WELCOME TO ODENSE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Info for International staff & students coming to Denmark KMEB Molecular Endocrinology Department of Endocrinology FACTS ABOUT DENMARK DID YOU KNOW • Denmark is a part of the Scandinavian countries. • The land area of Denmark covers 43,100 sq km consisting of 406 islands, only Jutland is connected to the European mainland with its border with Germany. • The capital is Copenhagen situated on the largest island of Denmark, Sealand. Copenhagen has around 1,1 million inhabitants and all of Denmark has around 5,3 million inhabitants. • Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. The 'Folketing' is the name of the national parliament of Denmark which is unicameral. It consists of 179 members elected for a four-year term or until the Prime Minister calls for election. • Denmark is the oldest monarchy in the Westen Europe. • The national flag of Denmark, called Dannebrog, is the oldest country flag in the world still in use. • Denmark has been a member of the European Union (EU) since 1973. Denmark is a founding member of NATO and OECD. • The Danes are homemakers and often meet with friends and family in their homes for meals. • The Danes are known for their love of cosiness (='hygge') - gather family and friends, light the candles or a fire, serve plenty of food and drinks and you have got 'hygge'. • The Danes are great bikers and bikes everywhere, there are made special cycle tracks which makes biking easier and safer. • The official state religion is the Evangelical Lutheran. 95% of the population are Protestants, 3% Roman Catholic and 2% Muslim, but the Danes are not a very religious population, • The currency is Danish Kroner (DKK) and the language is Danish. FACTS ABOUT DENMARK / ODENSE About Odense Odense is the third largest city in Denmark with about 191,400 inhabitants(2011). It has a university and so a lot of students. Odense is the regional capital of Funen. The city is dated back to 988 and apparently has its name from the Nordic god, Odin. The sights in Odense are many and various, among them you can find the childhood homes of the famous writer Hans Christian Andersen and the composer Carl Nielsen as well as the Funen Village, Odense Zoo and art galleries. Public Holidays 1 January - New Year's day (Nytårsdag) Thursday before Easter - Maundy Thursday (Skærtorsdag) Friday before Easter - Good Friday (Langfredag) Monday after Easter - Easter Sunday (2. påskedag) Fourth Friday after Easter - Prayer Day (Store Bededag) Ascension Day (Kristi Himmelfartsdag) Monday after Whitsunday (2. pinsedag) 25 and 26 December - Christmas Day and Boxing Day (1. og 2. juledag) PRACTICAL INFORMATION PRIOR TO ARRIVAL IN DENMARK Passport Your passport must be valid for three months longer than your intended stay in Denmark. Residence and work permit If you are a Nordic citizen, you are free to study and work in Denmark. If you are an EU/EEA citizen or Swiss citizen seeking residence in Denmark based on the EU rules on freedom of movement, you may be subject to special regulations. However, some are required to hold a residence and work permit. The specific requirements in connection with living and working in Denmark depend, first and foremost, on a person’s nationality and qualifications. If you need to apply for a residence and work permit ('third country' citizens), you will have to fill out an application form which you can download as a PDF file from the webpage of the Danish Immigration Service, New to Denmark: http://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-US/ or from the Royal Danish Embassy or Consulate of your country. You have to pay a fee as well and register this ID number to your application. Please note that you have to hand in your application at least two to three months before your arrival in Denmark. You are not allowed to start working in Denmark until you have obtained your residence and work permit. Can your family come to? If you are granted a residence permit as a researcher, your spouse or partner and children under the age of 18 may accompany you to Denmark. The family members must live together and be able to support themselves financially. BEFORE ARRIVAL IN DENMARK Which papers should I bring to Denmark? It is a good idea to bring all your educational papers (originals or copies) and any medical papers. Furthermore, you should bring your tax papers for annual returns (P60 in the UK) and a financial certificate for VISA. Accomodation We will help you find a suitable accomodation in Odense and as close to the KMEB laboratory as possible. Please contact Unit secretary, Tina Hansen Barbisan, [email protected], for further information and to obtain a specific accomodation application form. Insurance It is your own responsibility to take out insurance while you are staying in Denmark and Odense University Hospital nor Southern University of Denmark will be liable for any losses that may occur during your stay in Denmark. There are several insurances