New in Denmark – practical guide

Your first weeks in Denmark – step by step

Once you have your residence permit and have arrived in Denmark, there is a list of practical things to get in place. The order matters: you need an address before you can get a CPR number, and a CPR number before you can get MitID and a bank account.

1. Find a place to live

You need a fixed address in Denmark before you can be registered in the CPR. Rental homes are advertised on BoligPortal, Bolighub and Lejebolig.dk, among others. Public housing (housing associations) is usually applied for through the municipality’s housing portal, but there is often a waiting list.

• Always get a written tenancy agreement.
• The deposit and the prepaid rent may each be no more than 3 months’ rent.
• Never pay money before you have seen the home or received a signed contract – fake housing adverts are unfortunately common.

2. Register in the CPR

If you are going to live in Denmark for more than 3 months, you must be registered in the CPR (the Danish civil registration system) and get a CPR number. You do this at the Citizen Service (Borgerservice) in your municipality or at an International Citizen Service (ICS) centre.

As a rule, bring:

• your passport or other valid ID
• your residence permit or your EU registration certificate
• your tenancy agreement or other proof of your address

With your CPR number you automatically receive a health insurance card (the yellow card), which normally arrives by post after 2–3 weeks. It shows the doctor you are registered with.

3. Get MitID

MitID is your digital ID, used for online banking, tax, Digital Post and public self-service solutions. You can get MitID once you have a CPR number. It is usually set up at the Citizen Service or ICS, where you show your passport.

4. Keep an eye on Digital Post

When you are registered in the CPR, you automatically get Digital Post. This is where the authorities – including SIRI and the Danish Immigration Service – send letters, for example about checks on your permit or about renewal. Letters in Digital Post have the same legal effect as ordinary letters, so check it regularly, even if you are not expecting anything.

5. Order a tax card

You need a tax card before you get paid. Without a tax card, your employer must withhold 55% in tax. You order the tax card from the Danish Tax Agency (skat.dk) once you have a CPR number.

6. Open a bank account and choose a NemKonto

Open an account with a Danish bank. The bank will normally ask for your CPR number, passport and proof of your address. Your account must be registered as your NemKonto – the account public authorities pay money into.

Important for work permits: If you hold a work permit under, for example, the Pay Limit Scheme, your salary must be paid into a Danish bank account in your own name. The account must be opened no later than 180 days after you start the job.

7. Learn Danish – it is free

As a newly arrived adult you have the right to free Danish lessons at a language centre. Many municipalities charge a deposit (typically DKK 2,000), which you get back when you complete the modules. Danish tests matter later if you want to apply for permanent residence or Danish citizenship.

8. Bringing your family?

Children are signed up for day care or school through the municipality. Your spouse or partner generally has the right to work if they have been granted residence as an accompanying family member.

9. Other things worth sorting out

• Unemployment insurance fund (a-kasse) and trade union: Voluntary, but an a-kasse can secure you unemployment benefits if you lose your job.
• Insurance: Contents and liability insurance is common in Denmark.
• Driving licence: If you have a licence from a country outside the EU/EEA, it often has to be exchanged for a Danish one within a set deadline.
• Public transport: The Rejsekort or apps such as DOT and DSB make it easy to travel by bus, train and metro.

Look after your residence permit

Your permit is valid on specific conditions. If you change jobs, your salary changes or you receive a letter from SIRI, contact us in good time. Many problems can be solved if action is taken before the deadline runs out.

Last updated October 2026. Sources: lifeindenmark.dk – When you arrive, kk.dk – Danish education. Rules and practice may vary between municipalities.