First Week in Denmark: Checklist

Danish bureaucracy works like a dependency chain. Each step unlocks the next. If you do things in the wrong order — or skip something — you create delays that ripple forward. A person who arrives on a Monday and handles things in the right order can have MitID active by the end of week two. A person who muddles through in the wrong order might still be waiting on basic services at the end of week four.

This checklist puts everything in the right sequence, explains why each step happens when it does, and tells you what you can do in parallel.

The Dependency Chain (Understand This First)

Arrive → Signed rental contract
             ↓
         Borgerservice appointment → CPR number (1–2 weeks by post)
                                          ↓
                              MitID setup (needs CPR + Danish phone number)
                                          ↓
                              Danish bank account (needs CPR)
                                          ↓
                         ┌────────────────┴────────────────┐
                    skat.dk                            sundhed.dk
                (tax card)                         (register GP)
                         └────────────────┬────────────────┘
                                     NemKonto designation
                                    (once bank account open)

You cannot shortcut this chain. Every step that requires MitID requires CPR first. Every step that requires a bank account requires CPR first. The Borgerservice appointment is the root.

Day 1: Arrive and Handle Immediate Needs

Get a Danish SIM Card

Do this at the airport or at the first supermarket you pass. Prepaid SIMs from Lebara, Lycamobile, or CBB Mobil are available at 7-Eleven, Netto, and most petrol stations. Cost: DKK 30–100 including some credit.

You need a Danish mobile number for MitID activation. Do not wait for a postpaid contract — get a prepaid SIM immediately. You do not need a CPR number to buy one.

Set Up Temporary Payments

Open a Wise or Revolut account if you do not already have one. These are not long-term solutions for Denmark, but they allow you to:

• Pay for groceries and transport using a contactless card or phone
• Receive emergency transfers from family or friends
• Pay rent if your landlord accepts bank transfers (most do)

You cannot rely on Wise/Revolut long-term, but they bridge the gap while you wait for a Danish bank account.

Locate Your Local Borgerservice Office

Go to borger.dk and find the Borgerservice office for your postcode. Note the address, opening hours, and the online booking link. Do not visit yet — book an appointment first.

Day 1–2: Book Your Borgerservice Appointment

This is the single most important thing to do in your first 48 hours.

1. Go to your municipality's Borgerservice website (or kk.dk/borgerservice in Copenhagen)
2. Book an appointment for CPR registration / Folkeregister
3. Take the earliest available slot

Appointment slots in major cities during summer and early autumn can be 1–2 weeks out. Booking immediately on arrival minimises this delay.

You need the following confirmed before you book:

• A fixed residential address (signed rental contract in your name)
• Non-EU citizens: your physical residence permit or the official confirmation letter from SIRI

If you do not yet have a signed rental contract, securing accommodation is your immediate priority — you cannot register without it.

Days 1–5: Pre-Appointment Preparation

While waiting for your Borgerservice appointment, prepare your document folder:

Document	EU/EEA Citizens	Non-EU Citizens
Passport or national ID	Required	Required
Residence permit	Not required	Required (physical card or SIRI letter)
Signed rental contract	Required	Required
Employment contract	Required (if working)	Required (matches permit type)
Study enrollment letter	Required (if studying)	Required (if student permit)
Bank statements	If self-sufficient (3+ months funds)	Not typically required
Marriage/birth certificate	If registering family members	If registering family members

Bring originals. Photocopies and phone photos are not accepted.

Day 3–7: The Borgerservice Appointment

Arrive on time. Bring your full document folder.

The case officer will:

• Verify your documents
• Enter your details into the Civil Registration System
• Issue your EU residence certificate (EU citizens — same appointment in most municipalities)
• Advise you of next steps

You will not leave with a CPR number. It is sent by post.

After the appointment, your CPR number and health card are in the post. Typical delivery: 1–2 weeks.

While You Wait: Week 1–2 Actions

These are things you can do while your CPR number is in transit.

Find a GP

You will be assigned a GP automatically based on your registered address, and their name will appear on your health card. However, if you want to choose a different GP:

• Go to sundhed.dk
• Search for GPs near your address or workplace
• Note ones that are accepting new patients and list English-speaking capability
• You can change after you have MitID

Research Danish Banks

You will open a bank account once you have CPR. Use this waiting time to research which bank suits you.

Common choices for expats:

• Lunar — app-only bank, English interface, straightforward to open for new arrivals
• Arbejdernes Landsbank (AL-Bank) — known for being accessible to non-citizens
• Nordea — large, international, English support, branches across the country
• Danske Bank — largest bank in Denmark, some expat-specific onboarding support

Most banks require an in-person appointment to open an account. Book ahead.

