Denmark – End of Life Issues

What end of life care options are available in Denmark, and how does the system work?

Denmark’s health system is universal and decentralised: the national government distributes block funding from tax revenues to the regions and municipalities, which are then responsible for delivering care. As a result, end-of-life services are organised across three distinct levels — primary care through your GP, specialist teams based in hospitals, and community-based home care co-ordinated by the municipalities.

The system is financed entirely through national taxation and guarantees equal access to hospital services for all citizens. Over 98% of Danish citizens are registered with a GP, who serves as the primary gatekeeper to specialist and hospital services. Expats who have obtained a CPR number and a yellow health card follow the same route through the system as any other resident.

Interdisciplinary specialist palliative teams are available via referral from GPs and hospital consultants. Care may be delivered in hospital, at a hospice, or within the patient’s home environment. All hospital treatment, home care, and GP consultations are provided free of charge and funded through taxation.

Specialised palliative care reaches roughly 18% of those who die in Denmark. Gaining access to it requires a referral and assessment, a process that may take days to weeks before a patient is placed in specialised care. The remaining 82% of dying people in Denmark receive standard palliative care from their usual care team, without specialist palliative training. This distinction is important for expats to appreciate: most people will receive general symptom control from their regular healthcare providers, with specialist referral reserved for situations of clinical complexity.

What is palliative care in Denmark, and who is eligible for it?

End-of-life care, including hospice care, forms one component of the broader field of palliative care. It generally refers to support provided during the final phase of life — typically the last days, weeks, or months — when death is clearly approaching. Palliative care more broadly, however, can be introduced at any point following a serious diagnosis and may run alongside active curative treatment.

In 2017, the Danish Health Authority released recommendations calling for attention to be extended to all patients living with life-threatening conditions. In practice, palliative care in Denmark is not restricted to those with cancer — it is open to anyone with a serious, life-limiting illness, including conditions such as heart failure, COPD, neurological disorders, and other chronic diseases.

All residents are entitled to publicly funded care, encompassing primary, specialist, hospital, mental health, preventive, and long-term services largely without direct cost. Eligibility for specialist palliative care is determined through assessment by a GP or hospital physician, who refers the patient when their needs are judged to be sufficiently complex. Referrals to specialised palliative care are growing in number and, to be clinically meaningful, are ideally sustained for more than three months.

Rather than treating palliative care as a separate, late-stage intervention, Denmark’s framework increasingly integrates it alongside curative treatment from the early stages of serious illness. Expats registered with a Danish GP are entitled to the same assessment and referral process as any other resident. It is important to keep your CPR registration current so that your GP can access a complete picture of your medical history.

Are there hospices in Denmark, and how do you access them?

Under Danish law, a hospice is defined as an institution offering palliative care, compassion, and quality of life to people who are terminally ill. Access is free of charge, with costs met through public taxation. Alongside the Arresødal Hospice on Denmark’s principal island, there are 18 further hospices spread across the country, collectively serving Denmark’s population of approximately 5.9 million people.

Each hospice is staffed by a multidisciplinary team that includes doctors, nurses, social workers, and chaplains, all working in concert to provide comprehensive care for both patients and the people close to them. The range of services on offer includes pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and practical help with everyday activities. Support for families — encompassing counselling and bereavement services — is also a core part of what hospices provide.

Referral to a hospice is made by a GP or hospital when no further curative treatment is possible. Once referred, patients have the right to a free choice of hospice. This resembles referral pathways in other countries with centralised health systems, though a notable feature of the Danish model is that hospice placement is explicitly reserved for the end-of-life stage, after all curative options have been exhausted.

Beyond hospice facilities, Denmark also provides home-based palliative care services that deliver comparable support within the patient’s own home. These services are staffed by healthcare professionals and volunteers working together to assist both the patient and their family, with co-ordination managed at the municipal level.

Is palliative or hospice care covered by public health insurance or the national health system in Denmark, or does it need to be funded privately?

Hospice care is both funded and delivered by the regions. There is no patient cost-sharing for hospital treatment, primary care, hospice care, or permanent home care. This means that residents entitled to use the Danish public health system — including registered expats with a CPR number — access hospice and palliative care at no direct personal cost.

Healthcare services such as primary care, hospitals, and hospices are all tax-funded and provided free of charge to those eligible. One area where some cost-sharing does apply is outpatient prescription medication; palliative medicines dispensed outside a hospital or hospice may therefore carry a co-payment for the patient.

