Traffic lights, tests and self isolation – if you are travelling between Denmark and the UK here’s what you need to know.
From UK to Denmark
As of January 1st, 2021, the UK has been treated the same as other non-EU/EEA countries with regards to Covid-19 travel rules.
The UK is currently classed as “orange” on Denmark’s own traffic light system for Covid travel guidelines, meaning that travellers from UK to Denmark, who are not Danish residents or citizens need a “worthy purpose” to gain entry.
These reasons do not include visiting Denmark for a holiday or tourism, or visiting a friend or relative who is not a minor, or unpaid voluntary work.
These include:
- Work, business, studies etc.
- A job in Denmark
- Attending a business meeting
- Carrying out services or transport goods in or out of Denmark
- Being a seaman, aircraft crew member, or a diplomat
- Having a job interview in Denmark
- Being a pupil or student in Denmark (but only if physical presence is required)
- Having a traineeship in Denmark
- Attending a folk high school programme
- Having an au pair placement
There are also “private matters” which constitute a worthy purpose to enter Denmark. These include:
- Being a spouse, live-in partner, parent, grandparent, brother or sister, stepbrother or stepsister, child or grandchild of a person resident in Denmark
- Being spouse, live-in partner, parent of a Danish national resident abroad when you are travelling to Denmark together
- Being the spouse, live-in partner, child, or stepchild of a person sent by another state who holds a diplomatic passport or a similar document
- Being the parent of a minor living in Denmark
- Being the primary caregiver of a minor living in Denmark
- Being related to or in a relationship with a seriously ill or dying person in Denmark
- To participate in the birth of a child
- To continue treatment at a healthcare institution
- To attend a funeral or burial of immediate family members
- Owning property, a boat or a permanent place at a campsite in Denmark
You can see the full list here.
What do I need to bring to prove my ‘worthy purpose’?
If you have a job in Denmark, you should bring a copy of your employment contract and a recent payslip, and a work permit, if you have one. If you are self-employed in Denmark, you need to bring a certificate of incorporation. If you are a professional artist or athlete, you need to bring an email or letter detailing the performance or competition.
If you are attending a business meeting, you need to bring copies of emails detailing the meeting, and contact details of the person you are meeting. If attending a job interview, you must bring a copy of the invitation to interview which includes contact details of people at the company.
If you are a student you must bring a letter of confirmation from the educational institution, which states that the institution is open and that you will attend classes or exams physically. If you have a student residence permit, bring this too.
If you are coming to work as an au pair you must present a Danish residence permit, registration certificate or residence card.
If you are coming to visit a spouse, lover or relative, you need to fill in this “solemn declaration”, detailing your relationship, and you are also advised to bring a copy of the health insurance card of the person resident in Denmark. Depending on the relationship, you should also bring copies of your birth certificate, baptism certificate, or marriage certificate.
For lovers, the relationship must have lasted for at least three months, and the two lovers must have met frequently in person. This can be proven through photographs and videos, for instance.
If you are visiting a child who is a minor, you need to bring the children’s birth or baptism certificates, and copies of your children’s health insurance cards.
If you are the primary caregiver of a minor, you need to bring a document from a national authority stating that you are the primary caregiver.
If you are visiting a sick relative you must bring confirmation from a healthcare professional passed on to you with the sick person’s consent, as well as documents proving your relationship.
To attend the birth of a child, you can arrive up to three weeks before the birth, but must bring a copy of the maternity record and a letter from the mother confirming that you are the other parent and saying that she wants you to attend.
To enter for medical treatment you need to bring a notice from the healthcare institution.
To attend a funeral you need a notice from the undertaker, church office or chapel, as well as documents showing your relationship.
To visit a property boat or campsite in Denmark, you must show a deed of conveyance, contract of sale or tax information, or other proof that you are a permanent resident at a campsite or have a berth.
What do you need to show on arrival in Denmark?
Anyone travelling to Denmark from the UK, including Danish residents, needs to show a recent negative coronavirus test before boarding their plane, and also a negative coronavirus test after arrival.
If you are not a Danish citizen or resident, you also need to show a recent negative coronavirus test on arrival in Denmark, and also isolate yourself for ten days.
You must isolate even if the test taken in connection with entry is negative, but can end isolation early if after four days you take a test which is negative.
Foreign residents and national, who lack Danish identity number such as a CPR number or NemID, can be tested at all PCR test stations in the Capital Region of Denmark, Region Zealand, or the North Denmark Region, but in the Region of Southern Denmark and Central Denmark Region only some stations can test them.
You need to register on the covidresults.dk website before arriving to take the test, but you do not need to book an appointment. Once your test is complete the results will be sent to your account.
The citizens and residents of EU and Schengen countries who are fully vaccinated can forgo these requirements. This does not however apply to people from the UK, who are not currently covered by the vaccine clause.
From Denmark to the UK
The UK still has some lockdown measures and travel in or out of the country is only permitted for essential reasons including work, study, volunteering and compassionate grounds. However, this will change on May 17th when the ‘traffic light’ system comes into effect.
Denmark has been placed on the amber list for travel. This is what that means:
For entry to the UK you need a negative Covid test taken within the previous 72 hours – Covid tests are free in Denmark for residents and you can find out how to get one. UK rules allow either a PCR test or an antigen test of more than 97 percent specificity and 80 percent sensitivity.
You need to fill in the contact locator form – find the form HERE.
Once in the UK, you need to quarantine and buy a travel test package.
The quarantine period is 10 days long, but can be done at a location of your choosing including the home or family or friends.
You also need to buy a travel test package and take further Covid tests on day 2 and day 8 of your quarantine. These tests are compulsory and cost on average an eye-watering £200 per person – you can find the list of approved providers HERE.
Find further information on UK travel rules HERE.
Both Denmark and the UK still have plenty of health restrictions in place, so you will also need to know the rules during your visit.
Restrictions in Denmark
Everything is now open in Denmark, with most remaining restrictions applying only to large events. But most indoor activities, including visiting restaurants, bars, cafes, museums, galleries, and zoos, and attending concerts or plays, require you to show a certificate of a negative coronavirus test less than 72 hours old.
As noted above, foreign residents and nationals can be tested free of charge if they drop in to all PCR test stations in Denmark. You need to register on the covidresults.dk website before arriving to take the test, and once the results are sent there, they can be used as a coronavirus passport.
In Denmark, you must wear a face mask when travelling on public transport, when visiting indoor museums or galleries, and when standing up in a restaurant, bar or cafe. Spectators at the theatre, cinema or at music venues must wear a mask until they are seated.
UK rules
The UK is currently in the process of exiting lockdown and the stay-at-home rule ended on March 29th.
This plan also includes reopening pubs and restaurants for outdoor service only from April 12th and indoor hospitality from May 17th. You can find more on the roadmap on the UK government website HERE.
Masks are compulsory on public transport and in indoor public places although there are exemptions in place for people with certain medical conditions.
