Updated April 24, 2026
Driving License in Denmark for Expats
Yes, for 180 days from establishing sædvanlig bopæl in Denmark (kørekortbekendtgørelsen § 127 / Kapitel 13). EU/EØS, Faroese and Greenlandic licences remain valid indefinitely while in force in the issuing country.. After that, you must convert to a Denmark license. Good news: the official test is available in English.
Key Facts: Denmark Driving License for Expats
- Test Authority
- Færdselsstyrelsen — Danish Road Traffic Authority (Færdselsstyrelsen)
- Official Test Language
- Danish, English
- Grace Period
- 180 days from establishing sædvanlig bopæl in Denmark (kørekortbekendtgørelsen § 127 / Kapitel 13). EU/EØS, Faroese and Greenlandic licences remain valid indefinitely while in force in the issuing country.
- Processing Time
- Exchange application filed at Borgerservice in any kommune; the application is forwarded by the police / Færdselsstyrelsen for approval. Typical processing: 4–10 weeks from appointment to receiving the Danish kørekort in the post. Full-test route (countries without agreement): 3–6 months including lessons, theory test and practical test.
- Theory Test Required
- Not for exchange
- Practical Test Required
- Not for exchange
- Medical Exam
- Required
- Total Cost
- Group 1 / Group 2 direct exchange: typically DKK 1,150–1,800 (~€155–240) including fee, medical certificate and passport photo. Full controlling-test route (non-agreement countries): DKK 3,000–6,000 (~€400–800) including the DKK 1,600 test fee (2026 Færdselsstyrelsen rate), lessons and first-aid course. Full kørekort from scratch (no foreign licence): DKK 15,000–22,000 (~€2,000–2,950) — among the most expensive in Europe.
Eligibility by Nationality
EU/EEA Citizens
EU/EØS driving licences (kørekort udstedt i et andet EU- eller EØS-land) are valid for driving in Denmark under § 125 of kørekortbekendtgørelsen (Kapitel 13, BEK nr 1723 af 13/12/2024). Faroese and Greenlandic licences are equivalent. Exchange for a Danish kørekort is voluntary; when you renew, the Danish medical-fitness and age rules apply. No theory or practical test is required to exchange.
US/UK Citizens
UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar): Group 1 — direct exchange for category B without test, within 180 days of residence. Applicant must sign declarations that the licence has not been revoked in the last 5 years. USA: Group 2 — exchange without test if the holder declares active category B driving in the past 2 years AND no revocation in 5 years; otherwise a controlling test is required. All US state licences are accepted regardless of state.
Other Non-EU Citizens
A non-EU/EØS driving licence remains valid in Denmark for 180 days from the day you establish sædvanlig bopæl (ordinary residence — at least 185 days per year, usually registered with a CPR-nummer). After 180 days you must have exchanged it for a Danish kørekort to continue driving. Group 1 and Group 2 countries (see exchangeAgreements) can exchange without a test; all others must pass a controlling theory and practical test (kontrollerende prøve). Source: kørekortbekendtgørelsen §§ 125–134 and Færdselsstyrelsen guidance.
Students
The 180-day clock runs from the date sædvanlig bopæl is established, not from CPR registration alone. Students whose stay is under 185 days per year may avoid being considered permanently resident and continue using their home licence, but this is a case-by-case assessment — Færdselsstyrelsen can be contacted at udland@fstyr.dk for guidance. Once you are folkeregistreret and plan to stay long-term, the 180-day rule applies.
Required Documents
- ✓Valid passport or EU national ID
- ✓CPR-nummer and proof of folkeregistrering (often via sundhedskort)
- ✓Residence permit / opholdstilladelse (non-EU nationals)
- ✓Original foreign kørekort (valid, not expired)
- ✓Certified translation (Danish, English, French or German) if licence is not in Latin characters
- ✓Lægeattest til kørekort (medical certificate including synstest) issued by a Danish authorised doctor — mandatory for all non-EU/EØS exchanges; EU/EØS holders only need it at renewal
- ✓Passport photo (35 × 45 mm) — meets kørekort standard; can be taken at Borgerservice for ~DKK 130
- ✓Signed declaration(s): (Group 1) no driving ban in the last 5 years; (Group 2) active category B use in the past 2 years + no driving ban in 5 years
- ✓For full-test route: kørekortansøgning, førstehjælpsbevis (first-aid certificate), and proof of theory + practical test passes
Costs Breakdown
- Conversion/Exam Fee
- DKK 520 — ombytningsgebyr (exchange fee, confirmed by Københavns Kommune Borgerservice for 2026). Motorcycle / moped (lille / stor knallert) exchange: DKK 270. Note: Færdselsstyrelsen has proposed a 25 % fee hike across kørekort-gebyrer later in 2026; confirm the current rate with your Borgerservice on the day of application.
