BREXIT - How does it affect you as a researcher or employed PhD?
On this page we will give an overview of BREXIT. Refer to the relevant websites for details.
Permits to reside in Denmark for UK citizens
After 1 January 2021, British citizens are considered exempt from short term visa requirements. This means that if British citizens take up work and residence in Denmark as researchers for less than 90 days, a work and residence permit is not required or needed.
British citizens who come to live and work in Denmark after 1 January 2021
British citizens who come to live and work in Denmark after 1 January 2021 need to apply for – and await – a work and residence permit in the United Kingdom or a country where they have legal residence, before they can enter Denmark and start working.
British citizens already registered as residing and working in Denmark before 1 January 2021
British citizens already registered as residing and working in Denmark before 1 January 2021 had to apply for a new residence document before 31 December 2021.
Further information about BREXIT for citizens living in Denmark
Updates on BREXIT rules and procedures are always available on the website of Udlændinge- og Integrationsministeriet
Social security rights and obligations
Social security rights and obligations
Great Britain left the EU on 31 January 2020. However, UK citizens and their families living and working in Denmark will keep their rights to live and work in Denmark in the transition period, which runs until 31 December 2020. This includes their rights to social security and social benefits. When the transition period is over, UK citizens in Denmark will retain their right to social security and social benefits as if UK was still a member of the EU. They will only retain this right on the condition that they were covered by the EU rules on free movement before the end of the transition period.
All UK citizens and their families living and working in Denmark are strongly advised to get an EU certificate of registration before the transition period ends to document their rights.
Citizens of countries outside the UK and EU/EØS will be secured socially if
- they have moved to and have started working in the UK or an EU/EEC country after 31 December 2020 and
- prior to this were covered by the social security legislation in the UK or an EU/EEC country and
- apart from that meets the conditions for social security.
The right to free movement within EU
The decision to guarantee social security and social benefit right in Denmark does not mean that UK citizens living and working in Denmark will keep their right to free movement within EU. You should therefore investigate the country specific rules regarding visa and work and residence permits if you are going to another EU country.
Blue EU health insurance card
British citizens taking up residence and work in Denmark can obtain the blue EU health insurance card on equal terms as EU/EEA citizens. To obtain the insurance card, you need to be covered by national health insurance in Denmark.
The Blue European Health Insurance Card covers essential doctor and hospital treatment and medicine during your stay in an EU country, EEA (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), Switzerland or the United Kingdom. It gives you access to the same benefits and conditions as the citizens in the country, in which you are staying. That means you may have to pay for a part of the treatment yourself, if that applies to people insured there.
Read more about the EU health insurance card on Life in Denmark
Recruiting UK citizens after BREXIT
After 1 January 2021, UK citizens will be considered as third country citizens. They will therefore need a work and residence permit like any other non-EU citizens if they take up work and residence for more than 90 days. It takes up to two months to obtain a work and residence permit, and we therefore recommend you to start the application process for the required permit in due time before planned arrival after 1 January 2021.
However, after 1 January 2021, British citizens are considered exempt from short term visa requirements. This means that if British citizens take up work and residence in Denmark as researchers for less than 90 days, a work and residence permit is not required or needed.
Going to the UK (conferences and visiting scholars)
After 1 January 2021 Danes and other EU citizens who go to the UK will be considered as third country citizens.
Danes and other EU citizens are considered exempt from short term visa requirements for short term stays, but must always observe the short term visa rules. If in doubt, please consult the UK immigration office.
Going to the UK (to work or long term stay)
After 1 January 2021 Danes and other EU citizens who go to the UK will be considered as third country citizens
Consult the UK immigration office and/or your employer in the UK for detailed information about the permit required and the application process.
Further information about BREXIT
- For further information on visa and work and residence permits to Denmark, please contact: Inge Aachmann Pedersen: Phone: 25 56 35 71. Email: guestresearcher@au.dk
- For further information on social security and tax, please contact: Jens Kristian Birthin. Phone: 87 15 33 25 Email: jkb@au.dk
Important links:
