Country guide — Europe
Expat insurance and health insurance in Denmark
In short
In Denmark, no law requires taking out private health insurance: the system, funded by taxes, is run by the 5 regions (hospitals, specialists) and the municipalities (prevention, home care). Free access to a GP (læge) and to public hospitals requires being registered on the Danish civil register (CPR, a personal identity number) with the municipality — a step itself conditional, for a stay of more than 3 months, on first obtaining an EU residence document (applied for online at newtodenmark.dk within 3 months of arrival, then an in-person appointment at a SIRI office within 30 days). Once the CPR is obtained and a GP chosen (group 1, within a 15 km radius), the yellow health card (sundhedskort) is sent within 2 to 3 weeks. Throughout this administrative process, which can stretch over several weeks or even a few months, only the EHIC or private insurance provide effective protection: no fine is provided for, but the financial risk remains real. Seconded employees (form A1) and retirees (form S1) avoid the local procedures thanks to European coordination.
Key figures
- 6,994 French nationals registered with the consular register in 2025 (6,780 in 2024, +3.16%).
- Life expectancy at birth: 82.25 years in 2024 (World Bank).
- Health spending: 9.39% of GDP in 2024 (World Bank).
- Time to issue the health card (sundhedskort): about 2 to 3 weeks after registering with a GP (læge), once the CPR number is obtained.
Local healthcare system
Denmark relies on a principle of tax-funded national insurance, open to anyone with resident status. The State, through the Ministry of Health, sets the legal framework; the 5 regions (Hovedstaden, Sjælland, Syddanmark, Midtjylland, Nordjylland — created by the 2007 territorial reform) run the public hospitals and pay self-employed GPs and specialists; the municipalities (kommuner) handle prevention, rehabilitation and home care.
Access to care depends on the affiliation group chosen at registration: in group 1 (the large majority of residents), the patient is registered with a GP of their choice, practising within a maximum radius of 15 km, whose consultations are free; access to a specialist requires a referral from this GP. In group 2, the patient freely consults any GP or specialist without a referral, but the region only reimburses at the group 1 rate, with the balance left to the patient. Hospital care and emergency care (24/7) are free for anyone covered. Consultations with dentists, chiropodists, psychologists, chiropractors and physiotherapists remain partly at the patient's expense; on the medicine side, only prescription medicines carry a partial reimbursement, with over-the-counter products only reimbursed as an exception for retirees and chronically ill patients.
Legal and visa obligations
- EU citizen: no visa required for a stay of less than 3 months, just a valid passport or identity card.
- EU residence document: for any stay planned for more than 3 months, apply online at newtodenmark.dk within 3 months of entering the country, then attend an in-person appointment at a SIRI (Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) office or an International Citizen Service, within 30 days of the online application. This document is a mandatory prerequisite for obtaining the CPR number.
- CPR registration (civil register): once the EU residence document is obtained, registration with the CPR (Danish personal identity number) at the citizen service (Borgerservice) of your municipality. This number is a condition for opening rights to the health card.
- Health card (sundhedskort): issued after registering with a GP (group 1 by default), received by post about 2 to 3 weeks later; it shows the name, address, CPR number and the GP's details. A digital version (Sundhedskortet app) carries the same rights as the yellow plastic card.
- Without a CPR or an EHIC: care is billed at full rate by the region, with no access to the free or reimbursed rate reserved for registered persons.
- Student: the EHIC is enough for a temporary stay (Erasmus-type); beyond 3 months, the EU residence document then the CPR become necessary, and supplementary student insurance is still recommended during the administrative transition period.
- Seconded employee : up to 24 months (extendable), stays on the French scheme via form A1, exempt from the EU residence document and CPR registration.
- Retiree: form S1 from their French pension fund before departure, for coverage under the Danish regional system with no new contribution of their own.
No fine is provided for the absence of an EU residence document or CPR registration, but the risk is purely financial, in particular during the cumulative administrative period (residence document, CPR, registering with a GP) that precedes actually receiving the health card, with no help from the French embassy.
Cost of some medical procedures
Orders of magnitude from specialised sources, not official fee schedules.
| Procedure | Public sector | Private sector |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation (læge), group 1, CPR patient | Free (tax-funded) | — |
| Specialist consultation on referral (group 1), CPR patient | Free (tax-funded) | — |
| Free-choice GP/specialist consultation (group 2), CPR patient | Reimbursed at the group 1 rate; balance at the patient's expense, not published uniformly | — |
| Emergency visit (24/7), CPR patient | Free | — |
| Night of hospitalisation, CPR patient | Free | — |
| Dentist consultation (adult, partial cover) | Rate varies by dentist, not published publicly (indicative price list published by the Danish dental association) | — |
| Consultation without a CPR or an EHIC (unregistered patient) | Full rate billed by the region, not published uniformly | — |
| Consultation at a private clinic outside the regional system | — | Rate varies by facility, not publicly disclosed |
Social security agreements with France
As Denmark is an EU member, there is no classic bilateral agreement with France: coordination goes through the EU regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009, as with other member states.
