We want every Danish-international couple to get a good start to life in Denmark. That is why we have put together an overview of the services you can use, both before your family reunification is in place and afterwards.
CPR number and MitID
Once your partner has been granted a residence permit and has somewhere to live, your partner must register the move with Citizen Service (Borgerservice) in the municipality where you live, no later than 5 days after taking up residence in Denmark. This must be done in person, with documentation. Your partner will then be given a CPR number (civil registration number) and can order a health insurance card. With a CPR number and a valid passport, your partner can get MitID, usually at Citizen Service, where you need to book an appointment. The CPR number and MitID are the key to almost everything else: the doctor, the bank, Digital Post, the job centre and Danish language education.
Danish classes
After family reunification, the foreign partner is entitled to free Danish language education for up to 5 years. The municipality must refer your partner to Danish language education no later than one month after your partner has moved to the municipality. If you have been reunified under Danish (national) rules, your partner will usually be on an introduction programme with the municipality, and then no deposit has to be paid. If you have been reunified under EU law, it is a good idea to contact the municipality or a language centre yourselves.
Students who are not on a programme under the Integration Act, for example foreign workers, students and Union citizens, must pay a deposit of DKK 2,0002026 per module. The money is paid back when you pass the module test within the deadline. Au pairs do not pay a deposit.
If your partner is here on a visa or on procedural residence while you are waiting for a decision on an application, your partner is usually not entitled to the public Danish language education, because it requires a residence permit or permanent legal residence and registration in the Civil Registration System. In that case your partner can sign up for Danish classes at a private language school, but will have to pay, or can use the free options further down this page.
ÆUG recommends learning the language as quickly as possible. If you have been reunified under Danish (national) rules, your partner must pass a Danish language test at A1 level no later than 6 months, and a Danish language test at A2 level no later than 9 months, after being registered in the Civil Registration System in Denmark. If your partner already holds a residence permit in Denmark on another basis, the deadlines are counted from the date of the residence permit for family reunification. The exact deadline is stated in the letter from the Danish Immigration Service (Udlændingestyrelsen). If your partner takes the test before the deadline but does not pass, your partner gets 3 more months. If your partner does not pass the tests, the residence permit may be revoked. These are the immigration authorities' own tests, which you sign up for yourselves at danskprøve.dk, and they cost DKK 3,275.402026 per test. The module tests from the language centre do not count. Read more about the Danish language tests on nyidanmark.dk. It is also far easier to find a job, build relationships and manage everyday life when you speak the language.
Many people who have come through family reunification cannot afford expensive courses. That is why a number of churches and organisations offer free or low-cost Danish classes. As far as ÆUG knows, the following options are currently available. Check that they are still running before you sign up.
Copenhagen
- IKC København, International Christian Centre, Rømersgade 17. Free Danish classes. imta.dk
- The City of Copenhagen has an overview of language cafés and language clubs in the city, for example at the libraries. international.kk.dk
Aarhus
- IKC Østjylland, International Christian Centre, at Stjernen, Vejlby Centervej 46, 8240 Risskov. Free Danish classes. imta.dk
Work and education
Work
Finding work can be a challenge for the newly arrived partner. As long as you do not speak the language well, your options are limited, but help is available. Contact the job centre. Depending on the municipality, you can get help with job hunting, contact with employers, guidance on education and work placements. You do not have to be receiving cash benefits to get help from the job centre.
It is also a good idea to build a personal network. Through ÆUG's social events, network meetings and Facebook groups, you can meet other Danish-international couples who have good advice about the job market.
Education
You can have your partner's qualifications assessed. See the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science's guide to the assessment and recognition of foreign qualifications. Qualifications from an education system similar to the Danish one may give access to higher education. You will need to ask each institution about its admission requirements yourselves.
If the foreign qualification does not meet the requirements, it can be topped up with individual subjects or whole courses that will give access in time. Qualifications from developing countries in particular are often not recognised on an equal footing with Danish ones. You can also have the qualification assessed in relation to the Danish labour market. The guide has a special section on employment, and you can see how other foreign qualifications have been assessed in the agency's database of assessments.
Challenges and prejudice
Denmark offers good opportunities for work, education and social security, but it can be hard to build a life here. Finding a job can be difficult, and learning Danish is a challenge for many.
How the foreign spouse is received by the people around them varies a great deal. Most of the people we are in touch with are warmly welcomed by family and friends. But we also meet foreign partners whose intentions in marrying are called into question. We know the narrow-minded prejudices about "gold diggers" and "mail-order brides", which unfortunately affect some couples even though their intentions are honest.
That is why it is a good idea to join ÆUG's network groups on Facebook or the forum, where you can talk to others who have been through family reunification about unpleasant experiences and other challenges.
If you experience violence, threats or control in your relationship, you are not alone, and help is available. IM VALID is an organisation run by survivors and advisers. They support international women and their children in Denmark with guidance, a community and help finding financial support, therapy and legal aid.
We are all in the same boat
Once you, as a Dane, have brought your partner to Denmark, it is your responsibility to introduce your partner to the country and its norms and customs.
Moving to a new country is a huge upheaval and can bring a lot of frustration. Many foreign spouses find that the knowledge, experience and traditions they bring from their home country can no longer be used. Family relationships and friendships work differently, and ordinary everyday situations can be hard to handle.
Foreign partners can become lonely and isolated if their only connection to Denmark is their Danish spouse. Support your partner in building their own social circle. A good network can be crucial for your partner's wellbeing, and therefore for your life together.
Join one of ÆUG's network groups. We try to hold informal get-togethers at regular intervals for anyone who is interested. We share experiences, relax and chat, and several languages are spoken, not just Danish. Whatever you are feeling, there is a good chance that others have been through something similar. If you would like to take part in or organise something, follow us on Facebook or get in touch with the network or the board.
Need help with your case?
For more than 20 years we have helped Danish-international couples. All our advice is always free for everyone.