Moving to Denmark

Planning any kind of international relocation is rarely easy and relocating to Denmark is no exception. That said, if you are moving to Denmark, if you plan your move - be it a DIY move or using a relocation company, you can make the move easy and hassle free - mostly!

If you are using a relocation company, which there are many to choose from - much of this information may not apply to you, since they will take care of most of the legwork for you and take a pretty penny for their trouble as well.

If you are moving to Denmark and prefer the DIY (Do It Yourself) approach, here are Ten Good Tips to get your started.

If you are moving within Denmark, check out changing address in Denmark.

Ten Tips Before Moving to Denmark

2. Get a notebook or binder. Use this notebook to write down questions you have about your relocation to Denmark and the answers as you get them. As you gather the information, keep copious notes. Collect addresses, contact information and anything important you find out on your visits and during your research. You will fill these notebooks up quickly as you realize how much you don’t know about your new home. More importantly they will serve you well when you arrive and you need to find that all important information.

3. If possible visit several times before moving to Denmark. This will give you time to research housing, jobs, schools, immigration requirements, transport, shops, etc. Remember, as you gather information, include it in your notebook. You should check the various Danish Kommunes to give you some ideas on where you may wish to live.

4. Decide what you want to bring and what you wish to sell or store. Homes in Denmark are much smaller than a home in the US, so big furniture may not fit so well in your home. Also the more you ship or freight over the more expensive it costs. See our list below of items that we recommend you bring and what to leave behind.

5. Research your electrical appliances. In Denmark appliances run on 220v/ 50Hz and the plug is a 2 round plug. The TV format is PAL. You can use plug adaptors and convertors. If you decide to use convertors, check out prices at home and abroad before arriving. Convertors in Denmark are very expensive compared to buying in the US or Britain.

Tip: Even though things are more expensive in Denmark, remember you have to pay for the shipping of items, which also costs. There are many ways to buy things second hand from other expats that are leaving. You can also check out QXL, Craigs List, Listica or KRAKS. They all have used items for sale.

6. As you pack, try using boxes about the same size for most of your possessions. This makes it easier to pack or sort in a moving van or container. Remember if your boxes are too big, they become heavy; too small and you can pack very little in them. Of course you will need smaller boxes for heavier items and also larger ones for items that won't fit in the smaller ones. Check out this great book on moving.

7. Bringing your own car, motorcycle or other motor vehicle is probably not a good idea. The import duty and taxes on foreign cars is very high and it is rarely cost-effective. More info can be found at cars in Denmark. Consider leasing, renting or doing without one. The transport infrastructure is very good in Denmark and one can live without a car quite easily. Consider bringing bicycles instead.

8. Open up a bank account and get yourself a Dankort and some Danish cash. If you use a foreign credit card, you will be often shocked by the exchange rate and associated fees. Try to set up your bank account before you arrive, since it can take some time for funds to clear (usually 30 days).

9. Remember to register with your kommune as soon as you can. Wherever you live in Denmark, you are part of a kommune or community. When you register with them, you will get access to your medical services, language courses, and all sorts of other help. See our list of Danish Kommunes.

10. The last tip is actually the most important tip when relocating to Denmark. Get your paperwork in order. Make sure you have your permits to work and live here. If you don’t have them before you arrive, you can wait a long time before you can get a job or access vital services. Also remember to have all your personal documents with you: marriage certificate, driver's license, bank details (foreign and domestic), former addresses, job information, phone numbers, contacts, anything and everything you think someone might need to know about you. The more information you have, the better. Also, make copies of your information, so that you have a backup of them. (Keep the information safe and secure!)

Note Danish authorities ask for lots of information, and if you don't have it, you may experience delay in getting certain permits, visas, etc.

Helpful Moving Tips for Expats?

Share your helpful advice for other expats relocating to Denmark.

Things To Bring With You From Home

There are certain things you may wish to bring with you from home. Since everything is quite expensive in Denmark, you should bring some of the following things.

Clothes Denmark is often cold and rainy (not always, but during the winter you might think so), so bring warm clothes. The Danes have learned to dress in layers and you should learn that trick as well. Sweaters, gloves, wool hats and such should be included. Also good rain gear. We have found that a good lightweight windbreaker is also very handy.

Also, get some good walking shoes, since in Denmark you will do more walking than driving, esepecially if you live in the city.

Toys If you have children, you may wish to bring your own games, since games are not sold with English instructions. Of course, you may wish to buy some Danish games and learn how to play them. Ludo is popular and does not require any Danish reading skills, except for learning how to play.

Kitchen You will want to bring your own measuring cups since everything in Denmark is metric, and trying to convert your recipes can be frustrating. You will also need metric cups for any Danish recipes, but they can be obtained over here.

Medicine It is a good idea to bring as much of your own medicine as allowed by customs, since many drugs are not sold over-the-counter: things like aspirin, asthma inhalers, cold medicine, allergy pills, eye drops, etc. (Note: now some of these can be purchased without going to the pharmacy (apotek), but they are usually generic and not quite as effective as those from home.)

Food This may seem silly, but we miss PEANUT BUTTER -- good peanut butter. So, we routinely stock up on JIF or Skippy when we are home. If you have a particular food item you really can't live without, consider packing a small supply. You can find some American and British products in grocery stores and also in a few specialty shops, but this isn't always the case, and sometimes the quality is not the same. More information on this in the Shopping section.