Upon arrival

You will find some matters must be taken care of immediately after arriving in Denmark in order to get settled. All the following requirements apply when you are living and working in Denmark.

 

Registering for a CPR number and personal health insurance card

If you are staying in Denmark for more than three months, you must register with the local civil registration office (Folkeregistret or Borgerservice) within five days of your arrival in order to be granted a CPR number. According to Danish legislation, you are entitled to health care within the Danish health care system from the moment you register.

To register, visit the civil registration office at your local municipality. If you are living in Copenhagen, this would be International Citizen Service East. When registering, you will also be asked to choose a general practitioner.

You will need to take the following:
• Your valid passport
• Your residence and work permit documentation
• Marriage certificate, if applicable.
• Birth certificate for any accompanying children
• Letter of employment.

 

The International Citizen Service East

• At the International Citizen Service East, you will meet Work in Denmark, the Danish Immigration Service, the Danish Tax and Customers Administration and the Municipality of Copenhagen all at once. If you make use of the International Citizen Service East, you will benefit from being able to visit all four authorities on the same day and thus save much time.

 

• You will be able to submit your application for an EU registration certificate with the State Administration and have it processed while waiting.

 

•With your EU registration certificate (if you are an EU citizen) or with your residence and work permit (if you are a third-country national) you can visit the civil registration in order to obtain a CPR number. The civil registration will issue your CPR number at once.

 

• You can hereafter visit the Danish Tax and Customers Administration for assistance on how to obtain a tax card.

 

The address is: Nyropsgade 1, DK-1602 Copenhagen K. Opening hours: Wednesdays 1 pm-5pm and Thursdays 11am-3pm. Remember to bring the above-mentioned documents.

Within two or three weeks after registering with the civil registration office and receiving your CPR number, you will receive your personal health insurance card by mail. We recommend that you always carry the health insurance card with you. In Denmark, this card has many uses. Mainly, of course, in connection with health matters, but also e.g. when withdrawing books from public libraries.

 

Health care

If you are resident in Denmark, and thus registered with the civil registration office, you are entitled to a number of health care benefits from the Danish health care system. These include free-of-charge treatment provided by your general practitioner, specialists and all public hospitals. Remember to show your personal health insurance card.

 

Dental care

You can choose freely between all practicing dentists in Denmark, and are required to cover all dental expenses yourself. However, a minor state subsidy is deducted as part of the Danish public health care reimbursement scheme before you receive your dental invoice.

All children and young people between the ages of 0 and 18 are offered free dental care. Paediatric dentists are often associated with schools or high schools and send appointment reminders on a regular basis.

At www.nyidanmark.dk you will find a detailed description of the Danish health care system.

 

Tax cards

Regardless of the type of employment and length of your stay in Denmark, you must contact your local tax authorities to settle tax issues. This does not apply to researchers covered by the Special Tax Scheme for Researchers. When you present your case to the tax authorities, they will calculate your tax percentage and possible tax deductibles. Your local tax authorities will issue an e-tax card or a personal tax ID number to you, depending on the length of your stay and your country of residence. If you are residing in another country, e.g. if you are a cross-border commuter, you must contact Tax Center Copenhagen.

You will need to take the following:
• Letter of employment
• Photo ID
• Marriage certificate (if you are married, as this might influence your tax percentage)
• Residence certificate from your home country (if any, as this will influence your tax percentage)
• Residence and work permit.

 

Special tax conditions apply for researchers and key employees

If you are employed at the University of Copenhagen as a Postdoc, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor, you can choose a flat rate tax. You

have the possibility to pay a flat rate tax of 26% for a period of 60 months. An additional mandatory 8% labour market social contribution is added. In order to be covered by the flat rate tax of 26%, it is a requirement that you have not been tax liable to Denmark 10 years prior to your employment at the University of Copenhagen.

For detailed information on the 26% gross tax scheme, go to http://www.skat.dk/SKAT.aspx?oId=1826486.

In order to apply for the flat rate tax, you should follow these steps:
1. Register with the civil registration office and obtain a CPR number
2. Ask your head of department or the dean of your faculty to approve and sign a special form on behalf of LIFE.
3. You or the personnel administrator of your department must send the completed form to HR-LIFE for further processing
4. HR-LIFE will send your application to the tax authorities, which will confirm registration after a handling time of up to two months.