Private palliative care providers do exist in Denmark, but they are rarely needed given the breadth of public provision. If you hold private health insurance — whether from a Danish provider or an international policy — it may cover additional services such as private nursing at home or quicker access to specialist consultations. Policy terms vary considerably when it comes to palliative and end-of-life care, so it is worth reviewing your coverage carefully. Expats who have not yet registered with the public health system, or who are present in Denmark on a short-term basis without CPR registration, should make sure they carry adequate international health insurance.

What legal documents should expats have in place before the end of life in Denmark — such as a living will, advance directive, power of attorney, or healthcare proxy — and how do these work?

Denmark has a formal, legally recognised mechanism for recording your preferences regarding end-of-life healthcare. The central instrument is the advance medical directive (Danish: livstestamente). An advance medical directive allows you to refuse life-extending treatment, including resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest, in circumstances where you are terminally ill and treatment would only prolong your life without alleviating suffering; where you are gravely ill or severely weakened with no prospect of recovery; or where a doctor judges the physical consequences of the illness or its treatment to be extremely serious or painful, even if survival is possible.

To create an advance medical directive, you must be at least 18 years old and capable of managing your own affairs, with a clear understanding of what your decisions entail. An advance medical directive may also specify that you do not wish to receive involuntary treatment should you lose the capacity to make decisions — for instance, in the context of dementia — and may designate your closest relatives as the final decision-makers on whether to refuse treatment.

There are two ways to draw up an advance medical directive: by completing a form for submission to the Danish Health Data Authority. If no advance directive has been registered, doctors will generally take all available steps to sustain your life. The form can be filled in and submitted online through the Danish Health Data Authority’s portal (Sundhedsdatastyrelsen) at sundhedsdatastyrelsen.dk.

On the matter of financial and property powers of attorney, Danish law contains no specific statutory provisions governing instruments intended to take effect upon future incapacity. Under the Contracts Act, a power of attorney becomes void when the principal is declared legally incompetent by court order. However, if no guardianship proceedings are commenced, a power of attorney granted while the principal was fully competent will remain valid. Expats with property or financial interests in Denmark are strongly encouraged to consult a Danish lawyer about putting in place a durable power of attorney and drafting a valid Danish will.

Are documents such as advance directives or powers of attorney made in another country legally recognised in Denmark?

Denmark has no single, unified statute governing the recognition of healthcare directives made abroad. In practice, Danish clinicians will try to honour the intent of a foreign advance directive, but the most dependable course of action is to register a directive directly with the Danish Health Data Authority, which ensures it is accessible to treating doctors through the national records system.

If you hold a valid advance directive from your home country, keep a translated copy — certified in Danish or in both Danish and English — and make sure your Danish GP is aware of it so it can be noted in your medical file. A document that is not recorded in the Danish system may not be retrievable in an emergency situation. Anyone living in Denmark long-term is strongly advised to register a directive in the Danish format.

The position regarding financial powers of attorney is similarly complex. A foreign power of attorney may be recognised if its authenticity can be established and its terms are compatible with Danish law, but this frequently requires notarisation and apostille certification. If you divide your time between countries or hold dual residency, consider preparing directives in each jurisdiction to maximise enforceability. Always take advice from a Danish lawyer if your assets are spread across multiple countries.

What are the laws around euthanasia or assisted dying in Denmark?

Both euthanasia and assisted suicide are unlawful in Denmark. There is no legislation in place that permits physician-assisted dying in any form, and deliberate acts to end a patient’s life — even when the patient has explicitly and clearly requested this — can amount to a criminal offence. This sets Denmark apart from certain neighbouring states and from countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada, where assisted dying has been permitted under varying legal frameworks.

What Danish law does allow is the withdrawal or withholding of life-prolonging treatment, provided this accords with the patient’s documented wishes as expressed in an advance directive, or — where no directive exists — is determined to be in the patient’s best interests. Palliative sedation, which involves the use of sedative medications to relieve suffering that cannot otherwise be controlled in dying patients, is also legally and ethically permissible within established clinical guidelines.

Debate on the topic of assisted dying does take place in Danish public life, and the legal position could evolve in future, but as of 2025, no law permitting assisted dying is in force. Expats arriving from jurisdictions where assisted dying is legally available should be clear that those arrangements will have no standing in Denmark. The Danish Patient Safety Authority (Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed) and the Danish Council of Ethics publish periodic guidance on end-of-life decision-making.

