au AARHUS UNIVERSITY Handbook for accompanying spouses and partners of foreign researchers and specialists working and living in Denmark 2 Content 1. Introduction page 3 4. Job Search & Starting Your Own Business page 23 4.1 Different Ways to Find a Job page 23 4.2 Starting Your Own Business page 25 2. Practical Information page 4 2.1 About Denmark page 4 2.2 Registration & CPR number page 4 5. Studying in Denmark & Applying for 2.3 Health Care in Denmark page 5 Research Funds page 28 2.4 Banking, NemKonto, NemID and e-Boks page 6 5.1 Studying in Denmark page 28 2.5 Insurance page 7 5.1.1 The Danish Education System page 28 2.6 Childcare and Schools page 8 5.1.2 Recognition of Foreign Qualifications page 30 2.7 Transportation page 9 5.1.3 Tuition Fees page 30 2.8 Learning Danish page 11 5.1.4 Where to Study page 31 2.9 Tax in Denmark page 11 5.1.5 How to Apply page 31 2.10 Understanding Your Payslip page 12 5.2 Research Funding page 32 2.11 Public Holidays page 13 5.2.1 Finding Research Foundations page 32 2.12 Leisure Activities page 14 5.2.2 Danish Public Research Foundations page 33 2.13 About Your Household page 14 5.2.3 EU Foundations page 36 5.2.4 General Advice page 36 3. Danish Society and Culture & the Danish Work Culture page 16 6. Useful Links page 40 3.1 In General page 16 3.2 The Danish Work Culture page 20 3.3 The Danish Labour Market page 21 7. Short Vocabulary page 41 Written & Edited by: Spousecare · Graphic Design and Layout: Datagraf & Jan Pemann · Photos: From the partners behind the project 3 1. Introduction Welcome to Denmark! The overall purpose of this handbook is to give support and guidance to accompanying spouses and partners of foreign researchers and specialists who have moved to Denmark. In this guide, you will find practical information that will help you settle down in Denmark and integrate into your local community. You will also find information on specific topics that can help you if you would like to find work, study, start your own business or apply for a research fund. During 2011, there will be a variety of courses offered in Zealand (Sjælland), Jutland (Jylland) and Funen (Fyn) about work culture, studying in Denmark, job search, starting your own business or how to apply for a research fund. We hope that this handbook and the courses offered in 2011 will help you get a better understanding of the Danish lifestyle, work culture and the opportunities that you can enjoy during your stay in Denmark. The partners behind this project are the universities in Denmark in collaboration with Vestas and Spousecare. The project is financially supported by The National Labour Market Authority (Arbejdsmarkedsstyrelsen). 4 2. Practical Information 2.1 About Denmark * In the cities of Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg, you can Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland (Jylland) and also go to the International Citizen Service Office to get both your approximately 407 islands of which 79 are inhabited. residence permit and a CPR number. The largest and most densely populated islands are Zealand It is important to get the CPR number and the yellow health card (Sjælland), Funen (Fyn) and Bornholm. The capital Copenhagen which will ensure that you can get free medical help, open a bank (København) is situated on the east coast of Zealand. account, allow registration at the tax authorities, use public libraries, and many more services. You need to present your CPR number at Administratively, the country is divided into 5 regions (regioner) and almost all official offices and banks in Denmark. 98 local municipalities (kommuner). It is very important that you have the original documents from your Towards the end of the 10th century, Denmark was united as a single home country (birth certificate, marriage certificate, driver’s licence, kingdom. It has been an independent country ever since, and is thus medical file, professional certificates, diplomas, etc.). one of the oldest states in Europe. Also, remember that if you want to extend your residence and The form of government is a parliamentary democracy with a royal work permit, you have to apply for an extension by submitting your head of state. application no sooner than 2 months before your original residence permit expires. It is crucial that Christiansø 2.2. Registration & CPR number you submit your application for Bornholm 43.347 Hjørring 67.816 Once you have received your residence permit* you can get an extension before your current Frederikshavn 63.799 