Money and banking for international staff at Aarhus University

Everybody who works in Denmark must have a bank account to receive their salary. To open a bank account, you must have a Danish CPR number.

How to open a bank account

You apply to become a customer by contacting the bank - often through the bank's website. You will need the following documentation:

CPR number (or tax identification number if you don't live in Denmark)
Yellow health insurance card (if you live in Denmark)
Passport
Employment contract or invitation letter
Social security card (for US citizens only. This is a requirement by FATCA)

You can designate your basic bank account as your Easy Account (NemKonto) to receive your salary, child benefits and other payments from the public authorities.

You need MitID for online banking

You need a MitID to access online banking services, which includes transferring money online. MitID is your personal digital ID and ensures you can sign in securely to online services. You will be issued with MitID at Citizens Service when you register for your CPR number. Read more about MitID

Choosing a bank in Denmark

International Community has put together a list of banks and the services they offer.

See the list of banks (PDF)

Dankort - the national debit card

Dankort is the national debit card in Denmark, and the preferred means of payment for consumers. It is usually combined with a Visa card and functions as a Visa debit card abroad and in stores that don't accept Dankort. Dankort does not have balance control, which means that you can spend more money than is in your account - and build up and overdraft.

We recommend that you ask for a Dankort when you open a Danish bank account as the card has no or low annual fees compared with international payment cards.

Contact your bank for further information about Dankort and read more on the Dankort webpage.

Visa/Dankort

The Dankort can be combined with a Visa card, called a Visa/Dankort. Visa/Dankort is an international debit card that you can use in Denmark as well as in the rest of the world. It therefore gives you two cards in one. When you use the card for payments, the money will be withdrawn from your account in a few days.

Contact your bank for further information about the Dankort and read more on the Dankort webpage.

NemKonto

All citizens in Denmark are required to have a NemKonto (which translates as 'Easy Account') to receive payments from the public sector. You will receive your salary in your NemKonto.

How to assign a NemKonto?

To assign a NemKonto, you just need to decide which of your existing accounts you wish to use as your NemKonto. If you have multiple bank accounts, you just need to select the one you wish to use.

You can do this in one of the following ways:

Contact your bank and inform them which account to assign as your NemKonto
Assign an account number yourself at NemKonto.dk (if you have MitID)
Use the NemKonto registration form (If you live abroad and do not have MitID)