- Medical Exam
- Lægeattest (medical certificate with vision test) — DKK 500–1,000 set by the individual doctor (not a statutory fee). The form is obtained at the Borgerservice appointment and filled in by a læge within 3 months of submission.
- Translation
- DKK 300–800 if the foreign licence is not in Latin script or not in Danish / English / French / German — must be done by an autoriseret translatør (authorised translator).
- Total Estimated
- Group 1 / Group 2 direct exchange: typically DKK 1,150–1,800 (~€155–240) including fee, medical certificate and passport photo. Full controlling-test route (non-agreement countries): DKK 3,000–6,000 (~€400–800) including the DKK 1,600 test fee (2026 Færdselsstyrelsen rate), lessons and first-aid course. Full kørekort from scratch (no foreign licence): DKK 15,000–22,000 (~€2,000–2,950) — among the most expensive in Europe.
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 28
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 28
EU / EØS (all 27 EU Member States + Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) — valid indefinitely; voluntary exchangeFaroe Islands (Færøerne)Greenland (Grønland) — a controlling test may be required per kørekortbekendtgørelsen— Group 1 (non-EU direct exchange, category B, no test): —United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)JerseyGuernseyIsle of ManGibraltarSwitzerlandJapanSouth Korea (Republic of Korea)Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)Australia (Capital Territory only)BrazilRussiaUkraine— Group 2 (direct exchange if active-use declaration signed): —USA (all states)CanadaAustralia (all other states)New ZealandIsraelSingaporeChileBosnia and HerzegovinaSerbiaNorth Macedonia
No Agreement (Full Test Required): All other countries — including India, China, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia — require the full controlling test (theory + practical) at a Færdselsstyrelsen test centre after residency is established.
Tips for Expats in Denmark
- The deadline to exchange a non-EU licence is 180 days from establishing sædvanlig bopæl — not 14 days as commonly misreported. The 14-day figure circulates in outdated expat guides but has no basis in kørekortbekendtgørelsen.
- Since 2024, the Færdselsstyrelsen teoriprøve is available in English at every digital test centre in Denmark — a major change from the pre-2024 Danish-only regime. The practical test remains in Danish.
- US drivers are in Group 2: they can usually exchange without a test if they sign the "active-use" declaration (driven a category B vehicle in the past 2 years). Avoid the full-test route that older guides describe.
- Denmark recognises UK, Japanese, South Korean, Swiss, Taiwanese, Russian, Ukrainian, Brazilian and ACT-Australian licences in Group 1 — no test, no active-use declaration, just pay DKK 520 and submit a lægeattest.
- Application is filed at any Borgerservice regardless of your home kommune. You can pre-book an appointment through borger.dk; bring original passport, CPR-nummer, the foreign licence, a lægeattest dated within 3 months, and a 35×45 mm photo (Borgerservice offers a photo booth for DKK 130).
- The CPR-nummer is obtained from the kommune folkeregister on arrival and is required for the application — but is NOT what starts the 180-day countdown. What matters is when you establish sædvanlig bopæl (ordinary residence), which is the same date in practice for most expats.
Verified
From a recent expat graduate
A real story from someone who got their licence as a foreigner
Passed in Chile
“I find the service invaluable. It helped me immensely and I am impressed by the format and content. First class!”I have now passed my driving theory test. The course and information was great and very helpful. The reason I had to take the test is because I am living in Chile which does not recognise the driver licence of my mother country.
Antony StaceyExpat
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I drive on my foreign licence in Denmark?
EU / EØS, Faroese and Greenlandic licences are valid for driving in Denmark as long as they remain valid in the issuing country — exchange is voluntary (kørekortbekendtgørelsen § 125). For all other (non-EU) licences, you have 180 days from the day you establish sædvanlig bopæl (ordinary residence, typically your CPR registration date) to continue driving on the foreign licence. Beyond 180 days you must have exchanged it for a Danish kørekort, or passed the controlling theory and practical tests, to continue driving.
Can I take the Danish theory test in English?
Yes. Since 2024, the Færdselsstyrelsen digital teoriprøve is offered in English at every test centre in Denmark. You sit a touchscreen test with video scenarios and yes/no questions. Danish and English are the two computerised languages; applicants who need another language may request an authorised interpreter (tolk) in advance from Færdselsstyrelsen. The practical test (praktisk prøve) is conducted in Danish, but basic English instructions are widely accepted in practice — an interpreter is not permitted during the drive.
What is the 180-day rule, and is it "14 days"?
It is 180 days, not 14 days. Kørekortbekendtgørelsen Chapter 13 gives non-EU licence holders 180 days from establishing sædvanlig bopæl in Denmark to exchange their licence or pass the controlling test. The "14-day" figure circulates in some outdated expat guides but has no basis in Danish law. The 180-day clock does NOT restart if you leave Denmark briefly; it runs from the day you took up ordinary residence.
