Danish CPR Registration and MitID for New Arrivals (2026) (2026 Legal Guide) — Rules & Requirements
About this article
Sourced from Danish Acts of Parliament (love), executive orders (bekendtgørelser), and official government guidance. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
The CPR number (Det Centrale Personregister, the Central Person Register) is the 10-digit identifier that unlocks virtually every service in Denmark: tax, NemKonto, GP visits, utility contracts, MitID and Digital Post. The format is DDMMYY-XXXX; digits 5-6 plus digit 7 indicate the century, and the last digit is even for women and odd for men. Since 1 October 2007, not all numbers contain a modulus-11 check digit, because the available numbers ran out for certain birth dates:
- Who must register: EU/EEA/Swiss citizens for stays over 3 months; Nordic citizens after 6 months under the Nordic civil-registration agreement; non-EU citizens within 6 months of the permit being issued and no later than 5 days after taking up residence in Denmark.
- Short-term workers (under 3 months, or 6 months for EEA) get a personal tax number — the same 10-digit format, issued by skat.dk via form 04.063, and automatically converted to a full CPR on permanent residence.
- Where to register: International Citizen Service (ICS) in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense, Sønderborg and Esbjerg (six locations) or the local Borgerservice. Free of charge.
- The yellow health card: posted 2-4 weeks after registration and shows your assigned GP. Your name must be on the letterbox, or the card is returned. A digital version is in the Sundhedskortet app.
- MitID replaced NemID, which was shut down on 31 October 2023. New arrivals normally get MitID as part of the CPR appointment or by scanning their passport in the app.
- Digital Post is mandatory for everyone aged 15 and over resident in Denmark (LBK 686/2021). Messages have the same legal effect as a paper letter from the moment they are delivered. Exemption under § 5 requires attending Borgerservice in person.
- GDPR + Databeskyttelsesloven (LBK 289/2024): data controllers must answer access/rectification/erasure/data-portability requests within 1 month, with a possible 2-month extension in complex cases. Denmark is the only EU country where data-protection fines are set by the courts — Datatilsynet reports cases to the police, and the courts set the fines under § 41.
When does it apply?
- You are moving to Denmark for more than 3 months (6 months for Nordic citizens).
- You are a short-term worker who needs a tax number but not full residence.
- You have been refused CPR registration because of an issue with your address or documentation.
- Your yellow health card has not arrived, or you want to change GP (a 40 kr. fee in 2026, unless one of the free triggers applies).
- Your NemID no longer works (fully shut down on 31 October 2023), and you need MitID for the bank or public services.
- You want to exercise GDPR rights against a Danish data controller (access, rectification, erasure, data portability, restriction, objection or rules on automated decisions).
What to do if you are new to Denmark and need a CPR number, MitID or Digital Post
- Before the trip: EU/EEA/Swiss citizens apply for an EU residence document with SIRI via newtodenmark.dk. Non-EU citizens must first obtain a residence and work permit from SIRI.
- Book an appointment at ICS or Borgerservice. Bring a valid passport, your SIRI permit or EU residence document, documentation of a Danish address (lease or confirmation from the landlord), original marriage/birth certificates with authorised translations if necessary, and (for Nordic citizens) the social-security number from your home country.
- Put your name on the letterbox before the yellow card is posted — without it PostNord returns the card and delays everything by weeks.
- Set up MitID at the CPR appointment if possible, or at Borgerservice by answering identity questions from the CPR register or with a witness. Passport holders can scan their passport in the MitID app.
- Check Digital Post daily — deadlines run from the time of delivery. A formal exemption (§ 5) must be requested in person at Borgerservice.
- For GDPR requests: write to the data controller first (1-month statutory response deadline). If you do not get a satisfactory reply, complain to Datatilsynet at datatilsynet.dk/borger/klage.
- Changing GP: done via borger.dk with MitID. The 40 kr. fee is waived on moving, the closure of a GP clinic, your 15th birthday or a switch from group 2 to group 1 in the health insurance.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't arrive without a lease — Borgerservice will not register you without a verifiable Danish address. Short-term sublets without the owner's permission are routinely refused.
- Don't leave the letterbox without a name. The yellow health card and the MitID material are returned if your name is not on it.
- Don't rely on NemID — it was fully shut down on 31 October 2023. Banks and public services now require MitID.
- Don't ignore messages in Digital Post — deadlines run from the time of delivery, and if you miss them you lose the right to respond.
- Don't skip contacting the data controller before complaining to Datatilsynet — Datatilsynet asks complainants to raise the matter with the data controller first.
- Don't assume the short-term tax number is permanent — it uses the same format as the CPR and is automatically converted on permanent residence.
