Moving to Denmark from the Philippines

Updated By exploringdenmark

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

Filipino citizen JOB OFFER Pay Limit / Positive List SIRI 2-4 months CPR + MitID Register & settle Non-EU: job offer > SIRI permit > biometrics > arrive > register

Overview for Filipino citizens

You are a non-EU citizen. This means: No visa-free access to Schengen. You need a Schengen visa for short stays, or a work/residence permit for longer stays. Apply at the Danish embassy in Manila.

Permit routes: Pay Limit Scheme (DKK 400,000+/year), Positive List, Fast-Track, EU Blue Card, Family Reunification, or Au Pair visa.

Flights: 13–16 hours from Manila, usually with one connection via Dubai, Doha, Bangkok, or a European hub. No direct flights. Emirates via Dubai or Qatar Airways via Doha are popular routings.

Visa & permits

No visa-free access to Schengen. You need a Schengen visa for short stays, or a work/residence permit for longer stays. Apply at the Danish embassy in Manila.

Pay Limit Scheme (DKK 400,000+/year), Positive List, Fast-Track, EU Blue Card, Family Reunification, or Au Pair visa.

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: Filipino citizen moving to Denmark

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

Secure a job offer from a Danish employer

The employer sponsors your permit application. Common routes: Pay Limit Scheme (IT, engineering, healthcare), Positive List, or Au Pair visa (age 18–29). Healthcare workers (nurses, care assistants) are in high demand.

Apply for work and residence permit via nyidanmark.dk

Documents: Philippine passport, employment contract, educational certificates (authenticated by DFA and apostilled), passport photos, fee (~DKK 4,820). Processing: 1–3 months.

Complete biometrics at Danish embassy in Manila

Book appointment at VFS Global Manila. Fingerprints and photo for residence card. Processing continues after this step.

Get documents authenticated before leaving

DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) red ribbon authentication + apostille for all educational certificates. This is much harder to do remotely — complete before departure.

Register CPR at International House / Borgerservice

Within 5 days of arrival. Bring passport, residence permit, rental contract. CPR number issued same day. This unlocks healthcare, banking, and tax.

Get MitID, bank account, NemKonto, tax card

MitID at Borgerservice. Bank account (Lunar or Danske Bank). Link as NemKonto. Verify tax card on skat.dk. Apply for Forskerskatteordningen within 30 days if eligible (DKK 75,100+/month).

Tax: the Philippines → Denmark

Double taxation treaty: Yes — Philippines-Denmark Double Taxation Agreement. The Philippines does not generally tax non-residents on foreign-sourced income. Once you leave and update your BIR status, your Danish salary is only taxed in Denmark.

Update your BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) status when you leave. The Philippines taxes residents on worldwide income, but non-residents only on Philippine-sourced income. File your final ITR for the departure year. The DTAA prevents double taxation. Danish tax rates will be significantly higher than Philippine rates — but so are the salaries and social benefits.

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 universal healthcare is a transformative upgrade. Free GP visits, free hospital care, subsidised prescriptions — all through your CPR number. No PhilHealth premiums, no choosing between public and private tiers. Quality is world-class. Dental and optical are not covered. Call 1813 for non-emergency medical help, 112 for emergencies.

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

Banking

CPR number, passport, and employment contract required. Non-EU applicants may face extra documentation requests — Lunar is typically most flexible. For sending money home to the Philippines, Wise and Remitly offer far better rates than Western Union or bank transfers. GCash top-up from Denmark is possible via some remittance services.

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

Driving

Philippine driving licence cannot be directly exchanged. You must take the full Danish driving test (theory + practical), costing DKK 10,000–15,000. Many Filipino expats in Copenhagen use cycling and public transport. The cycling infrastructure is excellent and free.

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

Cultural tips for Filipino expats

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

  • Filipinos adapt well to Danish workplaces — the respect for colleagues and teamwork translates. The main adjustment is the flat hierarchy: call your boss by first name, disagree openly.
  • Balikbayan culture is strong — but flights home are expensive (DKK 5,000–10,000 round trip). Plan and book early.
  • Filipino food ingredients are available at Asian supermarkets in Copenhagen (Kim’s Supermarket, Asia Market). Rice, fish sauce, calamansi, and instant noodles are easy to find.
  • The cold takes time. Layer clothing: thermal base → fleece → windproof jacket. Don’t underestimate wind chill near the harbour.
  • Danes eat dinner at 18:00. The Filipino habit of late evening meals (merienda cena) doesn’t translate. Adjust meal times.
  • Church communities (Catholic and Filipino evangelical) are active and provide a strong social network for newly arrived Filipinos.

Education & schools

Danish folkeskole is free and high quality. English is taught from grade 1, and most Danish children speak English well by grade 4–5. This makes integration easier for Filipino children, who typically have strong English skills. Copenhagen International School and other international schools are alternatives.

Filipino community in Denmark

The Filipino community in Denmark is approximately 12,000 people. The Philippine Embassy organises community events. Multiple Filipino associations exist, including Samahan ng mga Pilipino sa Denmark and various regional groups. Filipino stores, restaurants (Kuya’s Kitchen), and church communities provide strong networks. The Filipinos in Denmark Facebook group is very active.

Pensions

There is no bilateral social security agreement between the Philippines and Denmark. SSS contributions in the Philippines can be maintained voluntarily as an OFW. Danish employer pensions are mandatory (12–17%). ATP is automatic. Consider maintaining voluntary SSS contributions for the Philippine pension benefit.

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

Common mistakes Filipino expats make

Avoid these
  1. Not authenticating documents before leaving Manila — DFA red ribbon + apostille is required and nearly impossible to arrange remotely.
  2. Missing the Forskerskatteordningen 30-day deadline — if eligible, this saves you hundreds of thousands of DKK over 7 years.
  3. Using expensive remittance services — Western Union charges 5–8% on Philippines transfers. Wise or Remitly charge under 1%.
  4. Not joining community groups early — the Filipino community is welcoming and can help with everything from housing to finding a kababayan doctor.