Moving to Denmark
So you decided to move to Denmark, either because you found work, want to study or just for a change of lifestyle. If you are from an European country you won’t have any problems doing so, if you are coming from a Non-European country you will have to get all the necessary paperwork done to get your work and residence permit.
The first step you should take when coming to Denmark is to learn the language. If you have ever looked at a Danish website or watched an original Danish movie you will have noticed that it is not an easy language to learn, even if you learn your vocabulary you still still have to learn how to pronounce it, right? The Danish alphabet has 29 letters and uses the basic 26-letter Latin alphabet plus the three additional letters Æ, Ø, Å and Danish (Dansk) is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages). If you have already your CPR number you can learn Danish at courses offered by local authorities, who are required by law to offer Danish language and culture courses to all foreign residents.
Once you have learned at least your basic Danish it will be easier to meet the locals. They might seem to be a little formal and reserved and it might take some time and determination to become more than an acquaintance, but once the barrier is broken and you become friends you can be sure that they will stand up for you and you will have found a friend for life.
If you want to drive in Denmark and are a citizen of any EU country, Norway, Lichtenstein, Iceland or the Faeroe Islands, you do not need to exchange your driver’s license for a Danish one. If your driver’s licence is issued in Russia, South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, Taiwan, Brasil, Ukraine or Australia (only Capitol Territory) you must exchange it for a Danish driver’s licence within 1 year from established residence in Denmark without the need to take any tests. If your driver’s licence is issued in other non EU countries than above or Greenland, you must exchange it for a Danish one. If the general level of road safety is comparable to the Danish, you may have the option to swap your driver’s license without performing a driving test. Please contact your embassy/consulate and find out if the country / state is on the list of countries covered by this scheme (group 2 scheme).
If you move with children you can enrol them in a Danish public school. Education starts with pre-primary education in kindergartens and pre-school classes. to introduce very young children to a school-type environment.
The Danish Folkeskole is a comprehensive school covering both primary education from grade 1 to 6 and lower secondary education from grade 7 to 9 or 10, children enter at the age of 7 and leave, if all goes well, at 16 or 17 years of age.
Upper Secondary Education typically begins at the end of full-time compulsory education. In Denmark, this level divides into:
- General education qualifying for access to higher education and
- Vocational or technical education qualifying primarily for access to the labour market.
If you don’t want to send your children to a public school you can send them to one of the English, French or German international private elementary schools in the country.
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