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TAXES

What do foreign residents in Denmark need to know about switch from NemID to MitID?

Denmark will gradually transition between October 2021 and June 2022 from the NemID to MitID secure digital ID platform. Here’s what we know about the process.

Published: 6 September 2021 16:00 CEST
What do foreign residents in Denmark need to know about switch from NemID to MitID?
NemID will be supplanted by MitID by June 2022, but will wok duing the transitional phase. Photo: Emil Helms/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. 

As many foreign residents in the country have already noticed, notifications have begun to appear on the NemID app asking for ID information to be updated in preparation for the changeover. Although this requires a Danish passport, which many don’t have, solutions for making the switch without a passport will be rolled out at a later stage.

The Local has previously received assurances from the Agency for Digitisation that those with foreign passports will not be locked out of the new system, and that NemID will continue to function throughout the transitional period.

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

So what do foreign nationals who live in Denmark need to make the switch, and when will they need it? Will the new ID be smartphone reliant, or will you be able to use a card like with the current system?

The Agency for Digitisation provided us with the following information via email.

What is the minimum requirement for having MitID and is that any different from NemID?  Do you need, for example, a Danish residency permit, a Danish CPR number, or an address in Denmark? 


You don’t need to be a Danish citizen to obtain MitID. You can obtain MitID when:

  • You have a Danish residence permit or are studying in Denmark
  • You have valid identification

If you already have NemID, you don’t have to do anything right now. You will receive a letter from Agency for Digitisation with information on how to switch to the MitID system. We ask for your patience, since MitID is gradually implemented throughout 2021 and 2022.

Will it be possible to use MitID without a smartphone, and if so, how?  

MitID is first and foremost an app for smartphones and tablets. If you are unable to use the MitID app, there are two other alternatives:

MitID code display
The MitID code display is a small electronic device that generates a one-time code that you need to enter when using MitID. The MitID code display is so small that you can keep it on your keychain or in your pocket.

MitID audio code reader
The MitID audio code reader is intended for people with impaired vision. It has a large screen that displays a one-time code that you need to enter when using MitID. The MitID audio code reader will read the one-time password code out loud for you and display the code on the device’s screen. You are able to adjust language (English or Danish) and volume directly on the MitID audio code reader.

Why do we need digital security like NemID or MitID?

Denmark has a long history of utilizing electronic signatures in our digital services, in particular in the public sector. The first national digital signature was released in 2003. NemID then followed in 2010, which is the current eID scheme, but will soon be followed by MitID.

NemID is the core component in the Danish digital infrastructure and of high importance when it comes to access to digital self-service solutions.

NemID is based on a strong collaboration between the public and the banking sector, and it is the secure digital authentication for all public self-service solutions and a large amount of private sector self-service solutions.

NemID is an all-in-one solution and a prerequisite for secure digital authentication for all public online self-service solutions and a large amount of private sector self-service solutions.

What is the reason for the change to MitID?

Over the course of 2021 and 2022, MitID will replace NemID. This is because we need a digital ID that can live up to the security demands of the future. NemID is a good and secure solution today, but MitID offers an even more secure solution for the future.

What will MitID be able to do that NemID can’t do? How will MitID be more secure than NemID?


The introduction of MitID comes with security improvements that make it harder to misuse other people’s digital identities.

You will receive a notification via the MitID app, text message or e-mail, if the app is activated on a new device.  In addition, you can choose to be notified every time your personal MitID is being used.

When introducing MitID we are phasing out the NemID code card over time.  The code card can be copied and shared with others.

MitID satisfies the newest requirements regarding digital identity. This also means that some NemID-users must go through an identity verification process before getting MitID to comply with the increased security regulations.

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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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