Before you pay to ship a sofa to Copenhagen, find out whether it will make the turn on your new apartment’s staircase. A floor plan won’t tell you that.
When you’re moving to Copenhagen from the US, it’s easy to make decisions about the shipment before you know much about the destination home. Try to leave those decisions open until you have an address. The difference may be a few pieces of furniture and a smaller shipping bill.
Permission to live in Denmark
US citizens can make short visits without a visa, but you’ll need a qualifying route to residence if you want to settle in Denmark. Look through Denmark’s residence permit options while the move is still tentative.
With a Danish job offer, ask the employer which route applies. The Pay Limit schemes, for example, have salary requirements. Study or family circumstances may give you another way to qualify. A remote US job alone doesn’t establish permission to settle.
Seven months’ rent before you move in
The number at the top of a rental listing is only the monthly charge. Copenhagen landlords may ask for up to three months of prepaid rent and another three months as a deposit. Add the first month’s rent and you could owe seven months upfront, according to the City of Copenhagen.
For an apartment advertised at DKK 12,000 a month, that would be DKK 84,000 before utilities. This is an illustration, not an estimate of current rents. Set that money aside when comparing your options.
Your international moving costs may vary depending on the address. For a fourth-floor walk-up, include the cost of bringing the furniture upstairs in the estimate. If you may have to wait for the keys, ask for a storage price too. Packing and valuation coverage should have their own entries in the quote.
Choosing a neighborhood
Østerbro’s parks make it a useful starting point for families. Frederiksberg has leafy streets too, though it is a separate municipality. If restaurants and nightlife draw you to Nørrebro or Vesterbro, visit the actual block at night before you sign. A district’s reputation is a poor substitute for hearing what happens outside the bedroom window.
With children, the school search may settle the choice first. Find out where places are available in the teaching language you need, then work out the commute from there.
Tip: Ask the landlord whether you can register at the address. You’ll need accommodation that qualifies for CPR registration, including if your first home is temporary.
What’s worth putting in the container?
For a short assignment, it may cost less to leave a bulky dining set in residential storage than pay for an ocean trip in both directions. A piece you couldn’t replace may justify the expense. Your mover can assess fragile furniture for custom crating before you decide.
Sea freight is generally the economical option for a household shipment when moving to Copenhagen. Get prices for a shared container and a dedicated one based on what you’re bringing. Air freight costs more, so it may suit a small shipment of essentials.
Expect sea freight to take several weeks, including packing and collection before the ship departs and customs clearance and local delivery when your shipment arrives. Ask for a door-to-door window before deciding how long to book furnished accommodation.
An empty apartment can be awkward to live in while you wait. Bedding and a few kitchen basics may be worth buying locally. Check electrical compatibility before shipping US appliances; some may be better left behind. Passports and medication belong in your luggage.
How does customs work when moving to Copenhagen?
A television bought just before departure may be treated differently at customs than furniture you’ve owned for years. Keep receipts for valuable items; you may need to show at least 6 months of ownership.
You can usually bring your household goods into Copenhagen without paying customs duty or VAT. Denmark offers this relief for personal belongings when you’re making it your new home, as long as you meet a few conditions. You need to have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months in a row, and your shipment has to arrive no more than six months before you move and no later than 12 months after. Plan to keep using your belongings the way you always have, too. If you rent them out, lend them, or use them as collateral during your first year, the duty and VAT become due.
Your mover or shipping agent will file the customs clearance paperwork, but there’s a form for you, too: a declaration of personal property. You’ll also need to show that you’re really relocating, usually with a lease or purchase contract, an employment contract, or a certificate of residence. For valuable items, hold on to receipts showing you’ve owned them for at least six months.
Alcohol, tobacco, and anything used for work, other than portable tools, don’t qualify for the exemption. Cars follow their own rules, which the Danish Motor Vehicle Agency explains.
Tip: Send the inventory to your mover before pickup and flag recent purchases. Mention any alcohol or a vehicle explicitly so you can get advice on its treatment. Also check the restrictions on selling or lending belongings admitted under relief.
Bringing a dog or cat
A pet’s vaccination date can end up setting your flight date. After a primary rabies vaccination, dogs and cats must wait at least 21 days before travel; some vaccines require longer. Microchipping needs to happen before that vaccination.
A USDA-accredited veterinarian can work back from your departure date to plan the paperwork. The EU health certificate needs USDA endorsement. Ask the airline how it will carry your pet before you book, too.
Your first weeks in Copenhagen
You can apply for a CPR number once you’ve arrived with the required residence status and qualifying accommodation. This is your Danish civil registration number. Registration also starts the process for your yellow health card, which names your doctor. Find out when your Danish health coverage begins and arrange insurance for any gap.
Put your name on the mailbox as soon as you move in so official documents can reach you. For online banking and Danish public services, you’ll also encounter MitID, a digital ID separate from your CPR number.
Planning delivery of your household goods in Copenhagen
When you have a working inventory, ask your moving company for an estimate for moving to Copenhagen. If you’re still house hunting, say so. Your consultant can discuss storage and delivery options while you pin down the address.
Use an international moving checklist to keep track of arrangements as they become firm. Keep the delivery date provisional until you know when you’ll have the keys.