

For further information you can also contact the national office for social security and social assistance  (Direktoratet for Social Sikring og Bistand).