that we recommend: • Liability insurance (ansvarsforsikring) - this insurance covers any losses you may have if you have to pay compensation to another person • Accident insurance (ulykkesforsikring) - this insurance covers the financial consequences of an accident • Home insurance (indboforsikring) - this insurance covers your possesions in case of theft, accidents etc. according to the agreement with the insurance company You can contact the insurance company in your home country for more information. ON ARRIVAL IN DENMARK FIRST THINGS TO DO ON ARRIVAL IN DENMARK: 1. REGISTER AT THE CITIZEN SERVICE CENTER Address: Skulkenborg 1, DK-5000 Odense C Within 5 days from arrival in Denmark, you have to go to the local citizen service center to register your arrival in Denmark. You have to bring your residence and work permit, your passport and your contract. You will obtain a Danish CPR number (Danish social security number) which is issued from the national registry office and used when dealing with various authorities, banks etc. in Denmark. You will receive a yellow health insurance card (sygesikringsbevis) which will be your documentation that you are entitled to health care (public health care is free in Denmark except dentist care). The card will show your name, address, CPR number and name of your choice of general practitioner. You will be asked to choose a local general practitioner when filling out the forms at the citizen service center. You should always bring the card with you everywhere in Denmark in case emergency. If you lose your card, you will have to pay a fee to receive a new one. 2. REGISTER AT THE TAX OFFICE Address: Lerchesgade 35, DK-5000 Odense C (website: www.skat.dk) After your registration at the citizen service center, you have to go to the local tax office to report your arrival in Denmark. You will have to pay tax when working in Denmark, but there are various rules for researchers and students - please ask at the tax office or contact Tina Hansen Barbisan for a brochure in English or Arabic. Remember to bring your passport, your new CPR number (Danish social security number), residence and work permit and your employment contract. Note there could be other rules if you are financially supported from your home country or self funded. In these cases, please contact your embassy for more information. OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT You have to go to one of the local banks to open a Danish bank account in order to receive your wages, pay your rent or other fees etc.You are free to chose any bank in Denmark, but we should mention that the bank 'Danske Bank' has online banking in English. You have to bring your residence and work permit, your Danish CPR number, contract and passport. All citizens must have a NemKonto: A NemKonto (NemAccount) is an account into which payment from the region such a your wages etc. are paid. This account will normally be your ordinary account. If you have any questions, please ask in the local bank in Denmark. OTHER INFORMATION: Danish language course It is possible to join a free Danish language course at the University of Southern Denmark. Please ask your colleagues or Tina Hansen Barbisan. Work insurance Accidents that may occur while your are working at Odense University Hospital, will be covered through the insurance of the hospital. If you travel outside of Denmark in connection with your work at Odense University Hospital, the hospital will cover you through their insurance. You will have inform the hospital administration of your travel (your Danish social security number, destination with information of city and country and travelling dates). Introduction to the KMEB laboratory and work During your stay at the KMEB lab you will have a contact person and supervisor. Linda Harkness will meet you and arrange your introduction to the KMEB laboratory and work. You are welcome to contact her if you should have any questions, mail to: [email protected] . NICE TO KNOW.. Renewal of residence and work permit You are personally responsible for extending your residence and work permit if applicable. Please, be aware to submit your application for extension two months before expiry of your current permit. You have to pay a fee and fill out a form before going to the police, see further instructions on http://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/coming_to_dk/work/extension.htm - choose form B. Your application has to be submitted to the Danish Immigration Service in Copenhagen or the local police station: Odense Police station (Fyns Politi - Odense - Udlændingekontoret) Odense Railway station (Odense Banegård Center) Østre Stationsvej 27, second floor 5000 Odense C You should bring the following documents: • valid passport • passport photo • employment contract Changing address when living in Denmark If you change your address while living in Denmark, you have to notify the National Registry Office (Folkeregisteret) within five days after your move to a new address.