International Staff
The Department Secretariat administers the processing of recruitment of foreigners, e.g. the completion of the forms to be sent to the Danish Immigration Service, etc.
The Section is responsible for ensuring that new staff is given assistance in contacting the National Register, tax authorities, opening a bank account, finding a place to live, taking out private contents insurance etc. You have to register with the Civil Registration System as soon as possible and not later than 5 days after you arrive in Denmark.
Earlier experience shows that it is easiest to set up a bank account in Danske Bank and Nordea, and easiest to take out private contents insurance and possibly accident insurance at TopDanmark.
Regarding housing, it is possible to seek assistance from KU/LIFE's Housing Department.
Reduced taxes for researchers
There are several ways in which you can be taxed. When you gain employment in Denmark, it is important that you investigate which tax scheme you will be covered by. There is a special taxation scheme for researchers and key employees who are recruited abroad and who are employed by a Danish company or research institution.
Researchers who are recruited from abroad have, under certain circumstances, and for a period of five years, the possibility of being taxed 26% (plus 8% labour market contribution) of their income. You can read more about taxes at the International Staff Mobility (ISM) homepage or the ISM folder about researcher taxation (pdf).
You must be approved by both the University and the tax authority. The head of your institute will, on behalf of the University, assess and approve both your employment in a research position as well as your qualifications (at least PhD-level) position as Postdoc/Assistant Professor or higher grade).
There are different rules for residence in Denmark, depending on which country the applicant comes from. They distinguish between:
- Nordic citizens
- U/EEA countries + Switzerland
- Citizens of third countries
Nordic citizens
Citizens of Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are free to enter, reside, study and work in Denmark. They do not need visas, residence- or work-permits.
Upon employment at the department, see Your things-to-do list - Nordic citizens
Supplementary information on the Danish Immigration Service website
EU and EEA citizens
Foreigners who are EU or EEA citizens as well as Swiss citizens may reside in Denmark under EU rules on free movement of persons and services.
Union citizens are nationals of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus (only the Greco-Cypriot territory), the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
EEA nationals are nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Nationals of Switzerland are covered by the same rules as Union citizens and EEA nationals. Accordingly, all the rules mentioned below also apply to Swiss nationals.
Please note that the special interim arrangement concerning employees from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia ended by 1 May 2009.
EU Residence Permit
Citizens from the above countries who wish to work in Denmark must apply for an EU residence permit (pdf) from the State Administration. When contacting the State Administration a letter from University of Copenhagen (the department) regarding "Request for expedited processing of application for EU residence document" must be included. Contact the Department Secretary accordingly.
Upon employment at the department, see Your things-to-do list - EU citizens
Additional information at the Danish Immigration Service website
Citizens of third countries
Citizens of third countries must apply for residence permits from their home country, and they can not begin work until they have received a residence permit. Application for residence is to be sent through the embassy in their home country to the Danish Immigration Service.
Fee
From 1 January 2011 onwards, a processing fee will normally need to be paid when a foreign national applies for a residence permit, an extension of a residence permit and for a permanent residence permit in the areas of family reunification, studies and work. Furthermore, a processing fee will normally need to be paid if a person wishes to appeal a decision or request a reopening of a case. Read more about the fees.
PhD students who will be employed at the department must pay the fee for "Researchers, including employed PhDs and research trainees"
Upon employment at the department, see Your things-to-do list - citizens from "Third Countries"
Supplementary information at the Danish Immigration Service website.
CPR number & Health Card
When you have registered with the Civil Registration System you will receive a CPR number. The CPR number is used in connection with registration and personal identification. Once you have registered with the Civil Registration System, your health card is mailed to you. Now, you have access to health care services offered to all Danish citizens. Though everybody staying in Denmark is entitled to hospital assistance in case of accidents or sudden illness, you might want to make sure that you are covered sufficiently in the time period before receiving your Danish health card. If you desire travel insurance coverage, you must take out a policy before travelling to Denmark. Ask your current insurance company what your property, liability and accident insurance policies cover when you live and work in Denmark.
For more information about the registration process.
Useful links
Educational qualifications
Researchers to be employed under the AC-Agreement and who have received their education in foreign countries must, prior to the job offer being sent to them from the department, have their training assessed by the Agency for International Training. Educational qualifications are assessed and compared with educational qualifications in a Danish context.
Department Contact: Department Secretary
Inga Christensen Bach, - last update:23 May 2011