driving licence in Denmark
Indian working here locally or as expats are required to exchange your driving licence for a Danish licence to be allowed to drive in Denmark. To exchange your foreign driving license, you need to book an appointment with Citizen Service.
You are allowed to drive with your foreign driving licence (Indian License) for up to 180 days after you get a permanent address in Denmark.
If you wish to drive a car in Denmark after these 180 days, you must exchange your foreign driving licence for a Danish licence.
You must meet these requirements to exchange your driving licence
- You must permanently reside in Denmark. This means that you must be registered with a Danish address in the National Register and reside in Denmark for at least 185 days a year.
- Your foreign driving licence must have been issued before you entered Denmark.
- You must have resided in the issuing country for more than six consecutive months while you were qualifying for the driving licence.
- You must be able to present your foreign driving licence and it must be intact. If you have lost your driving licence, or if it is damaged or very worn, it is unfortunately not possible for you to exchange it for a Danish driving licence.
When you are ready to exchange your driving licence, you must book an appointment for a personal meeting at Citizen Service.
1. What you must bring to Citizen Service
Always bring the following:
- Your foreign driving licence (Original License Copy)
- A valid passport/Resident Card/Yellow Card
- A medical certificate from your doctor. You will receive it in a closed envelope, which must be unopened when you hand it in at Citizen Service. The certificate must be less than six months old. (This will additionally cost between 550 – 700 DKK).
- A valid photo (35mm x 45mm photo with head between 30-36mm from tip of chin to hairline) – if your photo is not approved – you will have to pay an additional 130 DKK for taking a photo at Borgerservice.
It costs DKK 280 to exchange a driving licence, and you can pay in cash, with VISA, Mastercard, American Express, JCB or UnionPay or with MobilePay or a Dankort app.
Bring the following, if it applies to you:
If you are not a citizen of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland or Iceland, we need you to bring a valid residence permit.
1.1 First driving license/new driving license category
If this is the first time you are applying for a driving licence, or if you want to obtain a new category on your existing driving licence, you will have to complete the required training for the category in question under the supervision of a licensed driving instructor and pass a test of skills and behavior and a theoretical test.
1.2 If you are under the age of eighteen
If you are under the age of eighteen, your custodian or custodians will have to give their consent to the issuing of a driving licence for category B. The municipality will evaluate if the conditions for the issuing of a driving licence are met, schedule the tests and charge the fee.
1.3 Temporary driving license
If you have stayed in Denmark for less than 180 days when you come to Citizen Service, you can get a temporary Danish driving licence. The licence is valid in the Scandinavian countries, and you can use it while we process your application.
Temporary Driving license is valid for 3 months and you are allowed to extend up to 9 months (3 months each time) until your application is processed at the commune to apply for Danish License.
2. Applying for Theory and Driving Test
Once your application is processed – Danish Transport authority will send you a note in eboks to appear for a test.
After your foreign driving license has been verified by the police, and you have received your new temporary driving license in the mail, you must take the theory and driving test within three months.
The theory and driving tests are in Danish, but as a foreigner you are allowed to bring along an interpreter. Please note that the interpreter must be certified and approved by the police and that you must pay for the interpreter yourself.
If you do not need an interpreter for your theory test, nor wish to take a few theory classes before you take the test, you can order the theory test at Citizen’s Services.
If you need an interpreter and/or wish to take a few lessons before taking the theory test, contact a local driving school and ask them to help you.
Having passed the theory test, you must then take a driving test. You must sign up to take the driving test via a driving school. (You can try Imtiaz Koreskole @ Borups Allè 5A, Copenhagen or anywhere withing your kommune)
If there is a waiting list for taking the driving test, the validity of your temporary driving license can be extended by Citizens’ Services. However, Citizens’ Services will require proof of the fact that you have booked time for the test and that you are following the normal process.
Useful Tip!!
It is a good idea to take a few driving and theory classes before you take the tests. This will cost extra, however, if you fail the tests, you will have to pay to re-take the tests.
The first theory and driving tests are free, but if you fail you will have to pay approximately DKK 900 to retake the test. Some driving schools offer online teaching programs which can help you pass the tests.
What is the time frame for getting a Danish driving license?
The time frame for getting a Danish driving license varies. The process takes longer if you have to take a theory and driving test.
If you are required to pass the theory and driving test before you can get the driving license, you will be issued with another temporary driving license as soon as you have passed the tests. Your new Danish driving license will then be sent to your address within one month.
How much does it cost?
It will cost more if you are required to take a theory and driving tests. The costs will also increase if you have to re-take the theory and/or the driving test. Note some driving schools require you to have at least one or two driving lessons before they will let you take the driving test.
Below you can find the average prices for acquiring a Danish driving licence. Please note that there may be elements that are not listed here. For exact prices, we advise you to contact a driving school.
Doctor’s fee for your health certificate: DKK 400 – 600
Passport photo: DKK 130
Citizens’ Service (include the 1st theory and driving test fee): DKK 280
Renting a car for one hour for the driving test: DKK 500
Certified interpreter (if you do not speak Danish): DKK 600
Theory book in English (optional): DKK 500
Online theory teaching program and practice test: DKK 400
One practical driving lesson (optional): DKK 500
Fee for re-taking the theory or driving test: DKK 900
If you have stayed in Denmark for over 185 days and didn’t apply for a license exchange in Copenhagen Citizen Center – then you won’t get a temporary licence in Citizen Center.
You can then appear for exchange of your driving license in one these Kommune’s below and there are high chances they will accept your application and offer you temporary license. Follow the same procedures as stated above for exchanging your foreign license to get temporary license.
- Hoje Taastrup Kommune (High chances of getting it in this commune)
- Frederikssund Kommune
- Hillerod Kommune
If you want your foreign driving licence back
You can get your foreign driving licence back if you e.g. are going to live in the country where the licence was issued from again.
This is how you do it:
- Write an application with your name and cpr-number as well as the reason for why you want it back.
- Book and an appointment with Citizen Service where you have to turn in your application.
- The police will process your application within three weeks. If they can approve it, we will send you a message via Digital Post when you can pick up the new driving licence in Citizen Service.
- Book an appointment for picking up the driving licence in Citizen Service.
- Pick up your foreign driving licence and remember your Danish driving licence, which you must hand over to us.
CONTACT
Copenhagen Citizen Service
Phone33 66 33 66
Useful Reference Links
https://www.kbhkoereskole.dk/english_exchanging.html
https://internationalcommunity.dk/en-US/Your-guide-to-DK/Coming-to-Denmark/Driving-licence
https://lifeindenmark.borger.dk/travel-and-transport/how-to-obtain-a-driving-license-in-denmark
https://politi.dk/pas/krav-til-pas-og-koerekortfoto