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TAXES

Can you shift from NemID to MitID without a Danish passport?

Last week people in Denmark began getting notifications on their NemID app asking them to update their details using one of the new Danish chip passports. The Local has received assurances from the Agency for Digitisation that those with foreign passports will not be locked out of the new system.

Published: 26 August 2021 12:57 CEST
Updated: 29 August 2021 06:36 CEST
Can you shift from NemID to MitID without a Danish passport?
NemID already works as a secure app. Photo: Niels Christian Vilmann/Ritzau Scanpix

What are NemID and MitID? 

NemID IS the digital ID system used in Denmark to log in to services including online banking, secure email, and personal tax. Between October 2021 and June 2022, NemID is to be phased out and replaced by a new MitID system, which will not use a physical card displaying unique login codes, as was the case with NemID. 

The change was announced in March 2019, with the new system designed to be more flexible and secure against future technological threats. 

Why are foreigners in Denmark alarmed? 

Last week people in Denmark began receiving notifications on the NemID app like this: 

Foreigners who tried to update their information soon discovered that to do so they would need to have both a Danish passport issued after the start of 2012, and a phone capable of reading NFC chips. 

This left some fearing that they would be excluded from the new system and unable to access crucial online services, or at least exposed to a period in limbo while the operators of the system got around to transferring those without Danish passports. 

So, will people living in Denmark with foreign passports be able to change over from the NemID to MitID system? 

Absolutely.

In an email sent to The Local, Denmark’s Agency for Digitisation, which is handling the shift to the new MitID system, said that the new system will be available for everyone in Denmark. 

“There is no need for concern regarding MitID replacing NemID,” the agency said. “MitID will be launched later this year and will eventually replace NemID. It will be possible for everyone that needs a MitID to get one – just as it is with NemID today. The transition period between NemID and MitID is planned to end mid-2022. NemID will be fully functional during the transition period. You will receive more information on what you need to do to transition to MitID later this year.” 

In the email, the agency said that those who needed to resubmit their ID would receive a letter in the e-Boks digital postbox. 

“If you need to resubmit your ID to get MitID, you will receive a letter by digital post from us. If you are not able to resubmit your ID via the app, you can disregard the request and continue to use your NemID and your NemID app in the same way you always have. You will receive more information on what you need to do to transition to MitID later this year.” 

So what’s with the notifications then? 

The notifications are part of the very first phase of the transition, which will involve those who have recent Danish passports which contain chips capable of being read by phones with NFC readers, as they can transfer over to the new system virtually. 

“I know it’s caused some confusion because the notification pops up in the NemID app,” Ringgaard Price said. “What we’re trying to communicate and what gets lost sometimes is that you don’t have to do anything until you receive a digital letter in your e-Boks.” 

“It can be a little confusing and annoying that this notification pops up, but you can still swipe it away and do everything you need to do with your NemID.”

In the email, the agency said it realised that those with foreign passports would not be able to update using NFC readers. 

“In terms of foreign passports, we are fully aware that not everyone that wants to use the functionality in the NemID app are able to, due to the passport requirements.” 

How will those without a recent Danish passport transfer to MitID?

According to the Frequently Asked Questions section on the MitID website, foreigners living in Denmark will be able to make the transition digitally, so long as they have an existing NemID account and a CPR number.

The web page where people can do this is already available here, but the migration system is not yet up and running. 

“We are working on other solutions that will become available in 2022,” the agency said in an email. “Should it not be possible for you to use the MitID app, you might ultimately have to go to the citizen service center to get MitID, but more information on that will follow at a later stage.” 

Is the transition to MitID still on track? 

The transition to MitID was supposed to start in August but has now been officially delayed until October. According to Ringgaard Price, the June 2022 deadline for completing the process remains in place. 

Member comments

  1. A very helpful article. This article alone is worth the monthly subscription. Thanks The Local team.

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For members

WORKING IN DENMARK

What you need to know if you lose your job in Denmark

It's not fun to lose your job, but Danish laws and collective agreements give you a number of rights and there are steps you can take to help insure yourself against the possibility of being out of work.

Published: 8 March 2023 15:02 CET
What you need to know if you lose your job in Denmark

Denmark is currently experiencing a labour shortage and low unemployment. Many companies and sectors are calling for additional foreign labour to meet their recruitment needs, something the government appears to be willing to take steps to accommodate.