What are the local customs, traditions, and religious practices around death and dying in Denmark?

Danish society places great value on family and community, and this is evident in the customs that surround death and the dying process. Attitudes towards death in Denmark tend to be measured and practical, reflecting a broader cultural disposition towards openness — death is discussed frankly, and it is considered entirely natural and important for family members to be present during the final stages of life.

Funerals are typically held within a week of the death. They are generally sombre and formal occasions, and it is customary to dress in black. Cremation is the most prevalent choice in Denmark, with burial less common. Families traditionally place an obituary notice in the local newspaper to let friends and acquaintances know of the bereavement.

The majority of Danes are nominally affiliated with the Church of Denmark (Folkekirken), a Lutheran institution. Church funerals continue to be widespread even among those who do not practise Christianity regularly. A typical service includes hymns, a sermon, scripture readings, and a burial or committal. Civil, non-religious funerals are equally accepted and widely available for those who prefer them.

Denmark is home to communities of many different faiths, and funeral homes and crematoria are well used to accommodating Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Buddhist, and other religious needs. If you or your family observe specific traditions — such as particular requirements around the handling of the body, the timing of burial, or the involvement of a religious officiant — it is advisable to contact the funeral home as early as possible to confirm these can be met. Halal and Jewish burial sections are available in a number of Danish cities.

In many Danish hospices, when a patient passes away, a candle is lit at the entrance — a gesture that serves both to mark the death and to honour the individual, while also affirming the value of life for those who remain. This quiet ritual reflects the thoughtful, meaning-centred approach that many Danish hospices bring to the moment of death.

What must you do when someone dies in Denmark? Who do you notify, how quickly, and in what order?

When a death takes place in Denmark, a series of steps must be followed in a broadly defined sequence. The process varies slightly depending on whether the person died at home, in hospital, or in a hospice or care facility.

1. Obtain medical certification of death. If the death occurs at home, a doctor or other qualified medical professional must be called to certify the death. If it occurs in a hospital or hospice, the staff will manage this. The certifying doctor is required to examine the body and issue a death certificate (dødsattest). Where the death is sudden or the circumstances are not immediately clear, the police may need to be informed and a forensic examination may be required before the certificate can be issued.
2. Contact a funeral home (begravelsesforretning). A licensed funeral home should be engaged to arrange for the collection and care of the body. The funeral director will also assist with the relevant paperwork and help plan the funeral or memorial service, and plays a central co-ordinating role throughout the subsequent administrative steps.
3. Civil registration of the death. In Denmark, civil registration is processed automatically through the Central Person Register (CPR) once the medical death certificate has been submitted. The funeral director typically manages the submission to the appropriate parish or registry — the local church office if the deceased was a member of the Church of Denmark, or the civil registry office in other cases.
4. Notify the Probate Court (skifteretten). Estate administration falls under the supervision of the Probate Court (skifteret), which is governed by the Administration of Estates Act. The court is notified of all deaths and determines the appropriate form of estate administration. This notification generally occurs automatically via the CPR system, but the family should make direct contact with the local Probate Court if they wish to pursue a particular course of action, such as applying for private estate administration.
5. Notify the deceased’s bank and financial institutions. The deceased’s bank, insurer, employer, and other relevant organisations must be informed of the death. A copy of the death certificate will typically be required as evidence. Banks will generally freeze accounts until probate clearance is obtained.
6. Cancel social benefits and pension payments. Where the deceased was in receipt of state pension or social security benefits, the relevant agency should be notified promptly. Udbetaling Danmark administers most state benefit payments and should be contacted without delay to prevent overpayments that may subsequently need to be repaid.
7. Notify the home country’s embassy or consulate, if applicable. For foreign nationals, the relevant consulate or embassy should be contacted as soon as possible — see the dedicated section below for further detail.
8. Confirm organ donation status where relevant. If the deceased was an organ donor, the appropriate authorities should be notified to ensure their wishes are honoured. Denmark operates an opt-out organ donation system, which means that individuals registered in Denmark are presumed to have consented to donation unless they explicitly withdrew their consent. Raise this immediately with the hospital team if it is relevant.

How is a death officially registered in Denmark, and what documents are needed?

Official death registration in Denmark is tied to the Central Person Register (CPR), the national civil registration database. Every person registered in Denmark — including resident foreign nationals — holds a unique CPR number, which enables various registries to be updated automatically when a death is recorded in the system.

