Denmark relocation essentials
The practical things every newcomer needs: emergency numbers, digital identity, health care, driving licence, pets, Danish lessons, work and family benefits, checked against official Danish sources.
Updated 30 October 2026
Emergency numbers
Save these numbers on your phone the day you arrive.
Medical helplines (when it is not life-threatening)
- Capital Region (Region Hovedstaden)1813
- Region Zealand (Region Sjælland)1818
- Region of Southern Denmark+45 70 11 07 07
- Central Denmark Region+45 70 11 31 31
- North Denmark Region+45 70 15 03 00
MitID, Digital Post and NemKonto
- MitID is your digital ID. Get it in the MitID app by scanning the chip in your passport or ID card, or at Borgerservice with your ID. You need a CPR number for most services.
- Digital Post is mandatory from the age of 15 for everyone who lives in Denmark. Letters from authorities arrive there, and you read them with MitID.
- NemKonto is the bank account where public authorities pay money to you. You choose one of your existing accounts through your bank or MitID self-service; it is free and needs a CPR number.
Health care
- You are covered by Danish public health insurance from the day you are registered in the CPR register.
- Your yellow health insurance card (sundhedskort) arrives by post in about 2 to 3 weeks. It shows your general practitioner (GP), who you choose when you register.
- Call 112 in an emergency. When it is not life-threatening and your GP is closed, call the medical helpline of your region (see above).
Driving licence
- A driving licence from an EU or EEA country never needs to be exchanged.
- A licence from outside the EU and EEA can be used for 180 days after you take up residence in Denmark. After that you need a Danish licence; whether you can exchange it or must pass a test depends on the country that issued it.
Bringing pets
- Dogs, cats and ferrets travelling within the EU need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport.
- Denmark bans 13 dog breeds and crosses with them under the Dog Act (hundeloven). Check the list from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration before you move.
- Rules for pets from outside the EU are different. Check them with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration in good time.
Danish lessons
- Adult newcomers are offered Danish education through their municipality.
- If you support yourself, for example as an employee or a student, you pay a deposit of DKK 2,000.
- The offer runs for 5 years, so plan your classes around work and family.
Work and unemployment insurance
- Unemployment benefits (dagpenge) come from an unemployment insurance fund (a-kasse), not from the state directly.
- To receive them you must have been a member for at least 1 year and meet an income requirement (DKK 286,632 in 2026).
Family benefits
- Child benefit (børne- og ungeydelse) is paid by Udbetaling Danmark.
- Full child benefit requires that you have lived or worked in Denmark for 6 of the last 10 years (the earning principle).
Housing
- Public (almene) housing is let through housing associations with waiting lists; borger.dk points to DanmarkBolig.dk to find them.
- Renters can apply for housing benefit (boligstøtte) from Udbetaling Danmark.
- Renting, buying and letting out property: see our Property page.
More guides for newcomers
Cities in Denmark
Population, universities, airports, transport and International House offices in the 20 largest municipalities.
International schools in Denmark
IB, Cambridge and European curricula, with addresses, admissions and published fees.
CPR number
Who needs one, when to register, where to go, what to bring and what comes next.
Want one plan for all of it?
We line up registration, MitID, bank, doctor, school and housing in the right order, and follow every step in the client portal.
Official sources
Emergencies and health
Driving and pets
Language, work and family