Moving

Get your CPR number, the key to everything

Updated July 2026Reviewed July 2026
The one-line versionYour CPR number is the ten-digit key to Danish life. You get it free at International Citizen Service - but you need a registered address first, and almost nothing else works until it's issued.

What a CPR number actually is

CPR stands for Det Centrale Personregister - the Central Person Register. Your number is ten digits: the first six are your date of birth, the last four a unique identifier. It's the thread that ties together your tax record, health care, bank account and every dealing with a public authority. Get this, and everything else falls into place. Don't, and nothing does.

Who needs one, and when

If you're staying longer than three months (six months if you're from an EU/EEA or Nordic country), you're required to register. The clock matters:

  • EU/EEA citizens - register after settling, and you'll need an EU residence document (registration certificate) from SIRI first.
  • Non-EU citizens - you must have your residence permit already, and register within five days of taking up residence.
  • Nordic citizens - no residence document needed; register if staying over six months.

Where to go

Register free at an International Citizen Service (ICS) centre - there are six: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense, Sønderborg and Esbjerg. Or use your local Borgerservice. ICS is the smoother route for internationals because tax, CPR and residence services sit under one roof. Most locations book online, and several let you upload documents in advance.

What to bring

Book one appointment per person - a family of four needs four bookings. Bring originals:

  • Passport or national ID
  • Proof of your Danish address (a signed rental contract)
  • EU registration certificate (EU/EEA) or residence permit (non-EU)
  • Marriage or birth certificates if registering family
The address trapYou can't get a CPR number without a registered address - but many landlords want a CPR number before they'll rent to you. Break the loop with temporary accommodation you can legally register at, then move once you're in the system.

What you get, and what's next

At most locations outside Copenhagen you'll walk out with the number the same day. Then:

  • Yellow health card (sundhedskort) arrives by post in two to four weeks, showing your assigned doctor. Put your name on your letterbox or it gets returned.
  • MitID - set it up at the same appointment if you can. See setting up MitID.
  • Bank account and tax card - both need the CPR. See opening a bank account.
Do it in the right orderAddress → CPR → MitID → tax card → bank. Each step depends on the one before. Trying to jump ahead is the single most common reason people get stuck in their first fortnight.

Common questions

Can I get a CPR number without a job?
Yes. It's tied to legal residence and a registered address, not employment. Your residence basis is what matters.
How long does it take?
The number is usually issued at your appointment. The yellow health card follows by post in two to four weeks.
What if I'm here under three months for work?
You get a personal tax number instead - same ten-digit format, issued by Skattestyrelsen. It converts automatically to a full CPR if you later take up residence.
Is it really free?
Yes. CPR registration and the health card cost nothing. Only a replacement proof of your number later carries a small fee.

Verified July 2026 against official sources: nyidanmark.dk (SIRI), lifeindenmark.borger.dk, cpr.dk and International House Copenhagen. General information, not legal advice - see our editorial policy.