Moving to Denmark from Italy

Updated By exploringdenmark

Everything Italian expats need to know about moving to Denmark: permits, tax, healthcare, banking, driving, and practical setup — explained for your specific situation.

Italian citizen REGISTER EU free movement BORGERSERVICE Same day CPR + MitID Register & settle EU citizen: arrive > register at Borgerservice > CPR + MitID

Overview for Italian citizens

You are a EU citizen. This means: Unlimited — as an EU citizen, you have the right to live and work in Denmark without a visa or work permit.

Permit routes: None required. EU free movement applies. Register for an EU Registration Certificate if staying longer than 3 months.

Flights: 2 hours 30 from Rome, 2 hours 15 from Milan. Multiple daily flights via SAS, Alitalia/ITA, easyJet, Ryanair, and Norwegian.

Visa & permits

Unlimited — as an EU citizen, you have the right to live and work in Denmark without a visa or work permit.

None required. EU free movement applies. Register for an EU Registration Certificate if staying longer than 3 months.

Work Permit Guide →
Detailed breakdown of every permit scheme, fees, and processing times.
Visa / Permit Finder Tool →
Answer 4 questions and find the right permit for your situation.

Step-by-step: Italian citizen moving to Denmark

Here’s the exact sequence, in order, with nothing skipped.

Move to Denmark and find housing

EU free movement — just arrive. Housing is the challenge. Use boligportal.dk, lejebolig.dk, and Facebook groups. Expect to pay DKK 8,000–15,000/month for a 1-bedroom in Copenhagen.

Register at Borgerservice (CPR number)

Within 5 days, register at Borgerservice or International House. Bring passport/carta d’identità, rental contract, employment contract. CPR number issued on the spot.

Register with AIRE

Legally required within 12 months of moving abroad. Contact the Italian embassy in Copenhagen or register online via the Portale FAST. This affects your Italian tax status, voting rights, and pension tracking.

Get MitID and EU Registration Certificate

MitID at Borgerservice (book appointment). EU registration via SIRI — automatic for workers. This replaces what SPID and CIE do in Italy.

Open bank account, set up NemKonto

Lunar (fastest) or Danske Bank / Nordea. Link as NemKonto. Your Italian IBAN works via SEPA but NemKonto must be Danish.

Tax setup — Danish tax card + Italian dichiarazione

Check tax card on skat.dk. File final Italian dichiarazione dei redditi for departure year. AIRE registration helps establish non-resident status for Italian tax purposes. Consider Forskerskatteordningen if eligible.

Tax: Italy → Denmark

Double taxation treaty: Yes — Italy-Denmark Double Taxation Convention. Italy does not tax non-residents on foreign employment income. Italian property income remains taxable in Italy. File your final dichiarazione dei redditi and update your AIRE registration.

Italian tax rates are comparable to Danish rates, so the transition is less dramatic than for some nationalities. The key difference: Denmark’s system is far more automated — no commercialista needed, no 730/Unico complexity. SKAT calculates most of it for you. Register with AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero) at the Italian embassy — this is legally required and affects your Italian tax status.

Forskerskatteordningen (Researcher Tax Scheme)

If you earn above DKK 75,100/month (2026 figure), you may qualify for a flat 27% income tax rate for up to 7 years. This is one of the most valuable tax benefits in Europe. Read the full guide.

How Danish Tax Works →
AM-bidrag, A-skat, kommune tax, and your effective rate explained.

Healthcare

Denmark’s system is similar to Italy’s SSN in principle — universal, tax-funded, free GP visits. The main difference: no ASL to navigate, no ticket moderatore co-pays for basic care. You get a yellow health card and one assigned GP (not a choice of medico di base from a list). Dental is NOT covered. Emergency: call 1813 (non-urgent) or 112 (urgent) — no pronto soccorso walk-in.

Danish Healthcare Guide →
GP registration, yellow health card, emergency numbers, and what’s covered.

Banking

EU passport makes Danish bank accounts easy. Lunar, Danske Bank, or Nordea. Keep your Italian account for any remaining Italian income or property. SEPA transfers are free. PostePay and Satispay don’t work here — MobilePay is the Danish equivalent.

Open a Bank Account →
Which bank, what documents, and how long it takes.

Driving

Italian driving licence (patente) is valid in Denmark indefinitely. No exchange needed. Danish roads are flatter, slower (130 km/h max motorway), and have far more cyclists. Right-hand traffic is the same as Italy. Watch for bike lanes — cutting across them is the most common foreigner mistake.

Exchange Driving Licence →
Eligibility, process, costs, and deadlines for licence exchange.

Cultural tips for Italian expats

The things that catch Italian expats off guard, based on real experiences:

  • Food quality is different, not worse. Danish food is less varied but high quality — especially dairy, pork, rye bread, and pastries. Italian ingredients (good olive oil, proper pasta) are available at Eataly or specialty shops, but expensive.
  • Lunch is a sandwich at your desk, not a proper meal. This is the biggest cultural shock for Italians. Dinner is at 18:00–18:30.
  • The cold is real but manageable — layer properly and you’ll be fine. The darkness (15:30 sunset in December) is harder to adjust to than the cold.
  • Danes are punctual. ‘Italian time’ will be noticed and not appreciated. Arrive on time or 2 minutes early.
  • Bureaucracy is minimal compared to Italy. No timbri, no bolli, no marche da bollo. Most things are done online in 5 minutes.
  • Coffee is filter coffee by default. Espresso exists in cafés but is not the everyday norm. Bringing a Moka pot is recommended.

Education & schools

Danish folkeskole is free. There is no Italian school in Denmark, but Copenhagen International School offers an international curriculum. Danish school culture emphasises independence, outdoor play, and less homework — a significant shift from the Italian system. Most Italian families report their children adapt quickly.

Italian community in Denmark

The Italian community is significant (~9,000 people). Comitato degli Italiani all’Estero (ComItEs) Denmark is active, as is the Società Dante Alighieri Copenhagen. The Italian embassy organises cultural events. Italian restaurants in Copenhagen are numerous — many run by actual Italians (Bæst, Era Ora, Neighbourhood).

Pensions

Italian state pension (INPS) credits are preserved under EU coordination rules. Register with AIRE to ensure your pension rights are tracked. Danish employer pensions are mandatory. Your fondo pensione or PIP remains in Italy.

Danish Pensions Explained →
ATP, employer pensions, and how the system works.

Common mistakes Italian expats make

Avoid these
  1. Not registering with AIRE — this is legally required and affects your Italian tax status, pension, and voting rights.
  2. Expecting Mediterranean social rhythms — dinner parties start at 18:00 and end by 22:00. Adjust your clock.
  3. Assuming Italian qualifications are automatically valid — most are, but regulated professions (doctor, lawyer, architect) need Danish accreditation.
  4. Not starting Danish classes — as an EU citizen, you qualify for free language courses (paid by your kommune). The waiting list can be months, so sign up immediately.