Starting work in Denmark: Your checklist
Are you starting work in Denmark? This checklist will help you prepare for your new job, from getting a CPR number and arranging your tax to healthcare, banking and pension.
Practical steps before your first day
Before you start your new job, there are a few practical steps to complete. Use the checklist below to make sure you have covered the essentials.
If you are a Nordic citizen, you can live and work freely in Denmark without a work permit.
If you are an EU or EEA citizen, you can stay in Denmark for up to 3 months without applying for an EU registration certificate.
If you have a residence permit in Sweden and work in Sweden, you do not need to register in Denmark.
If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU or EEA, different rules apply. Whether you need a residence permit and work permit depends on your individual circumstances.
Your employer must inform you about your terms of employment, including working hours, start date, holiday entitlement and notice periods.
If your workplace is covered by a collective agreement, your employer must also tell you which agreement applies.
Many employees in Denmark are covered by the Danish Salaried Employees Act, Funktionærloven. The Act sets out minimum rights relating to, for example:
- notice periods
- sick leave
- parental leave
- non-compete and customer clauses
Ask your employer whether your employment is covered by Funktionærloven. If your employment is not covered by either a collective agreement or Funktionærloven, your employment contract should clearly state your terms and conditions. Make sure you understand the contract before signing it.
Many workplaces also offer additional benefits, such as:
- additional paid leave beyond the statutory holiday entitlement, feriefridage
- care days for parents, omsorgsdage
These benefits are not required by law and vary between workplaces. Ask your employer what applies in your case.
If you work in Denmark, you must apply for the Danish personal identification or tax number that applies to your situation.
If you live in Sweden and commute to work in Denmark, you normally apply through The Danish Tax Agency, Skattestyrelsen.
Apply for a Danish tax card and personal tax number on skat.dk
If you live in Denmark, you can apply for a CPR number online through International House Copenhagen if you have:
- an EU registration certificate, or
- a residence permit if you are a non-EU citizen
Apply for a CPR number at International House Copenhagen
If your employer asks for your CPR number before issuing your employment contract, explain that you need an employment contract before you can apply for a CPR number.
Your employer can issue a preliminary employment contract without your CPR number. You can use this contract when applying to Skattestyrelsen. Once you have received your CPR number, your employer can issue your final employment contract.
If you live in Sweden and work in Denmark, you should join a Danish unemployment insurance fund, a-kasse, from your first day of work. This applies whether you work full-time or part-time.
Each Danish unemployment insurance fund has advisers who specialise in cross-border workers and can help you with your situation.
If you are insured in the wrong country, you may not be covered by unemployment insurance.
If you want to join a trade union, you should also choose a Danish one. A Swedish trade union cannot represent you in matters relating to the Danish labour market.
If you have income insurance in Sweden through your trade union or a private provider, check whether you can keep your cover after you start working in Denmark.
When you start working in Denmark, you are normally covered by the Danish healthcare system.
If you live in Sweden and work in Denmark, you need a special health insurance card, særligt sundhedskort, to access healthcare in Denmark. The card contains your Danish CPR number and gives you access to Danish healthcare on the same terms as people living in Denmark.
Who can get a special health insurance card?
You can apply for a special health insurance card free of charge if you live outside Denmark but are covered by Danish social security.
How to apply
Apply online at lifeindenmark.dk.
Depending on your situation, you may need to upload:
- your 3 most recent payslips showing your Danish CPR number
- your employment contract
If you live in Sweden and work in Denmark, you are still entitled to Swedish dental care. To receive treatment in Sweden, you must request a certificate from The Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Försäkringskassan.
Apply for a special health insurance card at lifeindenmark.dk
When you start working in Denmark, you need a Danish bank account to receive your salary.
Open your account as soon as you have received your CPR number, as it may take some time before your employer can register your account for salary payments.
You also need a public payments account, NemKonto, so Danish public authorities can pay money directly into your account.
Ask your bank to register your salary account as your NemKonto.
The Danish digital ID, MitID, gives you access to online banking, public self-service solutions and many other digital services in Denmark.
You can use the MitID app on your phone to log in securely.
If you work in Denmark, you are entitled to parental leave under the same conditions as people living in Denmark.
Depending on your workplace and whether you are covered by a collective agreement, you may receive your salary from your employer during leave or parental benefits from the municipality.
Ask your employer what applies in your workplace.
When you start working in Denmark, you may be covered by one or more pension schemes, depending on your employment and your situation.
Not all employers offer an occupational pension. Check what applies in your workplace and whether your employer pays pension contributions on your behalf.
If your employer does not offer a pension scheme, you may want to consider making your own pension savings.
Your social security is usually based on the country where you work.
If you work in both Denmark and Sweden, different rules may apply. It is important to find out which country is responsible for your social security.
If you live in Sweden, contact The Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Försäkringskassan. If you live in Denmark, contact Udbetaling Danmark.
See our page about social security when working in both countries
Read about social security when working abroad at lifeindenmark.dk
Your preliminary income assessment, forskudsopgørelse, is an estimate of your expected income, tax and deductions for the year.
If you work and pay tax in Denmark, make sure your preliminary income assessment is up to date. This helps ensure that you pay the correct amount of tax throughout the year.
If your income or deductions change, or if you are paying tax in Denmark for the first time, log in to The Danish Tax Agency, Skattestyrelsen, and update your information.
When you update your preliminary income assessment, your tax card is updated automatically and made available to your employer.
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We can help you
You are always welcome to visit our Information Center in Malmö to get help with your questions regarding working, moving or studying in Denmark.
