Step-by-step guide to starting life in Denmark 

Border commuters
 

A border commuter (referred to below as "you") is an EU/EEA citizen who:

• works in Denmark
• Retains his home address/residence in his home country
• Returns to his home country on a daily or weekly basis

Border commuters are not required to seek residence or work permits or EU Certificate of residence in Denmark. However, immediately after they have found employment in Denmark, they must visit the Citizen Service Centre (Borgerservice) in the municipality where the company employing them is located.
 
Border commuters can register at several Citizen Service (Borgerservice) Centres in Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality:
 
Servicecenter Ringkøbing
Ved Fjorden 6
6950 Ringkøbing
 
Contact:

Peter Bruun peter.bruun@rksk.dk Tel: +45 9974 1477
Edith Just Pedersen edith.pedersen@rksk.dk Tlf. +45 9974 1229

Hours of opening:

Step 1 – Taxation – Tax Card

 
When you are employed in Denmark, you must pay Danish income tax. You may also be liable to pay tax in your home country. SKAT issues tax cards and can give you advice and instructions concerning allowances and deductions, dual tax liability, etc.
 

In order to get a taxpayer's number (a CPR number for tax purposes only) and a tax card, complete the following: form. Send the form to:
 
Tax Centre (Skattecenter) Herning
Brændgårdvej 10
7400 Herning
 

Enclose copies of the following documentation:

• Proof of identity with photo
• Documentation for your marital status (e.g. marriage certificate) and children (birth certificates)
• Documentation for your address in your home country
• Last tax statement from your country of residence
• Contract of employment
• Bank details from your country of residence

If you have questions, contact SKAT on +45 72221818.
 
Telephone enquires:

SKAT has published a tax guide ”About tax- for people resident abroad and working in Denmark":

Danish: www.skat.dk – Borger – pjecer og vejledninger –P.NR 84
English: Translated information – English – P.NR 84 (GB)
German: Translated information – German – P.NR 84(G)
Polish: Translated information – Polish – P.NR 84 (PL)
Romanian:  Translated information – Romanian – P.NR 84(RO)
Lithuanian:  Translated information –Lithuanian – P.NR 84 (LT)
 

Step 2 – Citizen Service Centre (Borgerservice) – Civil Registration no. and Health Insurance card 

Border commuters do not receive a Danish CPR number. You are however eligible to receive a special Health Insurance card that entitles you to medical treatment in Denmark like anyone else in Denmark.

Requirements:

• You work at least 9 hours a week, 18 hours every two weeks or 39 hours each month in Denmark.
• You make ATP payments
• You do not work in your country of residence

If you work at a company located in Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality, you must obtain a special Health Insurance card from Service Centre Ringkøbing.
In addition to the Health Insurance card, Citizen Service Centre will issue you an E106 Certificate (certifying that you have Danish Health Insurance). You must submit the E106 to the public health insurance system in your home country.

Bring the following with you:

Contract of employment

Step 3 – Bank account 

You must have a Danish bank account in order to receive you salary.

If you wish to open a bank account, you must bring the following with you to the bank:

• Contract of employment
• Passport or proof of identity with photo
• Special CPR no. for tax purposes

Your employer may be able to recommend a local bank or branch.

Remember to inform the salaries department of your bank account number.

Read more at Bank

Language classes

When you are a border commuter, you may also have municipal Danish lessons. The municipality in which you are taxed is obliged to offer you Danish language classes. In Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality, you can contact the following person for details of classes, locations and times:

Rådgivningsenheden Ringkøbing-Skjern
Nygade 56
6900 Skjern

Contact: Solvejg Kristensen

Hours of opening:

As well as traditional classroom-based teaching, you can take internet-based Danish-language courses. More information about free online Danish classes in the Integration section at www.nyidanmark.dk. This may be ideal for learning a little Danish before you start work in this country.

Unemployment Insurance
 

Insurance Fund

Border commuters can choose to be insured against unemployment in their country of work (Denmark). If you become completely unemployed you will receive unemployment benefit from your country of residence. If you are underemployed or periodically unemployed, you will be eligible to receive unemployment benefit from the Danish Unemployment Insurance (A-kasse), provided that you are enrolled in a Danish A-kasse and entitled to benefit.

 
Your employer, a colleague or a EURES advisor will be able to help you find a relevant Danish Unemployment Insurance service (A-kasse).

If you wish to transfer your seniority from your home country to a Danish A-kasse, certain requirements must be met. You are advised to enrol in a Danish A-kasse as soon as possible. There is currently an 8-week deadline.
 

Read more at www.pendlerinfo.org, www.eures-kompas.eu (Germany-Denmark) and www.oresunddirekt.com (Sweden-Denmark).

Home contents, car and accident insurance

All workers are covered by mandatory employer insurance but it is important also to be covered by other personal third-party insurance. Ensure that you have adequate home/contents/accident/car insurance, etc.
 

Driving licence

You are not required to exchange your non-Danish driving licence for a Danish driving licence.

Foreign-registered vehicles
 
If you drive a car in Denmark that is registered in your home country, you may be required to pay an individually calculated vehicle registration fee in Denmark.

However, it is also possible to apply for exemption from this fee. Exemption is normally granted and may be granted for a period of up to one year, after which time you must apply again.
 

The application form is available in Danish and English: 21.059 (Danish) og 21.059E (English).

Send the completed application form to:
 

SKAT
Helgeshøj Allé 9
2630 Taastrup