Official letters from Denmark, explained in English

Most Danish offices send letters to your Digital Post (in the Digital Post app, borger.dk or e-Boks) instead of by paper, so check it often. Many deadlines, for example 4 weeks to complain, count from the day you received the decision.

Offices that write to you

Skattestyrelsen (Skat) — Tax office. The Danish tax office. It sends your yearly tax statement and handles tax on your income, car and home.
Gældsstyrelsen — Public debt collection agency. Collects debts you owe to public bodies, for example unpaid tax, fines, child support or fees.
Udbetaling Danmark — Benefits office. Pays many benefits, for example child benefit (børne- og ungeydelse), housing benefit (boligstøtte), state pension and maternity benefit.
Kommunen (Borgerservice) — Municipality. Your local municipality. It handles cash benefits (kontanthjælp), childcare, schools, local taxes and many social services.
Jobcenter — Job centre. The local job centre. It supports your job search and holds meetings if you get unemployment or cash benefits.
A-kasse — Unemployment fund. The unemployment insurance fund that pays unemployment benefit (dagpenge).
SIRI / Udlændingestyrelsen — Immigration offices. Decide on residence and work permits (SIRI) and on family reunification, asylum and other residence (Udlændingestyrelsen).
Politiet — Police. Sends fines (bødeforelæg), for example for speeding caught by a speed camera.
Byret / Fogedretten — Court. A court. The city court (byret) handles civil and criminal cases; the bailiff’s court (fogedretten) handles enforcement of debts and evictions.
Inkassobureau — Debt collector. A company that collects unpaid bills for others. Fees for reminders and collection are limited by law.
Udlejer — Landlord. The owner of your rented home, or the company that manages it.
El-, varme- og vandforsyning — Energy and water supplier. The companies that supply electricity, district heating and water.
Regionen (sundhed) — Health care. The regions run hospitals and send appointments for examinations and treatment.
SU (Uddannelses- og Forskningsstyrelsen) — Student grants office. Pays student grants and loans (SU) and collects repayment if you got too much.

Common kinds of letters

Lønindeholdelse / Udlæg — Seizure for a debt. Part of your salary or benefits will be taken, or your belongings can be seized (udlæg), to pay a debt.
Betalingspåkrav — Payment order from the court. Someone asked the court to make you pay. If you don’t object within 14 days, it can be enforced like a judgment.
Stævning / Indkaldelse til retsmøde — Court case. Someone is taking you to court, or you are called to a court hearing.
Rykker / Inkassomeddelelse — Payment reminder. A payment is late. Reminder fees and collection costs can be added.
Påkrav — Final demand for rent. Your landlord demands unpaid rent. If you don’t pay within the deadline, you can lose your home.
Krav om tilbagebetaling — Request to pay money back. They say you got too much money, for example housing benefit, child benefit or SU, and want it back.
Bødeforelæg — Fine. A fine, for example for speeding. You can accept it and pay, or refuse — then the case can go to court.
Årsopgørelse / Restskat — Yearly tax statement. Your tax for the year. It shows if you get money back (overskydende skat) or must pay (restskat).
Partshøring — Chance to give your side. They plan a decision that affects you and invite you to comment first. Your answer can change the decision.
Afslag — Refusal. Your application was refused. The letter says how and by when you can complain.
Bevilling — Approval. Your application was approved. Check that the amounts and dates are right.
Indkaldelse — Appointment. They want you to come to a meeting or appointment. Missing it can cut your benefits or delay your case.
Anmodning om oplysninger — Request for documents. They need more information or papers before they can decide.
Opsigelse — Notice to end a contract. Someone ends a contract with you — for example your landlord ends your rental contract.
El-, varme- eller vandregning — Energy or water bill. A bill for electricity, heating or water.

Danish office words

Digital Post, MitID, CPR-nummer, Skattestyrelsen, årsopgørelse, forskudsopgørelse, restskat, overskydende skat, TastSelv, Gældsstyrelsen, lønindeholdelse, modregning, afdragsordning, betalingsfrist, FI-kort, Udbetaling Danmark, boligstøtte, børne- og ungeydelse — see all 40 words.

Reply templates in Danish

Questions

How long do I have to answer an official letter in Denmark?

It depends on the letter. Look for words like “senest”, “inden”, “frist” — they mark the deadline. In Denmark, a letter in Digital Post usually counts as received when it arrives in your mailbox. Paper letters take a few days. Briefly adds about 2 days — check the date in Digital Post or on the envelope. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“klage”, “indsigelse”, “anke”).

Can I understand a Danish letter without speaking Danish?

Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It reads the Danish text on your device, explains it in plain English, finds deadlines and amounts, and can translate the whole letter.

Is my letter uploaded anywhere?

No. Briefly runs completely in your browser. The letter never leaves your device, there is no account, and it works offline after the first visit.