Moving

International Citizen Service, your one-stop first visit

Updated July 2026Reviewed July 2026
The one-line versionICS is where several arrival tasks - CPR, tax card, residence document, MitID - happen under one roof. Six centres, all free, all English-speaking.

What ICS actually does

International Citizen Service (ICS) exists to spare newcomers the run-around. Instead of visiting separate offices, the public authorities you need on arrival sit together in one place. In a single visit you can typically sort your CPR number, tax card, EU residence document (via SIRI), health card, MitID and general guidance. Staff speak English.

The six centres

There are six ICS locations: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense, Sønderborg and Esbjerg. ICS East at International House Copenhagen serves the capital and many partner municipalities. If your municipality isn't covered by a centre, your local Borgerservice handles the same registrations.

What to bring

  • Passport or national ID (originals)
  • Signed proof of your Danish address
  • EU registration certificate (EU/EEA) or residence permit (non-EU)
  • Marriage/birth certificates if registering family members
Book one appointment per personA family of four needs four separate bookings. Several centres let you upload documents and book online in advance - do this before you travel, as slots in Copenhagen and Aarhus fill fastest at the start of each month.

Make the visit count

Because everything's in one place, go in prepared to leave with the full set: CPR issued, MitID activated, tax card requested. Ask for each explicitly. It's far easier than chasing them separately later. See the first two weeks checklist for the full sequence.

Common questions

Is ICS free?
Yes - all ICS registration services are free of charge.
Can ICS help if I don't live in its city?
Yes. ICS can often help with registration even if you live elsewhere; otherwise your local Borgerservice does the same job.
Do I need an appointment?
Yes, book in advance - and one per person. Walk-ins are generally not accepted.

Verified July 2026 against official sources: nyidanmark.dk (SIRI), lifeindenmark.borger.dk, the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, cpr.dk and borger.dk. General information, not legal advice - see our editorial policy.

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