Healthcare & Family

Childcare options, guaranteed, subsidised, and Danish-speaking

Updated July 2026Reviewed July 2026
The one-line versionEvery resident child gets a guaranteed daycare place from 26 weeks to school start. Municipalities cover at least 75% of the cost; you pay the rest, less if you earn little. Join the waiting list early.

The three types

TypeAgeWhat it is
Dagpleje (childminder)~6 months-3 yrsSmall group in a certified childminder's home
Vuggestue (nursery)~6 months-3 yrsInstitutional nursery
Boernehave (kindergarten)~3-6 yrsKindergarten before school

Collectively these are dagtilbud (daycare). The main language is Danish - part of how children integrate early.

The guarantee and the waiting list

Children of legal residents have a childcare guarantee: the municipality must offer an age-appropriate place for any child over 26 weeks until school start. Request it in good time - if you ask around the 26-week mark, the municipality has up to 4 more weeks to find a place. In practice, families join the waiting list (venteliste) via Digital Pladsanvisning soon after birth to secure a spot around 9-12 months.

What you pay - and the subsidiesMunicipalities cover at least 75% of the cost, so you pay no more than about 25%. In Copenhagen (2026), that is roughly DKK 3,500-4,300/month for nursery and DKK 2,000-2,800 for kindergarten. On top: an income-based subsidy (full if household income is under ~DKK 218,100/yr, partial up to ~DKK 677,499), a sibling discount, and a single-parent uplift.

How to secure a place

  1. Register on the waiting list via Digital Pladsanvisning as early as you can.
  2. Rank your preferred institutions; you are offered a vacancy or kept on the list.
  3. Apply for the income-based subsidy separately - it is not automatic and cannot be backdated (with narrow exceptions).
Apply for the subsidy - it is not automaticThe 75% municipal subsidy is built in, but the income-based reduction on top of it must be applied for via Digital Pladsanvisning, and generally only takes effect from the month after you apply. Do it as soon as your place is confirmed, and re-apply if your income changes.

Common questions

Is a place really guaranteed?
Yes - for children of legal residents over 26 weeks until school start, though you should request it in good time and may wait for your preferred institution.
How much will I pay?
No more than about 25% of the cost (municipalities cover 75%+), and less or nothing if your household income is low. Rates vary by municipality.
Is childcare in Danish?
Yes - the main language is Danish, which helps children integrate. Some international options exist but are rarer and often costlier.

Verified July 2026 against official sources: lifeindenmark.borger.dk, sundhed.dk, the Danish Medicines Agency and municipal childcare/school pages (Copenhagen, Aarhus). Figures are 2026 levels and reset each January - always check your municipality and region. General information, not medical advice.

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