There are a few key steps to follow in order to immigrate to Denmark from Canada and it all starts with deciding on the motive for relocation.
The conditions for residence in Denmark differ according to nationality and a foreign national who wishes to move here will be included in the list of citizens who need to apply for a residence and work permit with a Danish Embassy or Consulate General. Denmark’s Embassy in Canada is located in Ottawa and a Consulate General is also located in Toronto, with eight other honorary consulates in other parts of the country.
Our immigration lawyer in Denmark lists the main types of residence permits that are available to Canadian nationals and highlights some of the most important steps that need to be addressed when moving to the country.
Becoming accustomed to the Nordic lifestyle is a journey with many rewards, as Denmark is often included in the World Happiness Report. When you move to Denmark from Canada you will need to get to know the Danish culture and its people as well as follow courses in order to improve your Danish language skills, especially if your goal is to obtain citizenship here.
Table of Contents
Taking up residence in Denmark
You may want to relocate here for study or employment purposes or in order to reunite with a family member who has already moved to Copenhagen or another Danish city.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa requirement to enter the Denmark from Canada | No, for stays of up to 90 days in an 180-day period |
| Types of temporary residence permits for those who relocate to Denmark from Canada | Work, investment, study, family reunification. |
| Documents for temporary residence permits | General documents and permit-specific ones |
| Approximate time needed to obtain a temporary stay permit | 1 month |
| Residence permits for investors in Denmark | Under the Start-up Denmark scheme. Conditions apply. |
| Temporary residence permit duration | 1 year, 2 years, 3 years – depending on the permit type. |
| Post-arrival registration with the authorities | Yes |
| Canadian permit holder can bring dependents to Denmark | For some types of permits |
| Facilities for Canadians married to Danish citizens | Can apply for family reunification as a spouse. |
| Minimum lawful stay before applying for permanent residence | 8 years, 4 in some cases. |
| Minimum time in the country before applying for citizenship | 9 years |
| Naturalization requirements for those who move to Denmark from Canada | Meet the residency conditions, prove self-sufficiency, have Danish language skills, no criminal offences, be employed (subject to exceptions), and pass a naturalization test. |
| Dual citizenship permitted (Yes/No) | Yes |
| Canadian pension in Denmark | If the person lived in Canada for at least 20 years after turning 18 years. Other conditions can apply. |
| Canadian national taxation in Denmark | Taxable rates between 8% and 56.512% for income derived from Denmark. Our team can give you more details. |
If you wish to move to Denmark from Canada will need to apply for a permit that allows you to remain in the country for more than 90 days. The following are offered as an example:
- Employment: for Canadians who have been offered a job by a Danish company, your qualifications are included in the positive list (for which there is a shortage of qualified professionals) or you are a researcher who has been offered employment at a public or private research institution;
- Special individual qualifications: you wish to immigrate to Denmark from Canada and you are an artist, an athlete or a specialized chef and have been offered a job in Denmark;
- Study: you want to study at a Danish university or will participate in a Ph.D. study programme with a Danish educational institution;
- Family reunification: you want to join your spouse or another family member who is already a Danish resident.
Please note that special conditions apply in all of these cases and the documents required upon application will depend on the specific type of residence permit in Denmark. In addition to this, our Denmark immigration agents remind you that application fees apply in all cases.
Coming to Denmark
Canadian citizens who wish to move to Denmark can rely on our assistance for understanding important matters on the Danish social security and health systems, the education system for the enrolment of their children with a school or kindergarten, and much more. We also offer guidance on housing or banking matters, as well as issues concerning civil registration in Denmark.
There are a number of issues to take into consideration for those who immigrate to Denmark from Canada. As described above, the first step is to comply with the basis for residence, obtaining the adequate residence permit in Denmark according to the motive of the stay and meeting the requirements for employment (or self-employment, as the case may be).
Other practical matters that need to be taken care of when you move to Denmark from Canada are the following:
- Obtain the civil registration number: this is a mandatory requirement for foreign citizens who are moving to Denmark and it is issued by the Citizen Service Centre in Copenhagen; you can then obtain the NemID, used for self-services with the authorities and banking;
- Open a bank account: this is mandatory for employment and it is also useful for all other foreign nationals who will reside in the country;
- Danish driving license: if you spend more than 185 days a year in the country you may need to exchange your Canadian driver’s license with a Danish one;
- Insurance: you will have occupational injury insurance once you become employed, however, you will also need to take up private insurance for your house, vehicle, and dog; our immigration lawyer in Denmark can give you more details.
Families in Denmark have access to childcare and public schools free of charge. You will need to check the schools and kindergartens in your municipality once you arrive. Other practical matters that will need attendance once you are in the country include signing up for Danish language courses as well as understanding the taxation principles.
This short video also summarizes the main steps:
Permanent residence in Denmark
It is possible to immigrate to Denmark from Canada and obtain a permanent residency permit if you hold a temporary residence permit for eight years. Additionally, some other criteria must be met:
- You must be 18 years old or older;
- You must live and work in Denmark when the Immigration Service decides on your permanent residence application;
- Your Danish spouse must meet certain requirements and act as your sponsor (for those relocating to Denmark from Canada for marriage);
- Do not be convicted of certain crimes;
- Do not have any public debts;
- Do not have received certain types of social benefits within four years of applying for the permit;
- You must agree to maintain your residence in Denmark and support yourself financially;
- You must not have falsified your identity;
- You must have passed the Danish language test.
In terms of employment, you must have had a regular, full-time job time (30 hours per week/ 120 hours per month) or have been self-employed in the country. The condition is to have been employed for at least 3 years and 6 months in the last 4 years before applying for the permanent Denmark residence permit. However, even if you haven’t worked full-time during this period you may still be eligible. Our immigration lawyers in Denmark can explain how, if you are interested.
We assist foreign nationals who wish to apply for a Danish residence permit irrespective of their country of origin. If you are not a Canadian citizen, you can still reach out to our local team of immigration experts if you have questions about your options for residing in the country, when and where you should submit an application for a residence permit, and more.
Exemption of requirements for permanent residency
Some individuals can immigrate to Denmark from Canada and obtain a permanent residence permit without spending 8 years in the country. Additionally, some requirements are not applied in certain cases.
If you are aged between 18 and 19 and have been employed full-time or have been school-enrolled since primary school, some requirements will not apply. You obtain the residence permit in Denmark under more flexible circumstances.
Relaxed requirements also apply to former Danish citizens or if both of your parents (rarely only one) are born Danish citizens. Based on Denmark’s international obligations and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, disabled individuals are also subject to more flexible requirements.
Retired employees of an international organization that relocated to Denmark from Australia can live in the country for only 5 years before applying for permanent residency. Pensioners or early-aged pensioners can apply for the permit after 4 years of living in Denmark.
Individuals with strong ties to Denmark can obtain permanent residency after holding a temporary permit for only 1-2 years.
More details about these exemptions, as well as other information regarding moving to Denmark, can be provided by our team.
Denmark immigration statistics
Statistics Denmark offers us a look into the number of people who chose to immigrate to Denmark from Canada in 2023, as well as the total number of immigrants:
- 79,561 people immigrated to Denmark;
- 550 Canadians immigrated in 2023;
- 322 of the Canadian immigrants were female;
- 91 of the total Canadian immigrants were aged between 30-39 years;
- 219 of the total Canadian immigrants resided in Copenhagen.
If you would like to know more about the conditions to immigrate to Denmark from Canada, please contact our immigration agents. Our team can help you with detailed information, according to your particular situation and our immigration lawyer in Denmark will help you submit your application for the right type of residence permit.
