When does my yellow health card arrive after getting a CPR number?

The health card (sundhedskort) is issued automatically 2–4 weeks after CPR registration. It is sent by post to your registered address. You do not apply for it separately — registration triggers it.

Can I see a doctor before my health card arrives?

Yes. You can see any GP who has capacity if you present your CPR number. Most GPs will see you on the basis of the number alone during the first weeks after arrival. Bring your passport as backup ID.

What if I am not assigned a GP?

After receiving your health card you have a GP pre-assigned based on your address. You can change your GP at any time via sundhed.dk by logging in with MitID.

Does my health card cover dental treatment?

No. The yellow health card covers GP and hospital visits. Dental care is not covered by the public system for adults — you pay out of pocket or through supplementary private insurance.

Getting Your Danish Health Card (Sundhedskort)

The yellow health card is your key to free Danish healthcare. Here's when you get it, what it does, and how to use it.

Denmark's public healthcare system is among the best in the world, and access to it is tied to a small yellow card called the sundhedskort (health card). Once you have this card, you can see your GP, get referred to specialists, visit emergency departments, and access most healthcare services without paying a fee at the point of care. The system is funded through taxes — if you are registered as a resident and paying tax, you are entitled to it.

Here is everything you need to know about getting your health card and using it from day one.

What the Sundhedskort Is

The sundhedskort is a physical plastic card (yellow, credit card-sized) issued to every person registered in Denmark's Civil Registration System. It contains:

Your full name
Your CPR number (10-digit personal registration number)
The name and address of your assigned GP (praktiserende læge)
Your municipality (kommune)

You do not choose most of this information — it is populated automatically based on your CPR registration. The GP listed is one who has been assigned to you based on your registered address.

When Does It Arrive?

You do not apply for a sundhedskort. It is issued automatically after you complete CPR registration at Borgerservice.

Once your CPR number has been issued and entered into the Civil Registration System, the municipality sends the card by post. The typical waiting time is 1–2 weeks after your Borgerservice appointment — roughly the same timeline as receiving your CPR number letter.

In most cases, both your CPR number letter and your health card arrive within a few days of each other. If you have received your CPR number but no health card after three weeks, contact your local Borgerservice.

What If the Card Doesn't Arrive?

A few reasons the card might not arrive:

Address mismatch: If you moved between registering and the card being issued, it may have gone to the old address. Contact Borgerservice to update your registered address, then request a reprint.
Postal delay: Danish post can occasionally be slow. Wait the full three weeks before worrying.
Processing delay: During high-registration periods (late summer when international students arrive), processing can be slower.

To request a replacement card, contact your municipality directly or use borger.dk (you will need MitID to log in). You can also ask at your Borgerservice office in person.

Using Healthcare Before Your Card Arrives

You do not need to wait for the physical card to access healthcare. As soon as your CPR number exists in the system, you can:

See your GP — Tell the receptionist your CPR number. They can look you up in the system even without the physical card. Your CPR number is the key, not the card itself.
Use emergency services — Accident and emergency (A&E) departments use your CPR number. You will be asked for it on arrival.
Visit an out-of-hours doctor (lægevagt) — Denmark has a telephone-first out-of-hours system. Call 1813 (within the Copenhagen region) or the regional lægevagt number for your area. You give your CPR number on the phone.

The card is a convenient physical reference, but the number itself is what grants access. Memorise your CPR number as soon as you receive it.

Your Assigned GP

Denmark operates a GP registration system. You are assigned to a GP (praktiserende læge) based on your registered address. Your sundhedskort shows you which GP you have been assigned to.

You are not required to stay with the assigned GP. If you want to change to a different GP — perhaps one closer to your workplace, one who speaks your language, or simply one you prefer — you can do so.

To change GP:

Go to sundhed.dk
Log in with MitID
Go to "Skift læge" (Change GP)
Search for GPs in your area who are accepting new patients
Select your preferred GP and confirm the change

The change takes effect quickly, often within a few days. Your sundhedskort will eventually be reissued with the new GP's details, but you can visit the new GP before the new card arrives — just use your CPR number.

Note: Not all GPs are accepting new patients at all times. If a GP has a full patient list, they will be marked as closed to new registrations. Filter your search on sundhed.dk to show only those currently accepting patients.

What Healthcare Costs

For registered residents, the following are free (covered by public health insurance):

GP consultations (unlimited)
Referrals to public hospital specialists
Emergency hospital treatment
Out-of-hours medical calls (lægevagt)
Most prescription medications (partially subsidised — you pay a portion based on annual spend)
Maternity care
Mental health referrals via GP

Things that are not covered for free:

Dental care for adults (children up to age 21 are covered)
Physiotherapy (partially covered for some conditions)
Eye tests and glasses (not covered)
Private clinic visits (you pay in full)

For dental, physiotherapy, and optometry, private insurance top-up is common. Many Danish employers include this in their benefits package.

Regional vs Municipal Healthcare

Denmark's healthcare system is divided by region. There are five regions (regioner), each responsible for hospitals, GPs, and specialist care in their area. Your sundhedskort ties you to the region matching your registered address.

If you need hospital treatment, you are generally referred to a hospital within your region. However, Denmark has a free choice of public hospital rule: if waiting times in your region exceed one month, you may choose treatment at a hospital in another region or at certain approved private hospitals at no extra cost.

Emergency Numbers

Keep these numbers saved:

Situation	Number
Life-threatening emergency (ambulance, fire, police)	112
Medical emergency (non-life-threatening, Copenhagen region)	1813
Out-of-hours GP advice (general)	1813 or regional lægevagt
Poison control	82 12 12 12

The 1813 number is for the Capital Region. Other regions have their own out-of-hours numbers — check the website for your region or ask at your Borgerservice.

Key Takeaways

The sundhedskort (health card) is issued automatically after CPR registration — you do not apply separately.
It arrives by post within 1–2 weeks of your Borgerservice appointment.
You do not need the physical card to access healthcare — your CPR number is enough. Memorise it.
Your assigned GP is shown on the card. You can change to any GP accepting patients via sundhed.dk with MitID.
Most healthcare is free for registered residents. Adults pay for dental, glasses, and physiotherapy.
For urgent but non-emergency medical issues, call 1813 (Capital Region) or your regional lægevagt number — do not go to A&E unnecessarily.