The primary document is the dødsattest (death certificate), completed by the attending physician. This records the cause of death and must be in place before any further administrative or legal steps can proceed. A second document, the begravelsestilladelse (burial permit), is subsequently issued by the civil or church registry once the death has been formally registered; this permit is required before burial or cremation may take place.

If the deceased was a member of the Church of Denmark, registration is handled through their local parish. Where the deceased was not a church member, or where a foreign national is involved, registration takes place through the local municipal authority. Funeral directors are typically well versed in managing this process and will advise on how many certified copies of the death certificate you will need — several are usually required for tasks such as estate administration, embassy notification, and insurance claims. It is advisable to request at least five to ten certified copies at the point of registration.

What happens if a foreign national dies in Denmark — what are the specific steps for notifying their home country’s embassy or consulate, and what role does the consulate play?

When a foreign national dies in Denmark, the consulate or embassy of their home country should be notified as promptly as possible — ideally within 24 to 48 hours of the death. The consulate acts as a crucial bridge between the Danish authorities, the bereaved family in the home country, and the administrative processes required by that country’s laws.

To make contact with the consulate, reach out directly by phone or email — contact details are available through your home country’s foreign affairs or foreign ministry website. You will typically need to supply the deceased’s full name, date of birth, nationality, CPR number if one was assigned, passport number, and an account of the circumstances of the death. The consulate will generally request a certified copy of the Danish death certificate once it has been issued.

The consulate’s typical functions include: formally notifying the home country’s civil registration authorities of the death; assisting with the repatriation of the body to the home country (covered in more detail below); advising on whether a consular death certificate or equivalent document — such as a Report of Death of a Citizen Abroad — is required (the specific document varies by country); and providing welfare support to bereaved family members who may be travelling to Denmark to handle affairs.

If the deceased had a will or assets in their home country, the consulate may be in a position to provide notarial services or help with apostilling Danish documents for use abroad. Note that consular services may carry fees — confirm the current charges directly with the consulate concerned. If the family is not present in Denmark, they may be able to grant a local representative — such as a Danish lawyer or funeral director — power of attorney to act on their behalf.

How are funerals typically arranged in Denmark, and what are the usual options for burial or cremation?

Funeral arrangements in Denmark are generally made through a licensed funeral director (bedemand or begravelsesforretning). Cremation is the most commonly chosen option in Denmark, though burial is also available; both are regulated by the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs (Kirkeministeriet).

Burial may take place in a churchyard — the majority of which are administered by the Church of Denmark — or in a municipal or non-denominational cemetery. Graves are typically leased for a period of approximately 20 years, after which the lease must be renewed or the plot may be reassigned. Provisions for non-Christian interments — including Islamic and Jewish burials — are available in designated sections of several cemeteries in Copenhagen and other major cities.

Cremated remains may be interred in a cemetery urn grave, scattered at sea with a municipal permit, or in certain cases retained by the family. Funerals are customarily held within a week of the death. The service itself may be religious — conducted according to Church of Denmark or another faith tradition — or entirely civil, led by a secular officiant or celebrant of the family’s choosing. The funeral director handles co-ordination of the service, transportation, flowers, and any catering for a post-funeral gathering (kaffebord), a traditional Danish practice in which family members and friends come together after the service to share food and reflect on the life of the person they have lost.

What are the approximate costs of a funeral in Denmark, and are there any state or insurance-based funds that can help cover them?

Funeral costs in Denmark depend on the type of service chosen, the funeral home, and the location, but as a general guide (as of 2024), a basic cremation with a simple funeral service typically falls between DKK 10,000 and DKK 20,000 (approximately €1,300 to €2,700). A more traditional burial with a full church service, a coffin, and a gravestone may range from DKK 25,000 to DKK 60,000 (approximately €3,350 to €8,000) or beyond. These figures are approximate and subject to change — prospective clients should obtain current quotes directly from local funeral homes.

Denmark does not offer a universal state funeral grant comparable to, for example, the UK’s Social Fund Funeral Payment. However, where the deceased was in receipt of certain social assistance benefits, the municipality may in some cases make a contribution towards funeral costs. Such assistance is assessed on an individual basis and is means-tested. For further information, contact the local municipal social services office (kommunens socialforvaltning).

