How to Install Wise and Send Money from Denmark

Most expats arrive in Denmark before their CPR number comes through — a gap that typically lasts two to four weeks. During that time, you still need to pay for groceries, travel, and potentially an apartment deposit. Wise solves this: you can open an account with just a passport, get a real DKK IBAN, and start sending money internationally within minutes.

Even after you have a full Danish bank account, Wise stays useful. It is consistently the cheapest way to send money home and the best multi-currency wallet for travel. This guide covers exactly how to install the app, set up your DKK account, and send your first transfer.

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Download and Install the Wise App

On iPhone (iOS):

1. Open the App Store
2. Search for Wise — Money Transfer & Card
3. Tap Get — the app is free
4. Once installed, tap Open

On Android:

1. Open Google Play
2. Search for Wise
3. Tap Install — the app is free
4. Once installed, tap Open

Alternatively, go to wise.com on your phone browser and tap the download banner at the top to go directly to your app store.

Quick check: The official app is published by Wise Payments Limited and has tens of millions of downloads. If the publisher name looks different, you are looking at a clone app — do not install it.

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How to Create Your Wise Account (Step-by-Step)

Opening a Wise account takes about 10 minutes. You need your passport or national ID ready for the verification photo.

Step 1: Register

Tap Register on the Wise app home screen. Enter your email address and create a password. You can also sign in with your Google or Apple account.

Step 2: Choose account type

Select Personal — not Business. Most expats need the personal account. You can add a Business account later if you freelance or invoice clients.

Step 3: Enter your personal details

Fill in your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport, your date of birth, and your phone number. Wise sends a verification SMS.

Step 4: Verify your identity

Take a photo of your passport or national ID card front and back. Then take a selfie when prompted. Wise uses automated biometric verification — this usually completes in under five minutes. Occasionally it takes up to 24 hours if manual review is required.

Step 5: Add DKK as your currency

After verification, tap Balances, then Add a balance, and select DKK (Danish Krone). Wise instantly generates your Danish account details: a registration number (regnr), an account number (kontonr), and a full IBAN.

Step 6: Fund your account

Choose how to add money:

• Bank transfer from abroad (cheapest — no extra fee)
• Debit or credit card (small fee applies, but arrives instantly)
• Receive a transfer from someone sending you DKK

Step 7: Order your Wise card (optional)

Tap Cards, then Order a card. The physical Wise Visa debit card has a one-time delivery fee of approximately DKK 50–70. While you wait for the physical card (7–10 business days), you can add the virtual card to Apple Pay or Google Pay immediately and use it at any contactless terminal.

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How to Send Money with Wise from Denmark

This is where Wise genuinely saves you money versus any Danish bank.

Sending a one-time international transfer

1. Open the Wise app and tap Send
2. Enter the amount you want to send and select the source currency (DKK)
3. Select the destination currency (e.g. INR, GBP, EUR, USD, PKR)
4. Review the fee and exchange rate — Wise shows the exact cost and the recipient's exact arrival amount before you commit. There are no hidden margins.
5. Tap Continue
6. Enter the recipient's details:
   • For international: IBAN or local account number + bank routing code (SWIFT/BIC, IFSC, sort code, etc.)
   • For another Wise user: just their email address — the transfer is free and instant
7. Add a reference or message (optional but useful for the recipient)
8. Tap Confirm and send
9. Wise shows an estimated arrival time — typically a few hours to one business day for popular currency pairs

Sending to another Wise user

If the recipient also has a Wise account, transfers are instant and free. In the Send screen, enter their email address — Wise detects the account automatically.

Setting up a recurring transfer

For regular remittances (e.g. monthly family support), tap Auto conversions in the app. You can schedule automatic transfers at a fixed amount on a set date, or set a rate alert to trigger when DKK to your target currency hits a specific rate.

Tracking your transfer

After sending, tap Activity to see real-time status. Wise sends push notifications and email updates when your transfer is received. If the recipient has not received funds within the estimated window, tap the transfer in Activity and use the Get Help option — Wise support responds within a few hours.