Læsø 2.145 Brønderslev-Dronninglund Jammerbugt 35.320 registered at your local municipality. In order to receive a CPR number residence permit expires, 38.884 Hørsholm 24.292 Allerød Thisted Aalborg 23.458 46.158 192.353 Rudersdal 53.621 (social security number) and a health card you need to: otherwise you will be considered Rebild Furesø Lyngby-Tårnbæk 28.457 51.611 Morsø Vesthimmerland 37.311 22.479 37.593 Gentofte 68.991 Mariagerfjord Gladsaxe Herlev 62.007 42.001 Ballerup 27.166 46.759 Skive as residing illegally in Denmark. Glostrup 48.368 20.785 Frederiksberg Rødovre Albertslund 91.886 36.312 28.146 København 502.362 Lemvig Randers Høje Tåstrup Brøndby 45.553 34.513 22.760 93.118 Hvidovre Struer Norddjurs Vallensbæk 49.863 22.752 Viborg 38.352 Ishøj 12.260 20.668 Tårnby 89.918 39.582 Dragør • Apply in person at the Citizen Service Office (Borgerservice) in the 13.156 Read more here. Holstebro Syddjurs 56.204 Greve 40.196 47.671 Favrskov 42.575 Herning 82.935 Silkeborg Århus municipality where you live and take with you your: 294.954 84.167 Helsingør Skanderborg Gribskov 61.295 55.068 40.409 Frederiksværk-Hundested Ringkøbing-Skjern Ikast-Brande 30.253 Fredensborg 57.818 39.371 HHilliellreørdød 39.187 Odder 444.45.55151 – Residence permit and work permit Please remember to put your Horsens 21.133 75.697 Samsø 4.125 Odsherred Frederikssund Egedal 32.739 42.926 39.267 Hedensted Vejle 43.477 Billund 100.518 26.076 Kalundborg Holbæk Lejre Roskilde – Passport name on your door or mailbox 48.697 Varde 66.611 25.971 79.441 49.377 Fredericia Solrød 49.147 Bogense 20.703 28.655 Køge Vejen Sorø Ringsted 54.926 41.350 Kolding Middelfart Kerteminde 28.336 30.830 – Marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates, if applicable. so that the postman can deliver 88.674 36.113 23.071 Esbjerg Odense Fanø Stevns 115.415 185.871 Slagelse 3.151 21.776 76.185 Næstved Faxe 34.313 Assens Nyborg 78.446 31.009 Haderslev 41.201 55.604 Faaborg-Midtfyn your post! 51.144 Svendborg 58.354 Vordingborg Tønder 46.307 41.321 Aabenraa 60.151 Sønderborg 76.459 Langeland Ærø 14.223 6.939 Lolland Guldborgsund 49.469 63.533 Anm.: Grænsejusteringer, som følge af lokale folkeafstemninger, er indikeret på kortet (men ikke eksakte) Indbyggertal opgjort 1. januar 2005. 5 2. Practical Information 2.3. Health Care in Denmark send a prescription directly to one of the pharmacies that are open Once you have received your CPR number and the yellow health 24/7, where you will be able to pick up the medication. card, you are covered by the Danish public health care system. The “Lægevagten” service is open from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays We call the yellow health card and 24 hours on Saturdays, Sundays and on holidays. Remember to “Sundhedsskort” in Danish. have your CPR number ready when you call. On your yellow health card, your name, Here are the telephone numbers of the Doctors on Call in your address and CPR number are written area: as well as the name, telephone number Copenhagen Region (except Tårnby and Dragør) 44 53 44 00 and address of your doctor/GP (general Frederiksberg, Tårnby and Dragør 70 13 00 41 practitioner). A GP is called “læge” in Danish. You can contact your Former Frederiksborg Amt 48 25 00 41 GP during their office hours (usually in the morning) to make an Bornholm 56 95 22 33 appointment. Some GPs are members of an online appointment Mid-Jutland Region 70 11 31 31 booking system: www.min-laege.dk (in Danish). You can also search North-Jutland Region 70 15 03 00 for GPs in your area through this website. You are free to choose Zealand Region 70 15 07 00 your GP among all the ones that work in your municipality. In case South-Denmark Region 70 11 07 07 you later want to change GPs, this can be done once a year (some municipalities charge a fee to replace the yellow health card). Police If you need to contact the police, you can call 114. You will be Emergency connected to the police station nearest you. However, in any In acute life-threatening emergencies such as fire, grievous bodily emergency, it is still better to call 112. assault and acute illness, call 112. Having a baby In case of emergency call 112 Ask your GP about the pregnancy programme. Your GP will offer to enrol you in the public pregnancy programme in Denmark. Doctors on Call (”Lægevagten” in Danish) If you need to get in touch with a GP outside office hours, you can Dentists call “Lægevagten” which is a service line where you can talk to a Dental care is free for children under 18.