Many Danes take out funeral insurance (begravelsesforsikring) or hold membership of a funeral association (begravelsesforening) that provides prepaid or subsidised funeral services. If the deceased held such a policy or membership, contact the insurer or association promptly — the relevant documentation is often kept alongside other important papers. Expats should also check whether their existing life insurance or travel insurance policy includes cover for repatriation and overseas funeral costs, as this varies greatly between providers.

What is the process for repatriating the remains of a foreign national from Denmark to another country?

Repatriating the remains of a person who has died in Denmark is achievable but involves a number of administrative requirements. The process generally takes between one and three weeks from the time of death, depending on the destination country and how swiftly the necessary documentation is assembled. The funeral director and the deceased’s home country consulate are the two central points of contact throughout.

The key steps in the repatriation process are as follows. First, the Danish death certificate must be obtained and, if required by the receiving country, apostilled — that is, certified for international recognition — through the Danish state authorities. Second, the body must be embalmed and placed in a hermetically sealed, zinc-lined coffin for international transport, as this is a condition of most receiving countries and of international transport regulations. Third, the funeral director will liaise with airline freight services, as human remains must be transported as air cargo in accordance with IATA regulations.

Fourth, the consulate of the receiving country in Denmark must issue an entry permit for the remains. Requirements differ between countries, and the consulate will advise on exactly which documents are needed — these may include a certificate of embalming, a freedom-from-contagion certificate, and a translated version of the death certificate. Fifth, once all documentation is complete, the coffin is transported to the airport and dispatched to the destination country, where the local funeral director or the family assumes responsibility for the remaining arrangements.

Repatriation costs vary considerably according to the destination and the services involved, but typically range from DKK 20,000 to DKK 60,000 or more (as of 2024). Many travel and expat insurance policies include repatriation cover — review your policy documents carefully, as this provision can substantially reduce the financial burden. The consulate of the deceased’s home country is the best source of advice on any specific national requirements for receiving repatriated remains.

What happens to the estate of someone who dies in Denmark — how does probate or estate administration work, and are there inheritance taxes?

Estate administration in Denmark is overseen by the Probate Court (skifteret) and governed by the Administration of Estates Act (dødsboskifteloven). The Probate Court receives notification of every death and determines the appropriate form of estate administration. It forms part of the local district court (byretten) and has jurisdiction over the area in which the deceased was habitually resident.

Several routes through the Danish probate process exist. A surviving spouse may apply for uskiftet bo — the right to retain undivided possession of the marital estate during their lifetime, without the need for immediate division. Alternatively, the estate may proceed through private administration (privat skifte), in which an heir takes personal responsibility for settling the estate, or through supervised court administration (offentligt skifte), which is typically used where the estate is complex, contested, or insolvent.

Regarding inheritance tax: gift tax (gaveafgift) applies to gifts and inheritances passing between ascendants and descendants, at a rate of 15%. Inheritance received by a surviving spouse is generally exempt from tax. More distant relatives and unconnected beneficiaries may be subject to higher rates, and inheritances passing to persons outside the immediate family may attract income tax rather than gift tax. These rates are as of 2024 and may change — always verify current thresholds with SKAT (the Danish Tax Agency) or a Danish estate lawyer.

For expats with assets spread across multiple countries, Danish private international law determines which country’s rules govern the estate. EU Succession Regulation (No. 650/2012) is generally applicable to EU residents and allows an individual to elect for the law of their nationality to govern their succession. This is particularly significant for EU-national expats — a declaration to that effect can be incorporated into a Danish will.

If an expat dies without a will in Denmark, what happens to their assets under local intestacy laws?

Where a person dies intestate — without a valid will — in Denmark, their estate is distributed in accordance with the Danish Inheritance Act (arveloven). The legislation sets out a defined order of priority among family members. A surviving spouse is the primary beneficiary and receives a substantial share of the estate. Children, and the descendants of any deceased children, are next in line. Where neither a spouse nor children survive, the estate passes to the deceased’s parents, and then to siblings and their descendants.

Under Danish intestacy rules, an unmarried partner — including a long-term cohabiting partner — has no automatic entitlement to inherit, irrespective of how long the relationship lasted. This is a crucial point for expats in committed partnerships who have not married: without a valid will, your partner may receive nothing from your estate. This contrasts with the rules in some other legal systems, where cohabiting partners may acquire limited statutory inheritance rights after a specified period of living together.

