Moving to Denmark from Turkey

Overview for Turkish citizens

You are a non-EU citizen. This means: 90 days within 180 days (Schengen visa waiver). For work or residence, you need a permit.

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

Flights: 3 hours 30 from Istanbul. Multiple daily flights via Turkish Airlines (direct), SAS, Pegasus, and Norwegian. Istanbul-Copenhagen is one of the best-connected non-EU routes.

Visa & permits

90 days within 180 days (Schengen visa waiver). For work or residence, you need a permit.

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

Step-by-step: Turkish citizen moving to Denmark

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

Tax: Turkey → Denmark

Double taxation treaty: Yes — Turkey-Denmark Double Taxation Agreement. Turkey does not generally tax non-residents on foreign employment income. Turkish rental income and capital gains may still be taxable in Turkey.

Once you leave Turkey and become a Danish tax resident, your Danish salary is only taxed in Denmark. Turkish tax on non-residents is limited to Turkish-sourced income. The transition is relatively clean compared to some countries. You’ll need to update your Turkish tax status with the Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı (Revenue Administration).

Healthcare

Denmark’s universal healthcare is free at point of use with your CPR number and yellow health card. This is a significant change from Turkey’s SGK system — no monthly premiums, no co-pays for GP visits, no choosing between public and private. Dental and optical are not covered. Emergency: 112 (urgent) or 1813 (non-urgent).

Banking

CPR number, passport, and employment contract are needed. Some banks may ask additional questions for non-EU applicants — Lunar tends to be most flexible. For sending money to Turkey, Wise offers better rates than traditional bank transfers. Keep a Turkish bank account for any remaining obligations.

Driving

Turkish driving licences can be used for 180 days. After that, you must exchange or take the full test — Turkey has a bilateral agreement with Denmark, so exchange without test is possible for most licence categories. Check with your local kommune. Speed limits: 130 km/h motorway, 80 km/h rural, 50 km/h urban.

Cultural tips for Turkish expats

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

• Work-life balance is genuine. The 37-hour work week is standard and overtime is rare. This is a major positive change from Turkish work culture.
• Tea and coffee culture exists but differently — Danes drink filter coffee constantly. Turkish çay is not common, but you can find it in Nørrebro shops.
• Alcohol is socially central. Friday bars (fredagsbar) at work are common. You don’t have to drink, but attending matters for social integration.
• Danish directness can feel rude compared to Turkish indirect communication. It’s not personal — it’s cultural efficiency.
• Halal food is available in Copenhagen, especially in Nørrebro and surrounding areas. Several halal supermarkets and butchers serve the community.
• The Turkish community is well-established — you won’t feel isolated, especially in areas like Nørrebro, Nordvest, and Ishøj.

Education & schools

Danish folkeskole is free and high quality. There are no Turkish-language schools, but several international schools exist. Muslim schools (friskoler) exist in Denmark and teach in Danish with Islamic values, though they’ve faced political scrutiny. Most Turkish families use the regular folkeskole system.

Turkish community in Denmark

Turks are one of the largest non-Western communities in Denmark (~65,000 people of Turkish background). The Dansk-Tyrkisk Forening, Turkish Cultural Centre, and multiple mosques provide community. Turkish supermarkets, restaurants, and bakeries are common in Copenhagen. The community is well-integrated with strong professional networks.

Pensions

Turkey and Denmark have a bilateral social security agreement. SGK contributions may be counted towards Danish pension requirements and vice versa. Contact SGK about the bilateral agreement before leaving. Danish employer pensions are mandatory (12–17%). Your bireysel emeklilik (BES) remains in Turkey.

Common mistakes Turkish expats make