Rules and laws in Denmark (2026)
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026
Every topic we cover for Denmark. Each rule links to its official source.
Driving
Car insurance and green cards
A foreign car may be used in Denmark only if liability insurance is in force. Cars registered in the EU/EEA, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland are deemed insured. Cars from other states, including the United Kingdom, need a green card or a Danish border insurance policy.
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Car speed limits
The general limits for cars are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside them and 130 km/h on motorways. A motortrafikvej has 80 km/h unless a higher limit is signed.
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Drink-driving limits
The general limit is 0.50 per mille of blood (0.25 mg per litre of breath), and 0.20 per mille for category B drivers in the first three years. The police may require a breath test at any time. Penalties are a fine, withdrawal of the right to drive and, in serious cases, up to 1 year 6 months in prison.
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Driving after drugs
Driving with THC above 0.001 mg per kg of blood, or with another classified substance in the blood, is an offence unless taken as prescribed. Police may require a saliva or sweat test. The penalty is a fine, with imprisonment of up to 1 year and 6 months in aggravated cases.
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E-bikes and speed pedelecs
A pedelec with a motor of up to 250 W that assists up to 25 km/h is treated as a bicycle and has no minimum age. A speed pedelec runs under a trial scheme with no end date: it may use cycle paths, riders must be 15 or over, wear a cycle helmet and carry liability insurance.
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E-scooters
Motorised scooters that meet the trial-scheme rules may be ridden from age 15 (younger riders only with an adult or in signed play areas), with a cycle helmet, at up to 20 km/h and under the cycling rules. Passengers are not allowed. Liability insurance is compulsory for rental scooters but not for privately owned ones.
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Foreign driving licences
Licences from EU and EEA countries are valid in Denmark with no duty to exchange. Other foreign licences must be in Latin letters or translated, and after ordinary residence is established they may be used for 180 days before exchange.
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Minimum age for a car driving licence
A category B car licence can be issued from age 18. From 17 a licence is available on condition of a companion between 20.00 and 05.00, valid in Denmark only until 18. A visitor may drive on a valid foreign licence for the categories it grants.
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Mopeds
Danish mopeds are split into two classes. A lille knallert (up to 30 km/h) can be ridden from 15 with its own licence; a stor knallert (up to 45 km/h) needs a category AM licence from 18. A helmet and liability insurance are required for both.
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Motorcycles: helmets and licences
Danish law requires the rider and every passenger aged 15 or over to wear a fastened helmet, and dipped beam must be used on motor vehicles in daylight. The starting ages are 18 for category A1, 20 for A2 and 24 for A, or 22 for A with two years of experience on A2.
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Road tolls and vignettes
Cars pay a toll to cross the Storebælt Bridge and the Øresund Bridge. Whether other Danish roads have charges for cars was not checked on an official page.
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Seat belts and child seats
Seat belts must be worn on any seat fitted with one. Children under 135 cm must use approved safety equipment adapted to their height and weight. A child may not travel in a rear-facing child seat on a seat with an active front airbag.
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Towing trailers and caravans
A car with a trailer or caravan is limited to 80 km/h, and to 100 km/h on motorways for combinations approved under the Tempo 100 scheme. A category B licence covers trailers up to 750 kg, or heavier trailers if the combination stays within 3,500 kg; code 96 extends this to 4,250 kg.
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Using a mobile phone while driving
Holding a phone or other handheld communication device while driving is banned. Hands-free use is not covered by the ban. The prosecution guideline sets a starting-point fine of DKK 1,500 for drivers of motor vehicles and one clip in the driving licence.
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Travel
Air passenger rights
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 applies to flights departing from Denmark, with compensation of EUR 250, 400 or 600 by distance. The national enforcement body is Trafikstyrelsen (the Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority).
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Customs allowances for tobacco and alcohol
Denmark allows travellers aged 18 or over to bring in, for own use, 800 cigarettes, 10 litres of spirits, 90 litres of table wine and 110 litres of beer from another EU country. From outside the EU, travellers aged 17 or over may bring 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits, 4 litres of table wine and 16 litres of beer duty-free. Exceeding the limits means paying duties, and a fine in some cases.
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Health cover for temporary visitors
Denmark accepts the EHIC for treatment from doctors working under the public health insurance scheme. Private care, repatriation and planned treatment are not covered. Reimbursement claims go to the municipality being visited.
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Meat and dairy imports
Food of animal origin may be brought for private use from EU countries and from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland. From other countries meat, meat products and dairy may not be brought, with limited allowances for fish, infant milk and some other products.
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Rail passenger rights
Regulation (EU) 2021/782 applies, but Denmark exempts urban, suburban and regional services from most of it, including the compensation rules. For other services the figures are 25 % from 60 minutes and 50 % from 120 minutes.
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Travelling with pets
A dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and an EU pet passport or, from outside the EU, an animal health certificate. At most five animals may travel together, except for events. Thirteen dog breeds are banned, even for tourists.
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Living
Deposit return schemes and plastic bags
A national deposit system covers single-use and refillable drink packaging, with deposits of DKK 1, 1.50 or 3 depending on type and size (order in force from 15 October 2026). Shops must charge at least DKK 4 per carrier bag, and thin plastic carrier bags are banned.
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Dual nationality
Denmark has allowed dual nationality since 1 September 2015. Naturalisation no longer requires giving up other nationalities, and acquiring a foreign nationality no longer causes loss of Danish nationality.
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Maximum working time
The average working week may not exceed 48 hours including overtime, calculated over 4 months. Employees are entitled to 11 hours of rest in every 24 hours and a rest day in every 7 days. Individual agreement to work more than 48 hours is possible only in areas where social partners have agreed it.
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Naturalisation by residence
Danish citizenship by naturalisation is granted by an act of the Danish Parliament. The ministry's pages give nine years' residence as the usual condition and a citizenship test; giving up the previous nationality is not required. The ministry is currently not processing most applications until it is clear which conditions will apply.
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Registering residence for longer stays
Denmark requires registration in the Central Person Register for moves lasting over 3 months, or over 6 months for Nordic, EU/EEA and Swiss nationals. The move must be notified to the municipality within 5 days of getting a home and, where needed, a residence permit or certificate. Departures abroad must be notified before leaving.
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Restrictions
Drones
Drone owners register with Trafikstyrelsen (DKK 65) if the drone is over 250 g or has a camera or other sensor, and need liability insurance unless it is a toy drone. A1/A3 or A2 certificates apply by drone class, the maximum height is 120 m and pilots must be at least 15 for drones of 250 g or more unless supervised.
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Fireworks
In Denmark consumer fireworks (categories F1 and F2) can be sold at retail from 15 to 31 December and used only on 31 December and 1 January, with F1 exempt from both periods. F2 fireworks can be sold to people aged 18 or over and F1 to people aged 15 or over. Municipalities can ban fireworks locally in dry weather or other special circumstances.
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Knives and pepper spray
Danish law bans carrying knives and bladed weapons in public places unless it is for work, hunting, angling, sport or a similar recognised purpose. Several knife types, and sharp weapons with a blade over 12 cm, need a police permit. Self-defence sprays need police permission, which is given only to people with a special need for protection.
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Tobacco and nicotine age limits
Denmark bans selling tobacco products, nicotine surrogates such as nicotine pouches and herbal smoking products to people under 18, and the same age applies to e-cigarettes. Smoking and using e-cigarettes is banned indoors in public places, workplaces, eating and drinking places and on public transport and taxis. Flavoured nicotine surrogates are banned apart from tobacco and menthol.
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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.