Of course, none of these things mean individual companies might not be experiencing headwinds or that the situation can change. There are various kinds of business needs that could be the catalyst for a restructuring, such as financial hardships or pending mergers. This can also mean that some employees will lose their jobs.

If you do lose your job in Denmark, you are covered by certain aspects of the law. It is also a good idea to think about taking the necessary measures — such as A-kasse membership — that can protect your from some of the financial implications of unemployment.

Notice periods 

If you are covered by the Salaried Employees Act (Funktionærloven), then you are entitled to certain notice periods before any significant change happens to the terms of your employment.

You can see in your contract whether you are a salaried employee (funktionær), but generally, the term applies to staff who have been employed for over 1 month and work more than 8 hours weekly, on average.

Sectors in which staff are considered funktionærer include business and administration, purchasing, selling, technical and cleaning services; and management and supervision. In short, people who work in offices, sales or purchasing or certain types of warehouse jobs are likely to be covered.

Areas which may not be covered include factory work or craftsmanship, nor are people hired through temp agencies (vikarbureauer) covered by the act.

The notice periods provided by the Salaried Employees Act cover things like notification of termination of employment or significant changes to your job duties. 

The amount of notice that you are entitled to is determined by how much seniority you have, as follows:

0-6 months of employment

1 month’s notice

6 months to 3 years

3 months

3 years to 6 years

4 months

6 months to 3 years

3 months

6 years to 9 years

5 months

More than 9 years

6 months

When you have worked at the company for 12 or more years, you are also entitled to additional compensation (Danish: fratrædelsesgodtgørelse) if you are let go from your job, per the Danish Salaried Employees Act.  

The compensation is 1 month’s salary after 12 years’ employment and 3 months’ salary after 17 years of employment.

It is possible that your company will also provide other additional payments due to restructuring activities. This varies from company to company and is not part of the Danish Salaried Employees Act. 

Should I join an A-kasse?

Membership of an unemployment insurance service provider, an A-kasse (arbejdsløshedskasse) is the first step to keeping your income steady while you begin the process of finding new employment. Finding a new job is a task the A-kasse itself can assist you with.

It can be difficult to figure out which A-kasse to join and while some are cheaper than others, it’s not just about paying an insurance premium. In the event that you become unemployed, it’s good to have an A-kasse that is an appropriate fit for your background, so that they can better help you with your plan to get back into the workforce.

A-kasser are private associations which have been authorised by the Danish state to administer unemployment benefits. The state regulates the requirements for receiving benefits while the A-kasse administers the benefits.

If you are interested in A-kasse membership, you must apply to the A-kasse of your choice, either as a full-time or part-time insured member. A-kasse members pay a tax-deductible monthly fee, which gives them the right to receive unemployment benefits (dagpenge) should they become unemployed.

There are a lot of rules that you’ll have to familiarise yourself with, including when you will be allowed to apply for benefits and how long you can receive them for. Members must meet certain eligibility requirements to receive unemployment benefits, which include being a member of an A-kasse for at least 12 months.

According to Denmark’s digital self-service website Borger.dk, one must also have earned at least 246,924 kroner (2022) in the past three years for full-time insured and 164,616 kroner (2022) for part-time insured. You also have to have worked for a certain period of time within the last three years, which varies depending on whether you were insured as full-time or part-time.

READ ALSO: A-kasse: Everything foreigners in Denmark need to know about unemployment insurance

What else should I keep in mind?

In general, the Danish labour market system is not primarily based on laws, as you may be used to from other countries, but on agreements and negotiations, primarily collective bargaining agreements or overenskomster between trade unions and employer associations. You may have heard of the concept ‘the Danish model’ (den danske model) referred to in this regard.

A large proportion of people who work in Denmark are therefore trade union members.

Collective bargaining agreements cover many aspects of Denmark’s labour market, from wages to paid parental leave. 

A lesser-known fact about the Danish labour model is that employees covered by collective bargaining agreements won’t have to negotiate general employment terms – regardless of whether they are trade union members.

There are large central agreements in both the public and private sectors. Therefore, employees whose contracts are regulated by a central bargaining agreement won’t individually have to negotiate general terms of employment, like working hours or a minimum salary. 

The particular collective agreement upon which your contract is based may be mentioned in your contract, and if it isn’t, you can ask your employer. 

READ ALSO: What is a Danish collective bargaining agreement?

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