Danish bureaucracy has a habit of following you – even all the way to Thailand.
On February 6th, around 30 Danes showed up at the Royal Danish Embassy in Bangkok, where the Royal Danish Embassy in collaboration with Danes Worldwide and the Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce, hosted an information evening on life as a Dane abroad.
With open-faced sandwiches on rye bread, familiar faces, and a packed agenda, the evening was designed to bring Danes living in Thailand together while offering practical updates on rules that affect everyday life far from Denmark.
Danish rules in Thailand
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Maria Müller Uhrskov Pilgaard, Danes Worldwide’s representative in Thailand, followed by short introductions and updates from Ambassador Danny Annan, Michael Andersen, Secretary of the Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce, and Peter Emil Romhild, Chairman of the Church Council.
The main presentation was delivered live from Denmark by Secretary-General of Danes Worldwide Michael Bach Petersen, together with leading law counsellor Lisbeth Kjærgaard.
They guided participants through recent developments in areas such as family reunification, Danish citizenship – including the 22-year rule – pensions, issues with NemKonto, driving licence, and admission to Danish schools and universities.
Nine priorities for Danes abroad
Beyond explaining current rules, Danes Worldwide also presented its nine key wishes to the Danish Parliament, a list that is continuously updated and will be relaunched when a new parliament is formed.
Central to the nine wishes is the call for Danes living abroad to be considered in all Danish legislation, such as a clearer division of the Aliens Act and expanded tax regulations allowing more flexible stays in Denmark.
The evening concluded with an open discussion, where questions, concerns, and personal experiences were shared across the room.
