Admin & paperwork · Denmark
CPR Number
The key that unlocks Danish life
What Is It
Your Danish Identity Number
The CPR (Det Centrale Personregister) number is a unique 10-digit identifier assigned to every resident. Without it you cannot open a bank account, visit a doctor under the public system, receive your salary, or sign a phone contract. It encodes your date of birth and gender.
- CPR format
- DDMMYY-XXXX (10 digits)
- Registration deadline after arrival
- 5 days after moving in
- Issuing authority
- International House or Borgerservice
- Documents required
- Passport + residence permit + rental contract
- Processing time at International House
- Same day (walk-in)
Getting It
How to Register for Your CPR
EU citizens and non-EU permit holders follow the same municipal registration process but with different documents. Copenhagen residents can use International House for one-stop service; elsewhere you visit the local Borgerservice. Walk-ins are possible but booking saves hours of waiting.
- Proof of address required
- Signed rental contract or owner declaration
- EU citizens also need
- Employment contract or proof of studies
- Online booking portal
- borger.dk (Bestil tid)
- CPR confirmation letter arrives
- 1–2 weeks by post
- Sundhedskort (health card) arrives
- 2–3 weeks after CPR registration
- Book an appointment at Borgerservice or International House via borger.dk
- Bring your passport, residence permit, and signed rental contract
- Complete the CPR registration form (Form 03.02) at the counter
- Receive your CPR number on the spot as a printed receipt
- Wait 1–2 weeks for the official confirmation letter by post
- Wait 2–3 weeks for your yellow Sundhedskort (health card) to arrive
Without It
Surviving Without a CPR
If you arrive before your CPR is processed, or your registration is delayed, you face a frustrating gap period. You cannot access most services, but there are workarounds for banking, healthcare, and phone contracts that most newcomers are unaware of.
- Bank that accepts pre-CPR applications
- Danske Bank (with passport + permit)
- Emergency healthcare without CPR
- Free at any hospital ER
- Prepaid SIM without CPR
- Lebara or Lycamobile (passport only)
- Tax card without CPR (emergency)
- SKAT issues temporary tax card with 55% rate
- Digital Post activation requires
- CPR + MitID (no workaround)
Official sources
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