Bringing children to Denmark

Before birth

Your GP will confirm your pregnancy and refer you to the midwife.

You can choose how you want to give birth and you can discuss this with your midwife.

Check-ups are usually scheduled as follows:

• 3 check-ups at your GP
• 4 – 7 check-ups at the midwife
• 2 ultrasounds
• A birth and family course for pregnant women who are expecting their 1st child. Reduced number in English, but still available.

 
After birth

In general, stays at the hospital are short (when there are no complications). Your district nurse or ‘sundhedsplejerske’ will contact and visit you during the first week after birth.

Registering your child

• The midwife reports the birth to the authorities and the baby gets a CPR-number right away
• It is your responsibility to ensure that the child legally resides in the country
• Registering name, fælles forældremyndighed (shared custody) and fatherhood can be registered online with NemID
• You can get a print of the birth certificate at the local church office in person or have it sent to you.

Further information

• New in Denmark - pregancy and birth
• Children in a new country

The vast majority of children under the age of six are looked after by a childminder or a nursery from Monday to Friday. It is the task of the municipal authorities to provide day care facilities, and the options vary from authority to authority. It is your job to contact the municipal authorities to book a daycare spot for your child. In order to sign up for childcare you need a CPR number for your child and an address in Denmark. If there are not any places immediately available, the child's name will be placed on a waiting list. The earlier you put down the child's name, the greater the chance of finding a place when you need it.

Types of childcare

• Daycare (0-3 years old)
• Kindergarten (3-6 years old)
• Integrated Institutions (0-6 year old)

Read more about kindergartens on the GreaterAarhus website

In Aarhus you are guaranteed a daycare spot two month after you applied. You can apply by downloading and completing this application form and sending it to Relocation Service. It is necessary to have an address in Denmark in order to apply, but you can do it even if you don't have a CPR number yet. If you have a CPR number and NemID, you can apply online.

For further information on childcare in other cities, please contact us.

In Denmark, education is mandatory for children aged 6-16. Education is free at state or public schools (Folkeskole). It is also possible for your child to attend private schools (including international schools), which costs a monthly fee. Children begin school in August the year they turn six years old.

The primary and lower secondary education consists of a one-year pre-school class, nine years of primary and lower secondary education and an optional tenth form (Efterskole/10. klasse). Following primary school, which is completed at the age of 16 or 17, nearly all Danish students proceed to some form of upper secondary education.

There are different school options in Denmark:

• Municipal primary and lower secondary schools (Public school or Folkeskole)
• Private schools
• International schools (See list of international basic schools in Denmark)

Read more about the Danish education system on the Ministry of Children and Education website.

Children can be cared for at after-school centres or in after-school care schemes (SFO) in grade 0-3. Children can play with their friends, do homework or take part in various other activities. Read more here.

If you choose Danish public education and your child has limited or no knowledge of the Danish language, then they must start in a reception class. These classes support the child in developing the Danish language. When your child is ready to join a general class, they can go to school or move to the district school. It is up to the parents. 

You can read more about the reception classes in Aarhus municipality here, or contact the Kompetencecenter. 

If you live outside the municipality of Aarhus, you can contact us or your local municipality. 

The Relocation team can assist you with your questions.

Aarhus Municipality offers a free programme for those wishing to continue language instruction in their native language. This service is available for EU/EEC languages and is for pupils aged 5-16 (grades 0-9). The objective of mother tongue language instruction is to enable the pupils to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the spoken and written language of their native country and to enable them to express themselves verbally and in writing.

In Aarhus the instruction takes place at Møllevangskolen.

Contact Møllevangskolen for further information.

Once you have completed your basic school education in grade 9 or 10, you can apply for enrolment in a youth education programme. Youth education programmes are courses of preparatory study or professional qualification programmes usually lasting three or four years.

Find more facts about the upper secondary level of education. 

Upper secondary education for foreigners

Some schools offer general upper secondary programmes in English, German or French. The Ministry of Children and Education have created a list of all the options offered in Denmark.

Read more about upper secondary school options.

Child benefits

In Denmark, parents receive child benefits for each child under the age of 18. The child benefits are based on age and are paid on a monthly/quarterly basis.

You are eligible to receive full benefits if:

• You are an EU/EEC citizen and you have lived in one EU/EEC country at least 6 of the past 10 years.
• You are a Non EU/EEC citizen and have lived or worked in Denmark for at least 6 of the past 10 years.

Otherwise, you can receive a percentage of the benefit. See the rates and further information about family benefits and how to apply here. You are welcome to contact us for further information.

UIC International Playgroup

The UIC invites young children and their parents to play, connect and share experiences once a week at the UIC International Playgroup. The International Playgroup is a community that always welcomes new members, whether you are completely new in Aarhus or have lived here for a long time. The UIC Playgroup is located at Dokk1 in Aarhus. Both Internationals as Danes are welcome. Read more on the UIC website.

Gyngehesten Playgroup

Gyngehesten is a playgroup in Skejby, Aarhus, where children aged 0-6 and their parents/grandparents/nanny come to play & socialize and meet other children, who are at home and not in a kindergarten. The parent/grandparent/nanny stays with the child the whole time. Read more about Gyngehesten on their Danish website, or contact Lotte Højfeldt and she will provide the information needed in English.