Read more about the Danish tax system at www.workindenmark.dk and www.skat.dk or at the ISM website.

 

Special tax conditions for cross-border commuters

Please be aware that special tax rules apply to cross-border commuters, e.g. if you live in Sweden or Germany and work in Denmark. Cross-border commuters are subject to limited tax liability in Denmark. You must choose whether you want limited tax liability or – if more than 75% of your income is earned in Denmark – opt for the special cross-border commuter tax scheme. Depending on which tax scheme you choose, various deductibles will apply, such as transport deductibles, personal relief deductibles, spouse deductibles, etc.

In order to settle your tax and receive your personal tax ID number, contact SkatOresund at Sluseholmen 8B, DK-2450 Copenhagen SV.

You will need to take the following:
• Your signed letter of employment from the University of Copenhagen
• Your national ID card (personbevis)
• Your passport.

For detailed information on the special tax conditions applying to cross-border commuters, visit SkatOresund’s website www.skat.dk or www.oresunddirekt.com.

 

Bank account

When you have received your CPR number, you will be able to open a Danish bank account. Simply choose a branch and bring your passport or other valid picture ID as well as your letter of employment. Ask your bank to set up a ‘Nemkonto’ for you. Unless you have a Danish bank account, the wages section will be unable to transfer your monthly salary.

 

Information for your personnel officer

Remember to e-mail your department the following:
• Your new address in Denmark
• Your CPR number or tax ID number
• Your Tax card/the completed form for applying for a flat tax rate (only if you are a Postdoc, Associate Professor or above)
• Your Danish bank account number

 

 

Taking out insurance

Insurance with private insurance companies

Although it is not mandatory, it is advisable to take out a house contents insurance covering theft or damage to personal belongings at your home. This insurance will also cover you if you cause injury to other people or other people’s belongings. You may also take out accident insurance with a private insurance company. These policies will provide you with private coverage.

 

Insurance at work

During work hours, you are covered by the work insurance (in Danish: arbejdsskadeforsikring) of the University.The University of Copenhagen will offer compensation if the university or a staff member commits an act of negligence that causes damage to you, but not if it is a matter of unforeseen contingency.

 

Travel insurance

For official travel in connection with your job, e.g. if you are attending a conference abroad, you will be covered by a special travel insurance agreement (in Danish: tjenesterejseforsikring) entered between the Danish State and Europæiske Rejseforsikring (a private travel insurance company). Please contact the personnel administrator at your department to obtain your travel insurance.

Travel insurance issued by the University of Copenhagen will only cover you while on official journeys. For private travel, you will need to take out a separate, private travel insurance policy yourself. Europæiske Rejseforsikring offers supplementary, private travel insurance with a 25% reduction for University of Copenhagen employees.

Thus, if you are on an official journey and in that connection have a private stay, you must take out a private travel insurance.

Additional private health insurance

As mentioned, seeing your general practitioner or going to hospital will be covered by the state if you show your personal health insurance card. In Denmark, you can also choose to take out additional private health insurance. Depending on the type, the private health insurance will cover visits to a private hospital or medical specialist or even reimburse you a part of your medical expenses. Private health insurance policies are taken out with private insurance companies or Sygesikringen Danmark. Fees vary depending on the insurance company.

 

Unemployment insurance

Unlike many other countries, you will only be covered by unemployment insurance if you have joined an unemployment insurance fund (in Danish: a-kasse). This is not mandatory. You can also ask your union representative at your faculty for advice.

An unemployment insurance is only relevant for you, if you are here on a permanent basis. Furthermore, in order to receive the unemployment insurance, you must fulfil certain requirements. You can read more on the website of your relevant unemployment insurance fund which will depend on your educational background.

 

 

Pension scheme

Academic staff members employed in accordance with the collective agreement of The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) are covered by a mandatory pension scheme. The University pays a total pension contribution equal to currently 17.1% of your pensionable salary. The pension contribution for PhD Fellows is currently 17.1% of 85% of the base salary. This will automatically be transferred to your pension fund by the end of each month.

 

Besides saving up for your old-age pension, you will also be covered by the built-in insurance schemes that cover you and in some cases your family in case of illness and disability or in case of death. By default, you will have a basic coverage, however, depending on your civil status it could be more beneficial for you to take advantage of your pension fund’s possibilities for flexible coverage. For further information, or to arrange a meeting with a personal pension fund advisor, you should contact your pension fund.

 

Your pension fund will depend on your educational background, and details of the relevant pension fund will appear on your letter of employment. The following pension funds are relevant for scientific staff at the University of Copenhagen:

• MP Pension – for MAs and MScs
• JØP – for lawyers and economists
• DIP or SIP – for engineers
• Lægernes Pensionskasse – for doctors
• PJD – for Agricultural Academics and Veterinary Surgeons
• Pharmadanmarks Pensionsordning – for pharmaceutical personnel
• Apotekervæsenets Pensionsordning.

 

Extension of residence and work permit

If you are a third-country national, and if your employment at the University has been extended, you must submit an application for extension of your current residence and work permit two months prior to your current permit’s termination date. It is important that you respect this deadline, as you will otherwise have to leave Denmark and apply for a new residence and work permit from abroad, just as when you entered Denmark initially.

The personnel administrator at your department will help you fill in the form to be submitted to the Danish Immigration Service for further processing. You will find that you must pay a fee to the Danish Immigration Service when submitting your application.

 

Extension of work permit for PhD Fellows

As a PhD Fellow you will find, that your current residence and work permit will expire on your last day of employment, which is before your dissertation has been assessed and before you have given your dissertation defence, as your residence and work permit is given on the grounds of a period of salaried employment. Make sure to submit your application for extension of your residence permit to the Danish Immigration Service two months prior to your last day of employment. You will then be granted an additional four months of residence permit. You can thus stay in Denmark during the dissertation assessment period and for your dissertation defence. The additional four months is conditioned on you being self-supporting for the entire period, and you must submit proof to the Danish Immigration Service that you have submitted your dissertation.

 

The personnel administrator at your department will help you fill in the form to be submitted to the Danish Immigration Service for further processing. You will find that you must pay a fee to the Danish Immigration Service when submitting your application.

 

Trade unions

Trade unions may assist you with cases regarding your pay and working conditions, personal consultancy and career planning as well as work-related injury cases, rehabilitation, etc. Some trade unions even offer special discounts on insurance schemes, shopping and much more. The trade union you can join depends on your academic background and position. Participation in a trade union is not mandatory. Fees vary from union to union. Your relevant trade union representative will be informed when you commence employment at the University of Copenhagen.

 

Holidays

Holiday regulations

All employees of the University of Copenhagen are entitled to five weeks of holiday per year. You will have an additional five days of special holidays. Paid holidays are earned in accordance with the Danish Holiday Act, and are earned in any calendar year to be used in the following holiday year. Please note that the holiday year is different from the calendar year, and runs from 1 May to 30 April.

As a full-time employee, you will automatically earn 2.08 paid holidays and an additional 0.42 vacation day per month. If you have been employed by the University of Copenhagen for an entire calendar year, you will thus have 25 days of paid vacation and five days of special holidays to be used in the coming holiday year. You may access the balance of your paid vacation days from the KUnet.

As a new employee of the University of Copenhagen, you will not have earned the right to paid vacation. You are still entitled to five weeks’ vacation, though your vacation days will be unpaid and will be deducted from your monthly salary. If you have been employed in Denmark in the previous calendar year, you must use the earned vacation from your previous employer. For more information, go to employee guide on the KUnet.

Read more about holiday rules at KU-LIFE in the staff manual.

 

 

Learning Danish

The Centre for Internationalisation and Parallel Language Use (CIP) of the University of Copenhagen offers a range of Danish courses for international researchers who wish to learn Danish or improve their Danish language skills. Apart from a minor administration fee, the Danish CIP courses are free of charge for international researchers at the University of Copenhagen.

The courses fall into two categories:
State-funded elementary and intermediate Danish courses offered in cooperation with the language school Studieskolen. These courses are arranged at the faculties close to the participants’ workplace. The courses are organised in accordance with the Act on Danish Education for Adult Foreigners, and you can choose between three levels: Elementary Danish (Module 1 and Module 2) and Intermediate Danish (Module 3).

Academic Danish courses at various levels focus on the acquisition of Danish academic language and are suitable for international employees wishing to enhance their academic and formal Danish, written and/or spoken, for use in a university setting. Depending on your level and skills, you can choose between 1) Academic Danish – Advanced Level and 2) Improve Your Danish Writing Skills.

