US embassy services in Denmark: passports, voting and STEP

Once you live in Denmark, the US Embassy in Copenhagen becomes your link to the US government for documents and emergencies. It renews passports, issues emergency passports, records births of US citizens, and helps Americans in serious trouble. It does not help with Danish permits, taxes or disputes with landlords or employers. This guide sets out what the embassy offers and how to reach it, based on the embassy's own pages and the State Department.

Where the embassy is and how to reach it

The US Embassy is at Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 24, 2100 København Ø. The main phone number is +45 33 41 71 00. The embassy lists its American Citizens Services (ACS) phone hours as Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., and an online ACS contact form with a response within three business days. Emergencies involving US citizens are handled 24/7 on the main number.

The United States also has a consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, at Imaneq 41.

For an accident, fire or medical emergency in Denmark, the embassy's own advice is to call 112 first.

Passport renewal

Most adults living in Denmark can renew by mail or drop-off. The embassy says you must use mail or drop-off if all of these are true:

• You are applying for a full-validity passport, not an emergency one.
• You can submit your most recent passport.
• You were at least 16 when it was issued.
• It is undamaged apart from normal wear.
• It is a 10-year passport issued within the past 15 years.
• It was issued in your current name, or you can document a name change with an original court order, marriage certificate, divorce decree or a stamped Danish attestation of name change.

The embassy states that processing for full-validity passports, whether by mail or in person, can take up to four weeks.

You must apply in person if it is your first US passport, if the applicant is under 16, if your previous passport was issued under age 16 or more than 15 years ago, if you cannot document a name change, or if your passport was lost, stolen or damaged. Each person applying in person needs an appointment.

Because your Danish residence permit and residence card are tied to your passport, renew well before expiry. A new passport number may also need to be updated with your bank and other Danish institutions.

Emergency passports

If you cannot wait four weeks, the embassy says to apply in person and request a one-year limited-validity emergency passport, which is ready the business day after you submit everything. If you need a passport immediately, request an urgent appointment; the embassy will see you at 8:00 a.m. the next business day.

Children born in Denmark

A child born in Denmark to a US citizen parent may be a US citizen. Parents document this with a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), which the embassy processes along with the child's first passport. Both require an in-person appointment. Bring the Danish birth record and evidence of the parent's citizenship and, where required, US physical presence. Apply early, since the CRBA becomes the child's main proof of US citizenship.

The embassy's passport page also links to services for second passports, corrections and name changes, lost and stolen passports, and loss of nationality.

STEP: get alerts from the embassy

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free State Department service. It lets the embassy contact you in an emergency such as a natural disaster, civil unrest or a family emergency, and it sends updates about health, safety and security. The State Department estimates enrollment takes about five minutes. Residents should enroll with their Danish address and keep it updated.

The embassy also posts alerts on its website, such as demonstration alerts near the embassy. When you are enrolled in STEP, these arrive by email.

Travel advisory

The State Department rates Denmark at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, and the embassy site displays this banner. Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov for the current reasons and for separate information on Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

Voting from Denmark

US citizens abroad can vote absentee in federal elections. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) explains how overseas citizens register and request ballots using the Federal Post Card Application, and which state rules apply to you based on your last US residence. Submit a new request every year or whenever your address changes. FVAP's guide and your state's election office are the authority on deadlines.

A US mailing address

Many US banks, brokerages and state agencies still mail documents, and some will not send them abroad. A virtual US address service can receive and scan this mail. iPostal1 offers virtual US mailing addresses with mail scanning, which some expats use for bank letters and IRS notices. Check that your bank and state accept such an address before you change it.

What the embassy does not do

The embassy handles US documents and help for US citizens. Danish matters such as residence permits, CPR registration, tax and housing belong to Danish authorities, so contact SIRI, ICS, Citizen Service or the Danish Tax Agency for those.

Services for non-citizen family members

If your spouse or partner is not a US citizen, the embassy's contact page explains where they go. Visa questions are handled through the US visa information service, which lists a Danish phone line at +45 89 88 75 55 on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., an email address, and a live chat. Immigrant visa cases for Denmark are handled by the US Embassy in Stockholm, not Copenhagen. A green card holder who loses the card abroad can read the embassy's guidance on a temporary boarding document, and there is separate information on returning resident visas.

Before you call

The embassy asks callers to have the US citizen's name, date of birth and passport number ready if possible. Using the online contact form for routine questions keeps the phone line free for emergencies, and the three-business-day response time is fine for most passport and notarial questions. Keep scans of every family member's passport and birth certificate in a secure place you can reach from your phone, since a lost passport is far simpler to replace when you can show a copy.

Checklist for new residents

• Save +45 33 41 71 00 in your phone.
• Enroll in STEP with your Danish address.
• Note every family member's passport expiry date.
• Register for absentee voting through FVAP.
• Plan a CRBA appointment if you have a child in Denmark.

Common questions

How long does a passport renewal take at the US Embassy in Copenhagen? The embassy states that full-validity passports can take up to four weeks, whether you renew by mail or apply in person.

Can I get an emergency passport in Denmark? Yes. Apply in person and request a one-year emergency passport, ready the business day after you submit all items. For immediate needs, the embassy offers urgent appointments at 8:00 a.m. the next business day.

What is the US Embassy's phone number in Denmark? +45 33 41 71 00. Emergencies involving US citizens are handled 24/7. Routine ACS phone hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Is STEP enrollment free? Yes. STEP is a free State Department service that lets the embassy contact you in an emergency and sends safety updates.