Danish citizens and people who legally reside in Denmark do not require a stated reason to enter the country and are also not obliged to provide a negative Covid-19 test. However, it should be noted that a negative Covid-19 test taken within the last 24 hours is required to board flights to Denmark, even for people who live in the country.

People who have been recently infected with Covid-19 may, however, board flights if they document a positive Covid-19 test between two and eight weeks old. That is because, although they are no longer an infection risk, they may return a positive test result due to recent illness.

People travelling to Denmark on a single journey of more than 24 hours (for example, including flight transfers) are allowed to travel if they present a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of boarding the first flight.

READ ALSO: When and how can foreign residents get the Covid-19 vaccine in Denmark?

Travelling abroad

For those living in Denmark, travelling outside of the country is also restricted, though not impossible.

The foreign ministry guidelines currently have the entire world at the ‘red’ alert level. That means that the ministry is advising against all foreign travel (not just non-essential travel). This means that business travel is not exempted from the advisory, although there are some exemptions, such as for transport of goods.

The decision to place the entire world on this level is because “limitation of travel activity is a key element in the effort to control infections at the same time as mutations of coronavirus is occurring in several countries,” the ministry states.

People returning to Denmark from travel abroad are asked to take a rapid Covid-19 test on arrival in the country. Free testing facilities are available at entry points. Additionally, travellers are strongly advised to self-isolate for 10 days after arriving. The isolation can be ended if a PCR test for Covid-19 taken after four days returns a negative result. Children under 12 are exempted from the testing recommendation.

Though quarantine is not enforced at the time of writing, that is expected to change this week once parliament has voted through an amendment to Denmark’s emergency epidemic law.

READ ALSO: Denmark set to enforce entry quarantine as parliament backs move

Even if you decide to travel out of Denmark with the above in mind, bear in mind it might not be possible to cross the border of your destination country, depending on the rules in place there – check with local authorities (including in transit countries).

Visitors to Denmark

Non-residents of Denmark who want to visit the country are required to fulfil a ‘valid reason' criterion for entering the country, while non-Danes who live in either the UK or South Africa are essentially banned from entering Denmark altogether.

There are some exceptions for UK and South Africa nationals: Primary carers for children under the age of consent; family or partners to seriously ill or dying persons in Denmark; and people entering for the purpose of goods transport can cross the border.

‘Valid reasons’ for entering Denmark (also referred to as ‘worthy purpose’) can be related to work or business; attending the birth of a child; contact time with children; end-of-life visits to loved ones; funerals; continuation of healthcare; and legal matters. More specific guidance can be found here, and you can also call the Danish police on +45 7020 6044 if you can’t find an answer related to your individual situation.

A current ban on incoming flights from the United Arab Emirates is not encompassed by the extension, according to the foreign ministry statement. That ban is due to expire on February 2nd.

Non-Danish nationals who live in regions of Sweden and Germany which border Denmark can travel to Denmark with a negative Covid-19 test up to one week old, provided they have a ‘valid' reason for travel.

‘Valid' reasons for entering the country can be related to work, business, study or private matters. They are detailed in full (in English) on the police website. Without a valid reason for travel, a negative Covid-19 test no more than 24 hours old must be provided.

The border regions affected are Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) and Skåne, Halland, Västra Götaland and Blekinge (Sweden).

Foreign nationals who display symptoms of Covid-19, such as fever and a dry cough, will be refused entry into Denmark even if they comply with the above.