In addition, CIP offers other forms of language skills development such as one-on-one language training and a range of English courses for academic staff. See the CIP course catalogue.

If you wish to participate in less extensive courses, you should contact Studieskolen. The Danish courses at Studieskolen are open to all foreigners in Copenhagen and surrounding areas. The courses are free of charge except for a small administration fee.

You can also learn some Danish online. The Danish Immigration Service has launched this initiative on http://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/Integration/online_danish/online_danish.htm.

 

Maternity/paternity leave

As the mother, you are entitled to six weeks of pregnancy leave with full pay prior to the expected delivery date. Following this, you are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave with full pay of which the two first weeks are mandatory.

 

As the father, you are entitled to two consecutive weeks of paternity leave with full pay within the first 14 weeks after the birth of your child. Further, you are entitled to 32 weeks of parental leave of which the 12 weeks are with full pay, and the remaining period will be with unemployment benefits from your municipality.

 

In total, however, the period of unemployment benefits during the parental leave period for both parents are 32 weeks.

 

There are several possibilities on how to use the parental leave; you can extend your leave, defer your leave for later use or resume work part-time during your leave and thus extend your period of parental leave correspondingly. This should be agreed upon between you and your department.

 

Read more about Maternity/paternity leave rules at KU-LIFE in the staff manual.

 

 

Child care and schools

In Denmark, most children are enrolled in a day care programme before they start primary school. A wide range of day care programmes are available. Some are public and heavily subsidised by public funds while others are private without financial support from municipalities.

 

To enrol your child, contact your local municipality and ask for "Pladsanvisningen". You should be aware that there might be waiting lists for day care programmes, and you are therefore advised to contact the administration at Pladsanvisningen as soon as possible.

For more information about the child care system in Denmark, go to: http://www.workindenmark.dk , and if you are a resident of Copenhagen you may also find useful information on the municipality website.

 

Nurseries and kindergartens

Nurseries care for children from six months to three years of age. Staff members are specially trained to look after the needs of your child, and your child will be part of a large group of children. If you prefer to have your child looked after in a private home with a small group of children you can choose day care instead.

Kindergartens care for children from the age of two years and ten months until the day the child is ready to start school.

 

Schools

In Denmark, all children are entitled to free education at a state school. It is compulsory for children to attend school from the age of six. The first year, kindergarten class, is followed by nine years of schooling, which may be supplemented by an optional tenth year.

You can choose between:
• Enrolling your child in a state school
• Enrolling your child in a private, international school
• Teaching your child at home. The local municipality carries out supervision if you choose to teach your child at home.

Following primary school, which is completed at the age of 16 or 17, nearly all Danish students proceed to some form of upper secondary education.

At http://www.workindenmark.dk, you can find further information on primary schools, upper secondary schools and international schools in Copenhagen and the immediate vicinity.

 

After-school care

You may also choose to enrol your child in an after-school centre. The after-school centres and same-site after-school centres are professionally staffed optional child care facilities for children attending kindergarten class and first, second and third years. Same-site after-school centres are located on the school premises, whereas other after-school centres are located elsewhere.

 

Children are normally enrolled at an after-school centre when they are enrolled at the local school.

 

Motor vehicles

If you bring a vehicle to Denmark, the vehicle must be registered with Danish licence plates within 14 days of arrival, and you must pay registration tax. You must also take out liability insurance before you can register a motor vehicle in Denmark. Please contact an insurance company for further information.

Before you can register your vehicle for Danish licence plates, an ordinary technical inspection and a customs inspection must be performed by a vehicle inspection authority to determine the identity, the number of kilometres on the clock, features and general condition and value of the vehicle.

When your vehicle has passed the inspection, you must visit your nearest tax authorities, details of which can be found at www.skat.dk.

You will need to take the following:

• Vehicle inspection form and the customs inspection form issued by the vehicle inspection authority
• Foreign registration certificate
• Receipt, if any, for payment of customs duty (when bringing vehicles from non-EU countries)
• Cash to pay the registration tax
• Registration form (form no. 21.016), available at www.skat.dk under Borger– Blanketter.

