Registering a newborn’s CPR in Denmark — birth, naming & dual nationality

Updated By exploringdenmark

When your baby is born in Denmark, they need a CPR number, a registered name, and — if you are an expat — potentially citizenship registration in your home country too. The process is straightforward but has strict deadlines, and the rules around paternity, naming, and dual nationality trip up many international parents. Here is the step-by-step guide.

BIRTH SEND REGISTER CPR CPR NUMBER NATIONALITY Day 0 Within 14 days 1–2 weeks When ready

How birth registration works in Denmark

When your baby is born in a Danish hospital, the hospital notifies the civil registration system (CPR-registret) electronically. However, you must complete the official birth registration — including naming the child and declaring parentage — within 14 days of the birth. This is done digitally via borger.dk.

Once registration is complete, your child receives a CPR number automatically. The CPR number is essential for everything: health card (sundhedskort), childcare waiting lists, børnepenge (child benefit), and all government interactions.

Timeline — what to do and when

  • Day 0 — BirthHospital notifies CPR systemThe hospital registers the birth electronically. You receive a birth notification (fødselsanmeldelse) form or link.
  • Within 14 daysComplete birth registration on borger.dkLog in with MitID. Register the child’s name, declare parentage (if parents are not married), and confirm details. Both parents may need to complete separate declarations.
  • 1–2 weeks after registrationCPR number issuedYour child’s CPR number is generated and a yellow health card (sundhedskort) is sent by post to your registered address.
  • As soon as possibleRegister with your home countryIf you want your child to have your home country’s citizenship, register the birth with your embassy or consulate. Each country has its own deadlines and requirements.
  • When readyApply for passport(s)Apply for a Danish birth certificate (fødselsattest) and your home country’s passport through the relevant embassy.

Naming rules in Denmark

Denmark has specific rules about names. You must register your child’s name within 6 months of birth (but ideally within 14 days as part of birth registration). Key rules:

  • The name must be approved. Denmark maintains an approved name list. Most common international names are on it, but unusual names may need review by the local parish (kirkeministeriet) or kommune.
  • The child must have at least one first name and one surname.
  • The surname can be either parent’s surname, or a combination, depending on Danish naming law (Navneloven).
  • If you are not married, the father must formally acknowledge paternity (faderskab) before the child can take his surname.
Unusual names may be rejected

Denmark’s naming rules are more restrictive than many countries. Names that are typically surnames cannot be used as first names, and very unusual spellings may be challenged. If you plan to give your child a non-Scandinavian name, check the approved list at ast.dk or be prepared for a review process that can take 2–4 weeks.

Dual nationality — does your baby get two citizenships?

A child born in Denmark to foreign parents does not automatically receive Danish citizenship. Danish citizenship is based on descent (jus sanguinis), not place of birth (jus soli). Your child’s nationality depends on the parents’ citizenship:

  • If one parent is Danish: The child is Danish from birth. Also eligible for the other parent’s nationality if that country allows it.
  • If both parents are foreign: The child takes the parents’ nationality (or nationalities), not Danish. The child must go through the normal naturalization process later in life to become Danish.
  • Dual citizenship: Denmark allows dual citizenship (since 2015). If your child is eligible for both Danish and your home country’s citizenship, they can hold both — provided your home country also allows dual citizenship.

Register the birth with your home country’s embassy promptly. Some countries have strict deadlines for registering births abroad — missing the deadline can complicate your child’s citizenship claim.

Documents typically needed

  • Both parents’ passports
  • Both parents’ CPR numbers
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable — affects paternity declaration)
  • Birth notification from the hospital
  • Proof of address in Denmark
  • For embassy registration: apostilled or legalised versions of the above, plus embassy-specific forms

Non-married parents — paternity declaration

If the parents are not married, the father must formally acknowledge paternity (faderskabsanerkendelse). This can be done digitally via borger.dk or in person at Familieretshuset. It must be completed before or shortly after the birth registration. Without this declaration, the father has no legal parental rights and the child cannot take his surname.

You can declare paternity before the birth

Unmarried couples can make a paternity declaration (omsorgs- og ansvarserklæring) during pregnancy via borger.dk. This is recommended — it simplifies everything after the birth and ensures both parents have legal rights from day one.

Getting your baby’s first passport

To travel with your baby, you need a passport. Apply through your home country’s embassy in Denmark. Processing times vary — UK passports take 4–6 weeks, US passports 6–8 weeks, Indian passports 2–4 weeks. Start early if you plan to travel.

For a Danish birth certificate (fødselsattest), contact your local borgerservice. This is often needed by embassies as proof of birth in Denmark.

Having a Baby in Denmark →
Pregnancy, midwife, birth, and everything that happens at the hospital.
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