Getting a residence permit

Everyone staying in Denmark for more than 3 months needs to apply for either a residence permit or a registration certificate – no later than 3 months following your entry.

When and how you have to apply depends on what is your country of citizenship. Following table shows you when to apply. Below you will find brief instructions for each category.

You are…Before arrivalAfter arrivalNo need to apply
Non-EU/EEA citizenX
EU/EEA or Swiss citizenX
Nordic citizenX

Non-EU/EEA citizens

You have to apply for a residence permit BEFORE your arrival to Denmark – that means you should already have a permit when entering Denmark. You submit the application through Danish embassy or consulate in your country of residence. You have to pay a processing fee to the Danish Immigration Service (1670 DKK as of time of writing). Bear in mind that you will probably also have to pay a fee to your local authority and a bank transaction fee.

EU/EEA or Swiss citizens

You usually apply when you arrive to Denmark. You can submit your application personally by visiting the Regional State Administration (‘Statsforvaltningen’ in Danish), by post/email or through Danish representation in your country – last two options can be done prior to your arrival to Denmark. Regardless of which method you choose, you need to provide following supporting materials:

  • a clear copy of your passport or other valid travel document with picture
  • 1 passport photograph
  • documentation of your enrollment in school or employer‘s declaration (or other depending on the reasons you are moving to Denmark - find more info throught the links provided below)

When visiting a Regional State Administration personally, you must always bring your original passport or other valid travel document. Your registration certificate will arrive in a form of a letter. You will need this certificate in order to apply for the CPR number (see below).

Nordic citizens

You don’t need to apply for registration certificate – as you probably already know. However you HAVE TO APPLY FOR CPR NUMBER.

Registering for CPR number

CPR (Central Person Register) is the number of numbers in Denmark. You need it in order to be able to get a bank account, mobile subscription, to communicate with authorities and so on. It should be one of the first things you take care of after you arrive to Denmark.

You apply for CPR number at your local citizen service centre (‘Borgerservice’) centre which is determined by the municipality (kommune) where you live.[1]

When you apply for CPR number you need to have:

  • residence permit/registration certificate, except Nordic citizens
  • permanent residence in Denmark, rental agreement, letter from your landlordor other proof of your address in Denmark
  • passport or other ID with picture
  • Nordic CPR number, if you are from a Nordic country
  • marriage certificate if you are married, children’s birth certificate, if you have children
  • blue EU health insurance card, if you are a student

You will get the CPR number right away on the spot. Couple of weeks later you will receive your yellow health insurance card (‘Sundhedskort’) in the post.[2]

CPR Registration & International Citizen Service
Gyldenløvesgade 11
1600 Copenhagen V

  1. “In order to obtain a CPR number, you have to contact your municipality’s local Citizen Service Centre or International Citizen Service only available in Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen and Odense. – lifeindenmark.borger.dk ↩︎

  2. "If you have problems with some of the steps or you feel lost and unsure whether you are doing everything right, you can always visit International Citizen Service which exact purpose is to assist and guide foreigners moving to Denmark. ↩︎