Europe

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• There is a general threat from terrorism in Denmark. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Around 150,000 British tourists visit Denmark every year (Source: Danish National Statistical Office). Most visits are trouble-free. See General - Consular Assistance Statistics. If you need to contact the emergency services in Denmark call 112.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism

There is a general threat from terrorism in Denmark. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See our Terrorism Abroad page.

10 September 2010 - There was a small explosion at a hotel in central Copenhagen. One person, who was injured in the explosion, was arrested by Danish Police.

Safety and Security - Crime

Crime levels remain relatively low. Most visits to Denmark are trouble-free, but you should be aware that the tourist season attracts pickpockets and bag-snatchers in crowded areas. Keep your personal belongings, including passports and money, secure. The areas of Christiania and Nørrebro areas in Copenhagen are generally trouble-free, but there have been sporadic minor disturbances and confrontations with the authorities.

In Nørrebro in particular there have been a number of instances of violence between Hells Angels and minority groups including shootings. Whilst these incidents are mainly gang related and localised you should exercise extra caution in these areas.

See our Victims of Crime page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel

The public transport infrastructure is generally of a very high standard. You can buy a variety of bus, train and metro tickets at train station kiosks and also at a selection of supermarkets. Within the Copenhagen inner city area during the tourist season you can rent city bicycles (available for a token fee). Cyclists found outside the inner city area on these bicycles may be subject to fines. Other outlets hire out better quality bicycles for a reasonable fee. Ferries are available to transport you to Denmark’s many islands.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel

Road conditions in Denmark are good and driving standards are fairly high. In 2010 there were 265 road deaths in Denmark (source: DfT). This equates to 4.8 road deaths per 100,000 of population compared to the UK average of 3.1 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2010.

You should carry a warning triangle in case of breakdowns. You must wear seatbelts. You must drive with dipped headlights at all times (day and night) and they should be masked with special European opaque material available from most garages in the UK and Ireland. It is now law in Denmark (not just good driving practice) to indicate before changing lanes on a motorway. Since September 2005 Denmark implemented measures that could result in driving offences committed in Denmark being reported to the UK authorities. From October 2010, sanctions for speeding have become tougher. Those who are caught driving 100 km in a 50 km zone or past roadworks with a 50 km restriction will immediately lose their licence. You should therefore take extra care when driving in Denmark. Cycling is very popular in Denmark. Cyclists often have the right of way. It is particularly important that you check cycle lanes before turning right. You must give due consideration to the many cyclists present in Danish cities. See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Political Situation

Denmark Country Profile

You should not become involved with drugs of any kind. Although Denmark is generally a liberal society, drug use is illegal and laws are enforced. You will not be treated more leniently than residents and drug dealers in particular can receive heavy sentences.  Anyone found in possession of illegal drugs, deemed to be for personal consumption, will receive a police fine of DKK 500.

Homosexuality is legal and Danish law allows same sex marriages.

See our Your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity

You must hold a valid passport to enter Denmark. For stays of up to three months your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay; you do not need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service. For stays of longer than three months, contact the Danish Embassy in London.

Entry Requirements - Visas

Visas are not required to enter Denmark. As a British passport holder you may stay for a period of three months. For longer stays, you should apply to the appropriate office for a residence permit. You should note that Greenland and the Faroes are not members of the European Union. So, although visas are not required for tourist purposes, you should obtain work and residence permits prior to entry if you are intending to live and work there.

The standard of healthcare is high. A reciprocal healthcare agreement exists between UK and Denmark by which British nationals are covered for emergency treatment whilst visiting Denmark. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Danish nationals. You will not be covered for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. See our EHIC page.

There are also agreements for the same EHIC facilities in the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

The telephone number for emergencies is 112.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 5,300 adults aged 15 or over in Denmark were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.2% of the adult population, which equals the prevalence percentage in the UK. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Denmark and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel  or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our Travel Health page.

General - Insurance

You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check for any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  See our Travel Insurance page. 

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our when things go wrong page.

If you lose your passport in Denmark, contact the British Embassy in Copenhagen (contact details below). The Embassy is able to assist you by issuing an Emergency Travel Document in order to allow you to travel back to the UK. The Embassy can also give advice on how to apply for a full passport from the European passport production centre at Düsseldorf.

General - Employment

You should check carefully on bona fides of anyone offering employment opportunities involving asphalting or seasonal work.

General - Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Money

The currency for Denmark is the Danish Krone and not the Euro.

Legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU applies in all Member States.  Any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to 10,000 euros or more; this includes cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders, etc.  This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country, as long as the original journey started outside of the EU nor to those travelling within the EU.  

General – Consular Assistance Statistics

Around 150,000 British tourists visit Denmark every year (Source:  Danish National Statistical Office).  Most visits are trouble-free.  56 British nationals required consular assistance in Denmark in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011 for the following types of incident: 16 deaths; six hospitalisations; and 21 arrests, for a variety of offences.

General - Contact Details

Address:

British Embassy
Kastelsvej 36-40
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø

Telephone:

Main Switchboard (+45) 35 44 52 00  

Consular General Enquiries:

Please have a look at our website, which is www.ukindenmark.fco.gov.uk or e-mail us at Consular.Copenhagen@fco.gov.uk.

Fax: +45 35 44 52 53

Passport Enquiries

Tel: +44 208 082 4723. Please note: there is a GBP 0.69 charge per call per minute and you will need a Visa/Dankort or Mastercard.

You can find free Information and forms at the British Embassy website. 

Visa General Enquiries:

Tel: +45 77 34 86 51 *Please note: there is a 14 US$ charge per call and you will need a Visa/Dankort or Mastercard*

Fax: + 45 35 44 52 53

Facsimile:

General Enquiries (+45) 35 44 52 93
Government and Public Affairs Section (+45) 35 44 52 46
UK Trade and Investment (+45) 35 44 52 53
Management (+45) 35 44 52 59

Office Hours:

GMT:  0800-1600
Local Time:  0900-1700
Consular GMT:  0800-1130 / 1230-1400 (By appointment only except in case of an emergency)
Visa:  by appointment only

Consular local time:  0900-1230 / 1330-1500

Website:

British Embassy in Denmark