Can victims of crime get compensation from the Danish state?
State compensation for personal injury from crime.
Short answer
Erstatningsnævnet decides applications for state compensation for physical or psychological injury caused by a breach of the Danish Criminal Code. As a rule, the crime must have been reported to the police within 72 hours, and the application must be sent no later than 2 years after the crime. You apply online with MitID or on a paper form handed in at the police station where you reported the crime. You can usually apply only once the police, prosecutor or court has closed the criminal case.
Why
- Only personal injury, physical or mental, is covered.
- Without MitID or Danish you can use the paper form.
- The 2-year deadline runs from the final judgment or the police decision to close the case.
Details
Damaged items you had on you, such as clothes, glasses or a phone, can also be covered, unless an insurance pays for them.
Tip
Keep all receipts for medicine, treatment and damaged things, since you need them as documentation.
What may differ
The paper form route is meant for people who cannot apply digitally, for example without MitID or because they do not speak Danish.
Common misconception
You can only get compensation if the offender is caught and can pay.
What actually happens
The Danish state pays compensation for personal injury from crime, and payment comes 1–2 weeks after the decision.
People also ask
- Where can victims of crime get help in Denmark?
- Do I need a lawyer to apply for victim compensation?
- How long does a victim compensation case take?
Sources
This answer is for reference only. Laws, fines and rules can change, so check the Danish authorities before you travel.
Practical infoRelated questions
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What should you do after a traffic accident in Denmark?
If someone is injured or in danger, call 112 and ask for an ambulance or the police.
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What scams should you watch out for in Denmark?
The most common scams in Denmark come as fake text messages, Messenger messages, emails and phone calls from people pretending to be a bank or an authority.
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What happens after you report a crime to the police in Denmark?
Once your report is registered, you get a receipt with a case number (journalnummer) in e-Boks or on borger.dk.
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Where can victims of crime get help in Denmark?
Offerrådgivningen (Victim Support Denmark) gives free and anonymous counselling to victims, witnesses and relatives after crime, accidents and other traumatic events.