Can I exchange my US driver's licence in Denmark?
Yes, usually without a test. The USA is a Group 2 country: you can exchange your US state licence for a Danish kørekort if you sign two declarations — (1) you have actively driven a category B vehicle within the past 2 years, and (2) your licence has not been revoked in the past 5 years. If you cannot make declaration (1), a kontrollerende prøve (theory + practical test) is required but no mandatory 29-lesson autoskola course. The DKK 520 exchange fee and a Danish lægeattest still apply.
Can I exchange my UK driving licence in Denmark?
Yes, directly and without a test. The UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) is in Group 1 alongside Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Gibraltar. You need only sign a declaration that your licence has not been revoked in the past 5 years, submit a lægeattest, pay DKK 520, and hand in the original UK licence at any Borgerservice. You must be folkeregistreret in Denmark and the exchange must be done within 180 days of establishing residence.
Which non-EU countries have exchange agreements with Denmark?
Group 1 (direct exchange, no test, no active-use declaration) — UK, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, Brazil, Russia, Ukraine, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, and Australia (Capital Territory only). Group 2 (direct exchange with active-use declaration) — USA, Canada, Australia (all other states), New Zealand, Israel, Singapore, Chile, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia. Licences from all other countries require the full controlling theory + practical test.
Do I need a medical certificate to exchange my licence?
Yes, for every non-EU/EØS exchange. You obtain the lægeattest til kørekort form at Borgerservice and take it to any Danish authorised doctor (læge); the doctor performs a basic fitness check including a synstest (vision test). The certificate is valid for 3 months. EU/EØS licence holders do not need a lægeattest to exchange, only at renewal after age 70 (or earlier if the doctor flags fitness concerns).
How much does the exchange cost in 2026?
The exchange fee (ombytningsgebyr) is DKK 520 for category B in 2026, confirmed by Københavns Kommune Borgerservice. Add DKK 500–1,000 for the lægeattest (doctor's fee — not a statutory rate), DKK 130 for a kørekort-compliant passport photo if taken at Borgerservice, and DKK 300–800 for a certified translation if your licence is not in Latin script or a recognised language (Danish, English, French, German). Total typical cost: DKK 1,150–1,800 (~€155–240). Færdselsstyrelsen has consulted on a 25 % fee increase for later in 2026 — confirm the current rate on the day of application.
Where do I submit my exchange application?
At any Borgerservice (municipal citizen service) regardless of where you live in Denmark. You book an appointment through borger.dk or the kommune website (e.g. kk.dk for Copenhagen, international.aarhus.dk for Aarhus). Bring your original passport, residence permit, the original foreign licence, a lægeattest issued within the last 3 months, a 35×45 mm photo, and the signed declarations (Group 1 / Group 2). The Borgerservice officer forwards the application to Rigspolitiet / Færdselsstyrelsen for approval; the Danish kørekort card is mailed to your folkeregister address 4–10 weeks later.
Do I need to speak Danish to drive or exchange my licence?
No. The licence exchange itself is handled in English at most larger Borgerservice offices (Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg). The theory test is now offered in English at every Færdselsstyrelsen test centre. Road signs in Denmark use largely self-explanatory European symbols, and the Danish road traffic act (færdselsloven) is the same ruleset used across all Nordic and EU countries. You will need Danish only for the practical test if it falls in the full-test route, though examiners regularly accept basic English.
What happens if I miss the 180-day deadline?
Driving on an expired (by Danish law) non-EU foreign licence after day 180 counts as driving without a valid licence under færdselsloven and can result in a substantial fine and, in serious cases, a driving ban. The remedy is to apply for the controlling theory + practical test — you cannot just reset the 180-day clock by leaving the country briefly. If you realise you have missed the deadline, stop driving immediately and contact Færdselsstyrelsen (udland@fstyr.dk) or your Borgerservice for the test-booking path.
Is a "first-aid course" required for exchange?
A førstehjælpsbevis (first-aid certificate, 8-hour course) is mandatory for people taking the full Danish kørekort from scratch (category B ab initio), but it is NOT required for a Group 1 or Group 2 exchange. Applicants on the full controlling-test route (non-agreement countries) who already hold a valid foreign licence follow kørekortbekendtgørelsen's exchange rules, not the ab-initio rules — confirm with your Borgerservice what applies to your country of issue.
Official sources
Færdselsstyrelsen (Danish Road Traffic Authority) — licence rules + test administration; Borgerservice (municipal citizen services) — applications; Rigspolitiet — card issuance
https://www.fstyr.dk
License Conversion Info
https://www.fstyr.dk/privat/koerekort/koerekort-og-udland/ombytning-af-udenlandsk-koerekort