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Compare Danish a-kasser — in English
An a-kasse is Denmark's voluntary unemployment insurance. Pay a monthly fee, and if you lose your job you can receive dagpenge for up to two years within a three-year period — the standard maximum rate for full-time insured members is 22,041 DKK a month before tax in 2026, and your own rate depends on your circumstances. This site compares 21 of Denmark's 21 state-recognised funds and explains the rules in plain language for internationals.
- ✓ No sign-up required
- ✓ Price and source shown per fund
- ✓ Written for internationals
Short answer
Anyone working or studying in Denmark can join an a-kasse. Membership costs 513–573 DKK a month in 2026 in our comparison (full-time, without early-retirement contribution) and is tax deductible. Whether you can get dagpenge depends on, among other things, your membership period, your income and your availability for work. Special rules apply to recent graduates and when you re-qualify after using up your benefit period. The cheapest fund in our comparison is Din Sundhedsfaglige A-kasse at 513 DKK per month, which admits health professionals; the cheapest fund open to everyone is A&Til (former FTFa) at 521 DKK per month.
- 22,041 DKK
- standard max, full-time, 2026 / month
- 513 DKK
- cheapest membership / month
- 286,632 DKK
- income requirement over 3 years, 2026
- 104 weeks
- maximum benefit period
Cheapest a-kasser right now
Monthly membership fee in DKK. Union membership is always optional and priced separately.
| A-kasse | Open for | Price | Union | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Din Sundhedsfaglige A-kasse | Healthcare professionals | 513 DKK/month 6,156 DKK per year Verified · dsa.dk | Not verified |
|
| AJKS | Journalism, media & communication | 514 DKK/month 6,168 DKK per year Verified · ajks.dk | No union | |
| BUPL-A | Pedagogues & early childhood education | 516 DKK/month 6,192 DKK per year Verified · bupl.dk | Not verified |
|
| Akademikernes A-kasse | University graduates & students | 517 DKK/month 6,204 DKK per year Verified · aka.dk | No union |
|
| A&Til (former FTFa) | Everyone | 521 DKK/month 6,252 DKK per year Verified · aogtil.dk | No union |
|
| Lærernes A-kasse | Teachers & education | 521 DKK/month 6,252 DKK per year Verified · laka.dk | Not verified |
|
Some Danish unions market their own a-kasse brand — for example IDA and Business Danmark — but the a-kasse membership itself is administered by Akademikernes A-kasse and Min A-kasse respectively. They are listed here under the fund that actually administers them.
Price and source shown per fund. Prices and calculations are kept up to date, but always check the official source for the latest figures and rules. Akasse.io is independent and is not an a-kasse.
How it works, in four steps
From arriving in Denmark to receiving your first dagpenge payment.
1. Join on your first working day
The 12-month membership clock starts the day you sign up, not the day you need the money. Joining early is the single most valuable thing you can do.
2. Work and pay your fee
Build up the income the first-time requirement asks for: 286,632 DKK reported to SKAT within three years, with a maximum of 23,886 DKK counted per month, while staying a member.
3. Register as unemployed
On your first day without work, register on Jobnet.dk and tell your a-kasse. Benefits are never paid retroactively for days before you register.
4. Job log, meetings, payment
Apply for jobs, record them in your joblog, attend meetings and submit your monthly dagpengekort. Payment lands at the end of each month.
Knowledge base
Clear, source-based guides to the Danish labour market: benefits, salary, taxes, holiday pay and your rights as a foreign worker.
The basics
What is an A-kasse? Denmark's Unemployment Insurance Explained
An a-kasse is Denmark's voluntary unemployment insurance fund. Learn what it costs, what it pays, who can join and why it is not the same as a trade union.
Unemployment & dagpenge
Dagpenge Rate 2026: How Much Unemployment Benefit You Get
The 2026 standard dagpenge maximum is 22,041 DKK per month for full-time insured members, with an employment supplement of up to 26,198 DKK for the first three months. See how the rate is calculated, taxed and paid out.
Unemployment & dagpenge
What is Dagpenge? Denmark's Unemployment Benefit in Plain English
Dagpenge is the Danish unemployment benefit paid by your a-kasse. Learn who is entitled, how you apply, what you must do each month, and how it differs from kontanthjælp.
The basics
How to Join an A-kasse in Denmark: Step-by-Step Guide
Joining a Danish a-kasse takes ten minutes with MitID. See exactly what you need, how switching funds works, and the timing mistakes that cost you a year of coverage.
Salary, tax & money
Cheapest A-kasse in Denmark 2026: Full Price Comparison
A&Til (former FTFa) is the cheapest a-kasse open to everyone in our comparison at 521 DKK per month. Compare the funds we list, see what drives the price, and calculate your real cost after tax.
The basics
A-kasse for Internationals: Rules for EU and Non-EU Workers
How foreigners in Denmark join an a-kasse, how EU insurance periods transfer with the PD U1, and what happens to your benefits if your permit or job ends.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a-kasse mandatory in Denmark?
- No. A-kasse membership is entirely voluntary. Denmark has no automatic state unemployment insurance for employees, so if you are not a member and lose your job, your only fallback is means-tested kontanthjælp — which is reduced or refused if you have savings, or if your spouse earns money.
- Can I join an a-kasse as a foreigner?
- Yes. You need a CPR number, a residence and work permit if you are not an EU/EEA citizen, and you must live and work in Denmark. Nationality is irrelevant; every a-kasse is open to internationals on the same terms as Danes.
- How much does an a-kasse cost per month?
- Between roughly 513 and 573 DKK per month in 2026. A large, fixed part of the fee is a state contribution that every fund must charge, which is why prices are so close together. Most of the fee is deductible on your Danish tax return.
- Do I have to join a trade union too?
- No. An a-kasse and a fagforening (trade union) are separate products, and it is legal and common to buy them separately. Several funds — A&Til, Akademikernes, CA, Min A-kasse, ASE — sell a-kasse membership without any union attached.
- How much is dagpenge in 2026?
- The standard maximum rate for full-time insured members is 22,041 DKK a month before tax in 2026, capped at 90% of your previous salary; part-time insured members get up to 14,694 DKK. If you meet the conditions for the employment supplement (beskæftigelsestillæg) you can receive up to 26,198 DKK for the first three months. Recent graduates receive fixed graduate rates instead. Your own rate depends on your circumstances.
- Can I keep my a-kasse if I leave Denmark?
- If you move to another EU/EEA country you can usually transfer your insurance periods using a PD U1 document, and in some cases export your Danish dagpenge for up to three months while job hunting abroad. Ask your fund for the U1 before you leave.
Read this site in your language
The Danish system is hard enough without a language barrier. Every guide on Akasse.io is available in four languages.
Price and source shown per fund.