Foreign nationals who die in Denmark without a will, and whose estate encompasses property or assets in more than one country, may face complex cross-border complications. Under EU Succession Regulation rules, the law of the country where the deceased was habitually resident — in this case, Denmark — will generally apply to the entire estate, including overseas assets, unless a declaration nominating nationality law had been made. The outcome may differ substantially from what the deceased would have expected under their home country’s law. Drafting a valid Danish will — or one that complies with the Hague Convention on the Law Applicable to Succession — is strongly advisable for any expat with significant assets.

Frequently asked questions

Will my foreign health insurance be accepted if I need palliative care in Denmark?

If you are a registered resident in Denmark with a CPR number and a yellow health card, you have full entitlement to the public health system’s services, including palliative care, whether or not you additionally hold foreign or international health insurance. Foreign coverage is not a requirement for accessing public care, but may pay for supplementary private services. If you are in Denmark temporarily — for example, as the holder of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) — you are entitled to necessary medical treatment, though this may not extend to all palliative or long-term care services. Check with your insurer and with the Danish health authorities regarding your specific entitlements.

Do Danish healthcare providers accept advance directives written in a language other than Danish?

Danish healthcare professionals have a legal obligation to respect a patient’s documented wishes, but an advance directive that has not been entered into the Danish Health Data Authority’s system may not be readily retrievable during an emergency. A document written in a foreign language may also cause delays. It is therefore strongly advisable to register a directive in the Danish format through the official portal, even if you already hold one from your home country. Keep a certified translation of any foreign directive with you and ensure that your Danish GP holds a copy in your medical file.

How long does the repatriation of remains from Denmark to another country typically take?

The process of repatriation usually takes between one and three weeks from the date of death, depending on the destination country, how quickly documents are prepared, consular processing times, and flight availability. Cases that require a police investigation or post-mortem examination may take considerably longer. To minimise delays, engage an experienced Danish funeral director as soon as possible and make contact with the relevant consulate without delay.

What support is available to bereaved family members who are in Denmark following a death?

Family members who are bereaved in Denmark can draw on support from multiple sources. Hospices and hospitals provide bereavement counselling and follow-up care as a routine part of their services. The Danish organisation Sorgstøtte (Grief Support) and comparable voluntary bodies offer free counselling and peer support groups to those who are grieving. GPs can also refer family members for psychological support within the public health system. For expats who are not long-term residents of Denmark, the consulate may be able to point them towards appropriate welfare support resources.

Can a foreign national be buried in Denmark if their family decides not to repatriate the body?

Yes. There is no legal obligation to repatriate the remains of a foreign national who dies in Denmark. The family may arrange for burial or cremation to take place in Denmark following the usual procedures. Where the deceased observed a particular religious faith, funeral homes and cemeteries are generally equipped to accommodate those requirements. If the family later wishes to transfer cremated ashes to another country, the rules governing the export of remains vary by destination country — check with the relevant embassy or funeral authorities in the receiving country before making arrangements.

Is a will made in another country valid for assets held in Denmark?

A will executed in another country may be recognised in Denmark provided it satisfies the formal validity requirements of the jurisdiction in which it was drawn up, and provided it does not conflict with mandatory provisions of Danish inheritance law. Under EU Succession Regulation (No. 650/2012), EU nationals may elect for the law of their nationality to govern their succession. That said, Danish forced heirship rules — which protect a minimum share for children — may still be applicable. If you hold significant assets in Denmark and have a foreign will, obtaining advice from a Danish lawyer with cross-border estate experience is strongly recommended.

How does Denmark’s organ donation opt-out system work, and what should expats know?

Denmark operates a presumed consent model for organ donation. This means that everyone registered in Denmark is treated as having consented to donating their organs after death unless they have actively recorded an objection. Expats who are registered in Denmark are subject to this presumption in the same way as Danish nationals. If you do not wish to donate your organs, you must register your objection through the Danish National Organ Donation Register (Donorregistret) at donorregistret.dk. Next of kin may also be consulted by medical staff at the time of death.

Are there any costs associated with registering an advance directive in Denmark?

Registering an advance medical directive with the Danish Health Data Authority carries no charge. The registration can be completed online via the authority’s portal using a NemID/MitID digital identity — the same system used for the majority of Danish public services. Expats who have not yet set up a MitID may need to do so through their bank or through the civil registration system. If you choose to engage a lawyer to help draft or review the document, legal fees may apply, but professional advice of this kind is optional rather than compulsory.