- Temporary stay: the EHIC grants the same coverage as a local insured person registered in group 1 (consultations and hospitalisations free); an advance of costs remains possible depending on the facility.
- Secondment: form A1, staying on the French scheme for up to 24 months (extendable), exempt from the EU residence document and CPR registration.
- Long-term move: EU residence document (newtodenmark.dk) then CPR registration with the municipality; form S1 for a retiree, covered under the Danish regional system with no new contribution of their own.
- The EHIC covers neither repatriation, nor planned care, nor a long-term move.
Which insurance for my profile
General matrix — does not recommend any specific product or insurer.
| Profile | Regulatory constraint | Points of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Working holiday visa | Not applicable (France-Denmark = EU free movement) | — |
| Student | EHIC for a temporary stay (Erasmus-type) | Beyond 3 months, apply for the EU residence document then the CPR to switch to free access; supplementary student insurance recommended during the transition |
| Seconded employee | Stays on the French scheme via form A1, up to 24 months | Exempt from the EU residence document and CPR registration; supplementary cover useful for quick access to care during the secondment |
| Local employee / resident | EU residence document (newtodenmark.dk, within 3 months) then CPR registration with the Borgerservice of your municipality | Without a CPR, care is billed at full rate; plan for interim cover during the cumulative administrative period before receiving the sundhedskort |
| Retiree (form S1) | Covered under the Danish regional system, with no new contribution of their own | Adult dental care, chiropody, psychology, chiropractic and physiotherapy remain partly at your expense |
Hospitals and care network
- Copenhagen: Rigshospitalet, the country's largest university hospital centre, affiliated with the University of Copenhagen.
- Aarhus: Aarhus Universitetshospital, Denmark's second-largest university hospital, in the central Jutland region.
- Odense: Odense Universitetshospital, the main university hospital centre for the Syddanmark region (Funen).
Practical steps
- Before departure: notify French agencies of your departure (CPAM, CAF, France Travail, pension funds).
- Seconded employee: request form A1 from your French fund before departure.
- Retiree: request form S1 from your pension fund before departure.
- Before departure or on arrival: request the EHIC to cover the transition period.
- Within 3 months of arrival, for a stay planned for more than 3 months: apply for the EU residence document online at newtodenmark.dk.
- Within 30 days of the online application: attend an in-person appointment at a SIRI office or an International Citizen Service, with the required documents.
- Once the EU residence document is obtained: apply for registration on the civil register (CPR) with the Borgerservice of your municipality.
- Register with a GP (læge) of your choice, within a 15 km radius (group 1): the health card (sundhedskort) is sent about 2 to 3 weeks later.
- Register with the roll of French nationals living abroad (French embassy in Copenhagen).
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take out private health insurance to move to Denmark?
No. No Danish law requires private insurance: the system is tax-funded and run by the 5 regions. Free access to care, however, requires being registered on the civil register (CPR) and then with a GP, which takes several weeks after arrival.
What is the CPR number and why does it condition access to care?
It's the Danish personal identity number, issued by the Borgerservice of the municipality once the EU residence document is obtained. It's needed to register with a GP and receive the health card (sundhedskort), which opens free access to the public system.
Is the EHIC enough to settle in Denmark long-term?
No. It grants the same coverage as a local insured person for a temporary stay, but a long-term move requires the EU residence document then CPR registration, or transferring rights via form S1 for a retiree.
What's the difference between affiliation group 1 and group 2?
In group 1, the patient is registered with an assigned GP (15 km radius) and consults for free, with a specialist requiring a referral. In group 2, the patient freely consults any GP or specialist without a referral, but the region only reimburses at the group 1 rate, with the balance at their expense.
Does a French employee seconded to Denmark need to register with the Danish system?
No, if they hold form A1 confirming they stay on the French scheme, for a period not exceeding 24 months (extendable under conditions). They remain exempt from the EU residence document and CPR registration during this period.
Moving to Denmark? Get a quote
Written by Expavy
Sources
- France Diplomatie — Denmark, Health
- France Diplomatie — Denmark, Entry / stay
- France Diplomatie — Global register of French nationals abroad (2025)
- CLEISS — The Danish healthcare system
- CLEISS — Holidays in Denmark: what health coverage?
- Life in Denmark (borger.dk) — Health insurance card (sundhedskort)
- Life in Denmark (borger.dk) — Residence in Denmark for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
- World Bank — Life expectancy at birth, Denmark
- World Bank — Current health expenditure (% of GDP), Denmark