A. Working and living in Denmark   

Many foreigners experience improved quality of life and a good balance between family and work in Denmark  

Danish employers generally respect their employees family life, and many workplaces offer you the opportunity to adjust your working hours so that you can pick up your child from the childcare. Furthermore, most people live relatively close to their place of work and therefore spend less time on transport

B. Health 

Everybody who is staying in Denmark is entitled to hospital assistance in case of accidents, sudden illness or sudden aggravation of a chronic disease. 112 is the number to call in case of an emergency.
 
EC/EEA nationals who are covered by the public health insurance of an EC/EEA country will be covered by the public health insurance when they move to Denmark. If you move to Denmark from another country you will normally have access to public health services after a six week waiting period.
 

C. Housing 

Most international companies are situated in Copenhagen and the environs, and consequently many expatriates live there. However an increasing number of international companies are setting up businesses in other regions. As a case in point several international IT companies have set up in North Jutland.
 
Property prices in Copenhagen are low compared to many other European cities such as London, Paris, Brussels and Frankfurt. This applies in particular to rental properties, but the prices for owner-occupied properties are also generally below the price level of other capitals.
While a 100 m2 flat in London costs around DKK 5.6 million (2002), a similar flat in Copenhagen costs approximately 39% of this. A flat in Paris costs approximately 59% of a London flat

If you have not found a permanent place to live before you and your family move to Denmark, or if the place you have found is not available at once, temporary housing can be a solution. Averagely, an expatriate family need temporary housing for 1-3 months.

D. Transport

EU driving licences are valid in Denmark. A few formalities need to be handled before driving on the Danish roads. First of all you should find out whether it is necessary to convert your driving licence.

E. Tax

In your first year as a taxpayer in Denmark you must make all information concerning your financial situation available to your local tax administration. This will allow the tax administration to calculate the level of your taxation and prepare your tax card as accurately as possible.

The tax card consists of two parts: A. tax rate and allowances card(hovedkort) and a secondary card(bikort). The tax rate and allowances card shows the monthly allowance and a withholding percentage. The allowance is that part of the pay on which no tax is payable. The withholding percentage is the tax rate payable after the allowance has been deducted from the net pay.

In March or April an income tax return form will be sent to you. Most people will receive a ready-printed tax return form, others will receive an extended one. The income tax return is a statement of the figures known to the tax authorities for the past tax year.

DANISH EMBASSY AND CONSULATES IN GERMANY

Germany, Royal Danish Embassy in Berlin 

Address:
Rauchstrasse 1
D-10787 Berlin

Authorised to issue passports, authorised to issue visas and residence permits, shipping enquiries

Phone: +49 30 5050 2000
Fax: +49 30 5050 2050
Web site: www.ambberlin.um.dk
E-mail: beramb@um.dk