If you plan to come to Denmark in the near future, please be aware of the border control currently in place. Currently only people with a “worthy purpose” or from an open country can enter Denmark at this time.

Is your country open or closed? You must check if your country of residence is on the list of open or closed (banned) countries as regards to the right to enter into Denmark. Find link to the list here.

If you travel from a closed (banned) country – You have to show proof of a “worthy purpose”. A worthy purpose is an employment contract if you are going to work in Denmark. If you are a guest researcher, please print and bring the invitation letter issued by UCPH. If you are an enrolled Ph.D. student, please print and bring confirmation of enrollment from the PhD school at UCPH.

In addition please print and bring proof of right to reside in Denmark if you are a non-EU/EEA citizen i.e. a valid residence and work permit or national ID (if EU/EEA citizen).

Always remember to bring your passport or national ID (if you are an EU/EEA citizen).

Please read more on the requirements when travelling from a closed (banned) country here.

If you travel from an open country – You do not need to show proof of worthy purpose. We still however advise you to print your employment contract/offer issued by UCPH along with national ID/pass port. If you are a guest researcher, please print and bring your invitation letter issued by UCPR. If you are an enrolled Ph.D. student please print and bring confirmation of enrollment from the PhD school at UCPH.

Please read more on the requirements when travelling from an “open” country here.

In addition to this please print and bring proof of right to reside in Denmark if you are a non-EU/EEA citizen.

Always remember to bring your passport or national ID (if you are an EU/EEA citizen).

Anyone residing in and traveling from an open country do not need to stay at home. If you experience symptoms of COVID-19, you are advised to follow the recommendations of the Danish Health Authority 

We strongly encourage you to bring the following documents when crossing the border to Denmark, if you are moving to Denmark, regardless of whether you come from an open or banned country:

• Employment contract if you are employed at UCPH or letter stating your affiliation with UCPH if you are a guest researcher
• A valid residence and work permit if you are a non-EU/EEA citizen
• A valid ID card if you are an EU/EEA citizen
• We strongly recommend that you also bring a copy of a lease or proof of accommodation in Denmark
• Accompanying family members must be able to prove their family relation, please read more below

If you are stopped by the border police and you need the university to verify your right to cross the border as an affiliate with the University of Copenhagen, please contact Vivian Tos Lindgaard, Head of section, phone + 45 30589809.

Accompanying family members (spouse, children) who are moving to Denmark from an open country, are allowed to enter Denmark, please see more above about suggested documents to bring.

Accompanying family members (spouse, children) planning to move to Denmark from a closed country, can enter Denmark when accompanying a person, who has a worthy purpose for entering Denmark. They must bring documentation of their relationship, for example their marriage certificate, the child’s birth certificate etc. Please refer to this website for more information about what documentation is required. If you are not married, you must bring documentation that you and your partner have lived together for at least the last 18 months (i.e. a rental agreement). Please contact ISM if you have any questions.

When you have to apply for or renew your residence and work permit, you must among others have you biometric features (fingerprints and facial photo) recorded. In Denmark, you must book an appointment with one of the branch offices at the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). 

Your biometric features must be recorded within 14 days of having submitted an application for a residence and work permit to SIRI. Otherwise, the application will be rejected

Recording biometric features abroad:

Some representations outside Denmark have started to open up, which makes it possible to record biometric features abroad, if you are close to an open representation. Find the nearest representation to you here.

If you plan to move to Denmark from an open country, you can do so at any time unless you are a non-EU/EEA citizen and you need a residence and work permit to work at UCPH. In this case you can enter Denmark once you have received your residence and work permit or when there is less than 14 days until you will begin employment at UCPH.

Please be aware that if you are planning to apply for the researcher taxation scheme, you should not move to Denmark more than one month before your employment starts regardless.

If you plan  to move to Denmark from a closed country, there is no official statement from the Danish authorities as to when you can enter Denmark in relation to the start of your employment, but it is recommended not to try to enter Denmark more than 14 days before your employment begins. Please be aware that the police will ultimately make the decision at the border on who can enter Denmark but will look at each case individually. We strongly advise you to bring documents with you when you cross the border, as documentation for your reason to enter Denmark, please see above.

