PAST CUSTOMS
Expat Abroad · Denmark

Living in Denmark.

13 practical guides for Americans living in Denmark, grouped by topic. Each one lists the official sources it is based on.

Denmark

Arrival and immigration

Aerial view of Copenhagen Airport in Kastrup beside the Oresund
Arrival and immigration · 6 min read

Entering Denmark on a US passport: the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS

How long Americans can stay in Denmark visa-free, the bilateral three-month rule, the Entry/Exit System, ETIAS status and what an overstay costs.

Denmark

Documents and ID

Copenhagen lakes reflecting the lit city skyline at night
Documents and ID · 5 min read

US embassy services in Denmark: passports, voting and STEP

What the US Embassy in Copenhagen does for Americans in Denmark: passport renewals, emergency passports, births abroad, STEP alerts, voting and contacts.

Copenhagen City Hall lit up at night with its clock tower
Documents and ID · 5 min read

Your first weeks in Denmark: the registrations to do after landing

The order of steps after you land in Denmark with a permit: CPR registration, the yellow health card, MitID, Digital Post, NemKonto and tax card.

Denmark

Getting around

Koge Bugt motorway near Koge Nord station south of Copenhagen
Getting around · 5 min read

Driving in Denmark with a US license: IDP, exchange and the test

How long a US licence works in Denmark, when you must exchange it, why Americans skip the driving test under the Group 2 scheme, and what to bring.

Denmark

Housing

Sunny Copenhagen apartment courtyard with bicycles and garden
Housing · 5 min read

Renting an apartment in Denmark as an American

How private leases work in Denmark: the standard lease, deposit and prepaid rent limits, notice periods, utilities, the 14-day defects rule and avoiding scams.

Denmark

Money

Alm. Brand Bank headquarters on the Copenhagen waterfront
Money · 5 min read

Opening a bank account in Denmark as a US citizen

What Danish banks ask Americans for, the CPR and tax card order of steps, NemKonto, MitID for online banking, FATCA forms and US reporting.

Denmark

Shipping and moving

Modern waterfront apartments at Islands Brygge in the Port of Copenhagen
Shipping and moving · 5 min read

Shipping your belongings to Denmark: customs and household goods

Denmark's duty-free relief for household goods when you move from the US: the 12-month and 6-month rules, the forms, and what stays taxable.

Denmark

US taxes and admin

Red-roofed Ministry of Foreign Affairs warehouses on the Copenhagen harbor
US taxes and admin · 5 min read

Social Security, pensions and the US-Denmark totalization agreement

How the US-Denmark Social Security agreement prevents double contributions, certificates of coverage, combining credits, ATP and the Danish folkepension.

Copenhagen rooftops and spires seen from Christiansborg Palace tower
US taxes and admin · 6 min read

Denmark researcher tax scheme for Americans

How Denmark's 27% scheme for researchers and highly paid employees works, the 2026 salary floor, the 10-year rule, the 7-year limit and the IRS side.

Denmark

Visas and residency

Maersk headquarters office buildings in Copenhagen
Visas and residency · 5 min read

Denmark Pay Limit Scheme: salary threshold and job offer

How Americans get a Danish work permit through the Pay Limit Scheme: the 2026 salary floor, what counts as pay, the fee, biometrics and processing times.

Borsen, the old Copenhagen stock exchange with its dragon spire
Visas and residency · 5 min read

Becoming a citizen of Denmark: residence and dual nationality

The Danish naturalisation route for Americans: permanent residence first, nine years of residence, work and language rules, the citizenship test and fees.

Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, home of the Danish parliament, seen across its front square
Visas and residency · 7 min read

Moving to Denmark from the US: which visa or residence route fits

How the Pay Limit Scheme, the Positive List, Fast-Track and spouse reunification work for Americans, what each requires, and where you file.

Denmark

Work and business

Modern office buildings along Arne Jacobsens Alle in Orestad, Copenhagen
Work and business · 5 min read

Working in Denmark: flat hierarchy, holidays and the 37-hour week

What Americans should expect from Danish workplaces: flat hierarchy, first names, the 37-hour week, five weeks of holiday and the collective agreement model.