Open e-Boks (Do This the Moment MitID Is Active)

Note: You cannot do this until MitID is active — which requires your CPR number. Do not try this step yet. Instead, make a note to do it immediately after MitID setup in Week 2.

When MitID is active, the first thing to do is log in to e-boks.dk. This is Denmark's official digital post system. All government agencies send your letters here:

• Tax information from SKAT
• CPR confirmation
• Letters from your municipality
• Health-related notifications

There is no paper fallback for most official correspondence once you are registered. If you do not set up e-Boks, you will miss official communications.

Week 2: CPR Number Arrives

When your CPR number letter arrives:

1. Note the number. Memorise it. Write it down securely.
2. Check the format: DDMMYY-XXXX (6-digit birthdate + 4-digit serial)
3. Verify the name and address on the letter are correct

If the name is wrong: Contact Borgerservice immediately. Errors in CPR registry can affect everything downstream.

Week 2: Set Up MitID

Within a day or two of receiving your CPR number:

1. Go to mitid.dk
2. Enter your CPR number and Danish mobile number (the prepaid SIM from day one)
3. Follow the identity verification steps — biometric passport scan or in-person at Borgerservice/bank
4. Download the MitID app and activate it

MitID setup takes 20–40 minutes if the biometric scan works. Keep your passport and phone with NFC enabled.

Week 2: Open a Danish Bank Account

Contact your chosen bank (or use their app for digital-first banks like Lunar). You will need:

• CPR number
• Passport
• Proof of address (rental contract)
• Employment contract (most banks ask for this)

Digital banks (Lunar) may not require an in-person visit. Traditional banks will. Book the appointment early.

Week 2–3: Tax Card (Skattekort)

As soon as MitID is active:

1. Log in to skat.dk with MitID
2. Find the preliminary income assessment (Forskudsopgørelse)
3. Enter your expected annual salary from your employment contract
4. Add any deductions (commuting, trade union, a-kasse)
5. Submit

Your tax card is sent to your employer electronically within 1–2 business days. Without it, your employer must withhold 55% of your salary.

Do this before your first payday. If your payday is approaching, let your employer's payroll team know — they can sometimes delay the run or apply an adjustment.

Week 2–3: NemKonto

Once your Danish bank account is open, log in to netbank and toggle the NemKonto designation on your account, or do it via borger.dk with MitID. All public sector payments — tax refunds, benefits, supplements — will then reach you automatically.

Week 2–3: Register with a GP

Using sundhed.dk with MitID, confirm or change your assigned GP. If the assigned GP is convenient and accepting patients, no action is needed. If you want to change, do it here.

Book your first GP appointment after registration — a standard check-in with a new doctor who knows your medical history.

Complete First-Week Checklist (Summary Table)

Day	Action	Needs	Status
Day 1	Get Danish prepaid SIM	Nothing	Essential
Day 1	Set up Wise or Revolut for payments	Nothing	Recommended
Day 1–2	Book Borgerservice appointment	Signed rental contract	Essential
Days 1–5	Prepare document folder	All originals	Essential
Days 3–7	Attend Borgerservice appointment	Documents	Essential
Week 1	Research Danish banks	Nothing	Recommended
Week 2	Receive CPR number (post)	Borgerservice done	Automatic
Week 2	Set up MitID	CPR + Danish phone	Essential
Week 2	Open bank account	CPR + MitID or just CPR	Essential
Week 2–3	File preliminary tax assessment (skattekort)	MitID + skat.dk	Essential
Week 2–3	Designate NemKonto	Bank account	Essential
Week 2–3	Register or confirm GP	MitID + sundhed.dk	Recommended

What If Your First Payday Comes Before CPR?

This is a common problem, especially if you started work immediately. Options:

1. Ask payroll to delay your first run by 2 weeks — most Danish employers can accommodate this for new international hires.
2. Accept 55% deduction and reclaim at year-end — not ideal but not permanent. SKAT will refund overpaid tax in the annual settlement.
3. Rush the Borgerservice appointment — some offices hold emergency slots for specific situations. Call directly and explain.

Key Takeaways

• Book your Borgerservice appointment on day one. Every other step depends on it.
• Get a prepaid Danish SIM immediately — you need a Danish number for MitID.
• Use Wise or Revolut as a bridge while waiting for your Danish bank account.
• The order is: Borgerservice → CPR → MitID → bank account → tax card + NemKonto + GP.
• Set up MitID within 24 hours of receiving your CPR number.
• File the preliminary tax assessment (skattekort) before your first payday or your employer withholds 55%.
• Log in to e-Boks as soon as MitID is active — this is where the Danish state sends all official correspondence.