In order to avoid 14 days of self-quarantine when entering Denmark, persons who are entering from ‘orange’ (closed) countries are advised to get a free COVID-19 test at the airport upon arrival. There is no need to schedule a time for a test but keep your flight or train ticket as proof for the right to be tested (opening hours, 06.00-01.00). The University of Copenhagen asks everyone arriving at the airport to get a free COVID-19 test, stay at home for 72 hours, and await a possible answer from the Danish authorities. Please note that you will only hear back from the authorities if the COVID-19 test is positive. They will ask for a phone number by which they can reach you.

The right to enter Denmark is based on information from the Danish Police, and is kept up to date on the website of the Danish Police regarding coronavirus contagion. Check the website for the latest information on entry restrictions.

If you reside in an 'open' country, you can go to Denmark regardless of the purpose, but must still have valid travel ID to travel to Denmark.

If you are a resident of a closed country, certain rules apply.

It is not a requirement to take a COVID-19 test if you visit Denmark for job interviews or business meetings, but it is recommended. It is possible to get a COVID-19 test at the airport upon arrival for free, please read more above.

It is a requirement that you wear a medical face mask, when entering a Danish airport. If you do not have a face mask, you will be able to buy one when entering the airport. Please contact the relevant Danish airport if you have any questions. Read more here about CPH Airport.

Please be aware that it is also mandatory to wear facemasks in public transportation in Denmark as well in restaurants, cafés etc. in Denmark. 

If you are not able to obtain a CPR number because of the current lockdown and you are in need of medical assistance, you may be able to get your financial medical expenses covered retrospectively. You must fulfill the criteria to obtain a CPR number in Denmark at the time of becoming ill. The criteria are:

• A valid residence permit to Denmark
• A valid residence in Denmark (you must be able to register at the given residence)
• You have already arrived in Denmark

You would have to contact the Capital Region of Denmark to see if you are eligible for reimbursement of your medical expenses. You cannot apply for reimbursement before you have received your CPR number.

For EU citizens: you may be covered by the European health card (called "the blue health card" in Denmark). Please contact the authority in your home country to clarify.

We strongly encourage you to take up private health insurance if you are not covered by the Danish public health insurance.

Please follow the health and safety precautions as set out by the Danish Health Authorities to avoid further spread of the virus. Please do not visit a doctor’s office or hospital without an appointment. Call your doctor or the emergency phone number outside of office hours. If you live in the Copenhagen area, dial 1813 on your phone.

Corona test with a CPR number and NemID

As part of the Danish government’s aim to increase testing of the general population for the coronavirus, all adults can book a COVID-19 test using their Nem-ID logins at www.coronaprover.dk.

You can read more about getting a test for COVID-19 on the website for the Capital Region of Denmark.

If you are a non-Danish citizen, you are only allowed entry into Denmark if you are resident in an open country or you have a ‘worthy purpose’. If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, proof of a worthy purpose will be your employment contract and your valid Danish work permit. Please refer to the Danish authorities’ website for more information.

The police will ultimately make the decision at the border, on who can enter Denmark.

If you are stopped by the border police and you need the university to verify your right to cross the border as an affiliate with the University of Copenhagen, please contact Vivian Tos Lindgaard, Head of section, phone + 45 30589809.

If you are already employed by the UCPH and not currently in Denmark, please follow the guidelines as set out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Please also refer to the internal UCPH page for more information and guidelines about travelling and staying abroad.

Under normal conditions, you must leave Denmark before your residence permit expires. If you are unable to leave before the expiry date of your residence permit due to the coronavirus situation, you must leave Denmark as soon as it becomes possible.

The Danish immigration authorities has stated that they will disregard whether you have stayed beyond the duration of your residence permit, if you have been unable to leave Denmark due to closure of flight routes etc. caused by the coronavirus pandemic.