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What Your DKK Account Number Looks Like

After adding DKK to your Wise account, you will see:

Field	Example format
Registration number	1234
Account number	1234567890
IBAN	DK12 3456 1234 5678 90
Bank name (for forms)	Wise
BIC/SWIFT	TRWIBEB1XXX

Share these with your employer, landlord, or anyone in Denmark who needs to send you money. For most private transfers and salary payments, this works identically to a Nordea or Danske Bank account.

NemKonto exception: The Danish government systems (SKAT refunds, benefits) require your NemKonto to be at a Danish-licensed bank. Wise does not qualify. For NemKonto, use Lunar or a traditional Danish bank once you have your CPR number.

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Wise vs Danish Bank: What a Transfer Actually Costs

A practical comparison for sending DKK 10,000 to India (INR):

	Wise	Nordea / Danske Bank
Fixed fee	~DKK 20–35	DKK 100–200
Exchange rate	Mid-market (0% markup)	Bank markup of 2–4%
Hidden margin on DKK 10,000	DKK 0	DKK 200–400
Total cost	~DKK 80–120	~DKK 300–600

On a DKK 50,000 transfer — a common deposit payment — the difference can exceed DKK 1,500. Use Wise for international transfers, always.

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The MobilePay Gap

Wise does not connect to MobilePay. MobilePay requires your account to be with a participating Danish bank. Wise, Revolut, and N26 are all excluded.

MobilePay is used for splitting bills, paying at markets, and sending money to flatmates. Until you have a Danish bank account, you will need to use card payments or cash in those situations.

Fix: Open Lunar as soon as you have your CPR number. It takes about 10 minutes, and MobilePay links automatically. Run Wise and Lunar in parallel — Wise for international, Lunar for Danish daily life.

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Wise vs Revolut: Which Should You Use?

Feature	Wise	Revolut
Open without CPR	Yes	Yes
Danish DKK IBAN	Yes	No (EUR IBAN only)
Real exchange rate	Yes	Yes (weekday trades)
International transfers	Excellent	Good
Free ATM withdrawals	2/month up to ~DKK 1,500	5/month (basic plan)
MobilePay	No	No
NemKonto eligible	No	No
Monthly fee	DKK 0 (card delivery fee)	DKK 0 (basic plan)

Use Wise if the DKK account number matters (receiving Danish salary before CPR). Use Revolut if you already have it set up and just need a card for daily spending.

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Common Problems and Fixes

Identity verification is stuck If your selfie is not accepted, try in better lighting against a plain background. If it still fails after 24 hours, go to the Wise app and tap Help → Chat with us — the support team can manually verify.

Transfer says "on its way" but has not arrived Most delays occur at the recipient's bank, not at Wise. In the Wise app, open the transfer and tap Tracking — Wise provides a SWIFT tracker reference for international transfers. Share this with the recipient's bank if they need it.

Employer says they need a Danish account number, not Wise Your Wise DKK IBAN starts with DK and has a valid registration number — this satisfies most payroll systems. If your employer's HR system specifically rejects it, open a Lunar account (takes 10 minutes with CPR) and use that for salary. Keep Wise for transfers.

Card was declined at a specific terminal Some unmanned terminals (parking machines, older supermarket self-checkout) do not accept foreign-issued Visa cards. Pay at the staffed checkout or carry a backup card.

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Summary: What to Do Right Now

1. Install Wise from the App Store or Google Play
2. Register with your passport — takes 5–10 minutes
3. Add DKK as a currency — get your Danish IBAN immediately
4. Add the virtual card to Apple Pay or Google Pay for instant spending
5. Set up a transfer if you need to send money home — review the fee before confirming
6. Open Lunar once you have your CPR number, for MobilePay and NemKonto

Wise does not replace a Danish bank account. It fills the gap on arrival and stays useful for international transfers long after you are fully settled.