Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Denmark, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. Persons violating Denmark’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Denmark are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. In Denmark, driving under the influence may lead to confiscation of your driver’s license and in some cases could land you immediately in jail. Possession of dangerous weapons, including knives, may result in criminal penalties. If you break local laws in Denmark, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

Greenland has very strict laws on the removal of natural resources, including any precious and semi-precious metals, stones, and gemstones found there. Before attempting to extract or export any of these materials, check with local authorities to make certain that doing so is not against the law.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: At present, Denmark does not allow for acquisition of dual nationality after birth; however, changes to Danish law allowing for acquisition of dual citizenship are expected to come into effect in the coming year. Denmark requires all male citizens, resident in Denmark and 18 years of age, to participate in a compulsory military draft. Conscripts serve for an initial training period varying from four to 12 months, according to specialization.

We are not aware of any special currency or customs circumstances for this country.

Greenland: If you are considering travel on cruise ships near Greenland, you should be aware that search and rescue capabilities are limited due to limited capacity and long distances between populated areas. Currently, the combined search-and-rescue ship capacity is less than what would be needed to respond to an incident involving one of the large cruise ships that frequent the area. Search-and-rescue ships offer basic transport and basic medical care, but are not equipped to provide advanced life support. There are uncharted waters in some fjords, and water temperatures can be frigid, even during summer months. Emergency medical facilities outside of Nuuk are limited in number and in types of services offered. Eastern Greenland is even more remote, and services are even more limited. If you are thinking of such a trip, please carefully consider these factors and check the operational records and the experience of captains and crews operating vessels in Arctic waters when selecting cruises off the shores of Greenland.

If you wish to explore Greenland by land, we strongly encourage you to hire experienced guides. Trekking in the coastal areas generally requires no official permission, but any travel into the huge national park in northeastern Greenland and any treks across the central ice fields require official permission. Please check with your tour operator to make sure that the company has received the necessary permission for such trips. Given the landscape, long periods of darkness, extreme temperatures, and the potential for fast-changing weather, persons unfamiliar with the area can become disoriented easily and risk long-term exposure to the elements. While the mountains in Greenland are of moderate altitude, they are technically difficult; so familiarity with ascent and descent routes is a must. While the authorities will rescue individuals in difficulty, land search and rescue capabilities are limited and subject to weather restrictions. In some circumstances, you may be billed for the cost of rescue services.

Given the remoteness of Greenland, you should strongly consider obtaining travel insurance that could pay any expenses relating to illness, injury, or death. Although emergency medical assistance is mainly free of charge, even to tourists, all additional services will have an extremely high cost. Queen Ingrid’s Hospital, the main hospital in Nuuk, offers a full range of medical services, but medical facilities in outlying towns and settlements are very basic. In most cases, evacuation by air to Nuuk would be required. Most medicines are available in Greenland, and medical staff will suggest appropriate alternatives if necessary. Expect emergency medical evacuations from Nuuk to Denmark or Iceland to be very costly. Evacuations from remote interior regions will cost significantly more. The cost of funeral services in Greenland is significantly higher than in Denmark.

Other Topics: If you wish to bring your pet to Denmark, please visit the website of the Danish Veterinary & Food Administration for more information.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBT events in Denmark. Danish law provides for same-sex marriage. Denmark is an open society where LGBT travelers do not normally encounter discrimination based on sexual orientation. The non-governmental organization LGBT.DK states on its website that Denmark is among EU leaders in a lack of discrimination against LGBT persons. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Denmark you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Denmark, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from in the United States; however, the law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical and mental disabilities in employment, education, access to health care or other state services, and other areas. In addition, the law mandates access to buildings, education, information, and communications for persons with disabilities. The Danish government generally enforces these provisions. All forms of public transportation have accommodations for persons with disabilities, but many buildings and outdoor sites only have stairs or are otherwise not easily accessible for the disabled. Accessibility information is available on the Danish tourist organization’s website, Visit Denmark. A parliamentary ombudsman monitors the equal treatment of disabled persons and receives complaints related to discrimination against disabled persons.