About Immigration Law & Right of Residence in Denmark
If you live in Denmark on a visa, your rights rest on Udlændingeloven (the Aliens Act), administered by Udlændingestyrelsen (the Danish Immigration Service). Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA need a residence and work permit for stays over 90 days — the main routes are the Pay Limit Scheme (beløbsordningen), the Positive List (positivlisten) and Start-up Denmark. Asylum applications go through a two-track process with the option to appeal to Flygtningenævnet (the Refugee Appeals Board). Family reunification is subject to strict requirements on income, housing and attachment. Citizenship, governed by Indfødsretsloven (the Nationality Act), requires naturalisation by an act passed by the Folketing (Parliament).
Common Questions
How long does it take to get a Danish CPR number?
At most ICS and Borgerservice locations — Aalborg, Sønderborg, Odense, Esbjerg and usually Aarhus — you get the CPR number the same day as your appointment. In Copenhagen the online preparation takes 1-2 weeks before the appointment. The registration itself is free; the yellow health card arrives by post 2-4 weeks later.
What is the difference between a CPR number and a short-term tax number in Denmark?
A CPR number is for persons with residence over 3 months (6 months for Nordic citizens). A short-term tax number (personal tax number) is for workers here for 3 months or less and is issued by skat.dk via form 04.063. Both use the same 10-digit format DDMMYY-XXXX, and the tax number is automatically converted to a full CPR once the worker takes up permanent residence.
Is NemID still used in Denmark?
No. NemID was fully shut down on 31 October 2023. Everyone now uses MitID to log in to the bank, tax and public services. New arrivals can set up MitID at the CPR appointment or at Borgerservice by answering identity questions or scanning their passport in the MitID app.
Is Digital Post mandatory in Denmark?
Yes, for everyone aged 15 and over resident in Denmark under LBK 686/2021. A message in Digital Post has the same legal effect as a paper letter from the moment it becomes available — meaning deadlines start to run immediately. A formal exemption under § 5 must be requested in person at Borgerservice and is not automatic.
How do I complain about GDPR in Denmark?
Write to the data controller first — they have 1 month to respond under GDPR Article 12(3), extendable to 3 months in complex cases (with notice). If you are not satisfied, complain to Datatilsynet at datatilsynet.dk/borger/klage. Note that Denmark is the only EU country where data-protection fines are set by the courts — not the supervisory authority — Datatilsynet reports cases to the police, and the courts set the fines under § 41 of the Data Protection Act.
What is the cpr registration, mitid and digital post for new arrivals right in Denmark?
The CPR number (Det Centrale Personregister, the Central Person Register) is the 10-digit identifier that unlocks virtually every service in Denmark: tax, NemKonto, GP visits, utility contracts, MitID and Digital Post. The format is DDMMYY-XXXX; digits 5-6 plus digit 7 indicate the century, and the last digit is even for women and odd for men. Since 1 October 2007, not all numbers contain a modulus-11 check digit, because the available numbers ran out for certain birth dates:Who must register: EU/EEA/Swiss citizens for stays over 3 months; Nordic citizens after 6 months under the Nordic...
When does it apply — cpr registration, mitid and digital post for new arrivals?
You are moving to Denmark for more than 3 months (6 months for Nordic citizens).You are a short-term worker who needs a tax number but not full residence.You have been refused CPR registration because of an issue with your address or documentation.Your yellow health card has not arrived, or you want to change GP (a 40 kr. fee in 2026, unless one of the free triggers applies).Your NemID no longer works (fully shut down on 31 October 2023), and you need MitID for the bank or public services.You want to exercise GDPR rights against a Danish data controller (access, rectification, erasure, data...
What do I do if I have just arrived in Denmark and need a CPR number, yellow health card and MitID?
Before the trip: EU/EEA/Swiss citizens apply for an EU residence document with SIRI via newtodenmark.dk. Non-EU citizens must first obtain a residence and work permit from SIRI.Book an appointment at ICS or Borgerservice. Bring a valid passport, your SIRI permit or EU residence document, documentation of a Danish address (lease or confirmation from the landlord), original marriage/birth certificates with authorised translations if necessary, and (for Nordic citizens) the social-security number from your home country.Put your name on the letterbox before the yellow card is posted — without it...
What should you NOT do — cpr registration, mitid and digital post for new arrivals?
Don't arrive without a lease — Borgerservice will not register you without a verifiable Danish address. Short-term sublets without the owner's permission are routinely refused.Don't leave the letterbox without a name. The yellow health card and the MitID material are returned if your name is not on it.Don't rely on NemID — it was fully shut down on 31 October 2023. Banks and public services now require MitID.Don't ignore messages in Digital Post — deadlines run from the time of delivery, and if you miss them you lose the right to respond.Don't skip contacting the data controller before...