SKAT will then calculate the registration tax based on the vehicle's market price including registration tax if sold to a person in Denmark. This price will be compared with the vehicle's original cost and loss in value. When you have paid the registration tax, the licence plate helpdesk at the tax authorities will issue Danish licence plates to you.
Further details are available at: www.skat.dk

 

Exchange of driving licence

If your driving licence has been issued in an EU country or in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you will not need to exchange it for a Danish driving license. Driving licences issued by other countries than those mentioned above must be exchanged for a Danish driving licence at the local municipal citizen service centre within 14 days after permanent residence is established in Denmark.
You will need to take the following:
• National driving licence
• Doctor's certificate
• A valid passport
• A valid residence permit
• Passport photo
• Cash to pay for the exchange
• A translation of your national driving licence if the letters on the licence are not from the Latin/Roman alphabet.

 

A driving test is mandatory unless you are a citizen of the Australian Capitol Territory,

Japan, The Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Russia or Switzerland.

For further information, contact the local police authorities or visit www.workindenmark.dk.

 

Transport

Public transport is quite extensive in Denmark and generally functions well. The public transport system in the Copenhagen area is covered by a one-ticket system valid for the Metro, S-train and buses. More information on public transport, timetables and fares 

 

Maps and route planners

On www.dgs.dk you can look up addresses and find maps, route planners and route descriptions for walking, cycling and driving.

The website www.rejseplanen.dk is a travel planner that suggests the easiest way to get from one place to another by public transport.

 

Cycling

Cycling is a common means of transport in Denmark. Many streets have cycle paths and you can take your bike with you free of charge on all S-trains in the greater Copenhagen area. Advice on safe biking

 

Events and networks at the University of Copenhagen

ISM would like to invite you to join our many networks and events for you and your international research colleagues. Just send an e-mail to  to sign up, and we will be glad to welcome you.

 

ISM Network

Every month, the ISM Network arranges two or three events or meetings. Some are purely social occasions that you may attend with your family, such as our yearly Christmas party or trip to the cinema together, while others relate to important factual matters about living and working in Denmark, such as how to settle your taxes or apply for research grants. We can also arrange courses for you, such as our Danish Living Crash Course. During our meetings, you will have the chance to meet fellow international researchers, and will be welcome to put questions to the ISM staff about your employment conditions.

 

Spouse Network

If you are the spouse of an international researcher of the University of Copenhagen, we encourage you to join our ISM Spouse Network.

The Spouse Network is formed by all Danish universities, and on a regular basis invites all spouses to networking gatherings such as events where guest speakers give talks, special job-seeking courses and popular guided tours in Copenhagen and surrounding areas. Come along and make friends, have a chat and exchange experiences about living in Denmark. Our meetings are cosy and informal. Ideas for future events are always welcome.

 

International Mentor Network

Twice a year, ISM facilitates an International Mentor Network kick-off meeting for all volunteer mentors and mentees. The network spans employees from across the university. The mentors are Danish employees while the mentees are researchers from abroad. In our experience, mentors and mentees regard this network as an excellent opportunity to get together in a truly international environment, and they enjoy the professional as well as social aspects of the initiative. At the request of members, ISM arranges get-together dinners to which all mentor network members are invited. Your spouse and children are also very welcome. These events have been very popular with both mentors and mentees, and we hope you will also join us.

 

Working at the University of Copenhagen

As it is a large workplace, the University of Copenhagen is very diverse. Yet some aspects remain the same no matter where you work at the university. The following advice is based on some of the comments generally received from international researchers. You might say it is an unwritten code of conduct for the university as a workplace.

• You are expected to perform your tasks with a great deal of independence
• Be on time and make sure you keep your informal agreements. If you have previously agreed to attend a meeting but can no longer participate, you are expected to let the relevant party know so that he/she can take this into account as early as possible
• Being cooperative and sharing knowledge with your colleagues are highly valued qualities
• You will generally be expected to participate actively and contribute during meetings by stating your opinion
• In many ways, the University of Copenhagen is an informal workplace where everybody is expected to help out even with small tasks, e.g. if you take the last cup of coffee, you are expected to make a new pot
• The hierarchy and decision-making process at the University are relatively flat and easy for employees to influence. Former employees have stressed that the informality of the Danish work culture makes them feel that they are a valued part of the University and not just "an extra pair of hands". However, this should not be mistaken for weak management, and your boss is still your boss – not your friend
• And finally – this goes without saying – discrimination based on gender, religion, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. is not accepted.