Registration upon arrival

In order to obtain your CPR as a Nordic citizen you can register at either the local Citizen Service (Borgerservice) in your municipality or the International Citizen Service. You must initiate the registration process online and book an appointment to appear in person in advance.   

Even though Nordic citizens are not required to obtain a  Danish civil registration (CPR) number until having stayed in Denmark for more than 6 months, we strongly recommend you to do so if you intend to stay in Denmark for more than 3 months since it makes a number of procedures much faster and easier. 

Step 2: Tax registration

Once you have received your Danish civil registration (CPR) number, you should register at the Danish Customs and Tax Administration (Skatteforvaltningen). They will issue an electronic tax card, which Aarhus University needs in order to calculate your taxes.  

If you do not have an electronic tax card, your employer must withhold 55 per cent of your salary. Your tax card will be sent directly to your employer.

No tax registration if on the tax scheme for foreign researchers and highly-paid employees

If you are on the tax scheme for foreign researchers and highly-paid employees (paying a gross income tax of 27 %) you should not register with the Danish Customs and Tax Administration since Aarhus University will take care of that. Learn more about taxation of researchers at Aarhus University

Once you arrive in Denmark, you need to apply for a residence certificate with the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). You may initiate the process 1-2 weeks before you start your work in Denmark. Your application will normally be processed immediately (0-30 days). 

You must book a time in advance before visiting SIRI. For further information, see the New to Denmark website

Step 2: Citizen Service

As an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen you can be registered with Citizens’ Service if you stay in Denmark for more than three months. We strongly encourage you to do so.

However, you are only required to register if you are planning on staying in Denmark for longer than six months. If you choose not to register, we strongly encourage you to hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC or “Blue Card”) from your home country.

You can register at either the local Citizen Service (Borgerservice) in your municipality or the International Citizen Service. You must initiate the registration process online and book an appointment to appear in person in advance.

In conjunction with being registered with the national register, you also need to choose a GP/family doctor, after which you are covered by Danish public health insurance.

Once you are registered in the national register, you are issued with a Danish civil registration number (CPR no.). About 14 days after you have been registered, you will receive a yellow health insurance card by post, which carries your Danish social security number.

Notice! In order to receive your yellow card it is important that your name is on your mailbox. If you don't recieve your certificat within due time it might be because your name isn't on your mailbox. Otherwise, call your local Citizens Service (Borgerservice).

Step 3: Tax registration

Once you have received your Danish civil registration (CPR) number, you should register at the Danish Customs and Tax Administration (Skattestyrelsen). They will issue an electronic tax card, which Aarhus University needs in order to calculate your taxes.  

If you do not have an electronic tax card, your employer must withhold 55 per cent of your salary. Your tax card will be sent directly to your employer.

No tax registration if on the tax scheme for foreign researchers and highly-paid employees

If you are on the tax scheme for foreign researchers and highly-paid employees (paying a gross income tax of 27 %) you should not register with the Danish Customs and Tax Administration since Aarhus University will take care of that. Learn more about taxation of researchers at Aarhus University

Once you arrive in Denmark you need to have your biometric features recorded, if you have not already done so in your home country. You must do this within a specified time period (usually 14 days) after arriving in Denmark.

Go to SIRI at one of the branch offices around the country (Bornholm, Copenhagen, Odense, Aalborg, Aarhus and Aabenraa). Booking a timeslot beforehand is mandatory, but no waiting once you are there. Find further information and link to booking   

You should bring your passport and a copy of your residence and work permit application/permit or a print of the receipt for the online application.

Step 2: Citizen Service 

As non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen you must register with Citizens’ Service if you stay in Denmark for more than three months. You can register at either the local Citizen Service (Borgerservice) in your municipality or the International Citizen Service. You must initiate the registration process online and book an appointment to appear in person in advance.

In conjunction with being registered with the national register, you also need to choose a GP/family doctor, after which you are covered by Danish public health insurance.

Once you are registered in the national register, you are issued with a Danish civil registration number (CPR no.). About 14 days after you have been registered, you will receive a yellow health insurance card by post which carries your Danish social security number.

Notice: In order to receive your yellow card it is important that your name is on your mailbox. If you don't recieve your certificat within due time it might be because your name isn't on your mailbox. Otherwise, call your local Citizens Service (Borgerservice).

Step 3: Tax registration

Once you have received your Danish civil registration (CPR) number, you should register at the Danish Customs and Tax Administration (Skatteforvaltningen). They will issue an electronic tax card, which Aarhus University needs in order to calculate your taxes.

If you do not have an electronic tax card, your employer must withhold 55 per cent of your salary. Your tax card will be sent directly to your employer.

No tax registration if on the tax scheme for foreign researchers and highly-paid employees

If you are on the tax scheme for foreign researchers and highly-paid employees (paying a gross income tax of 27 %) you should not register with the Danish Customs and Tax Administration since Aarhus University will take care of that. Learn more about taxation of researchers at Aarhus University

The university offers the Getting Started in Denmark orientation and registration event. We strongly recommend you to participate in the Getting Started in Denmark event if you are residing in the greater Aarhus-area. During half a day you will get all your registrations done and get your CPR number. We will also provide you with important on-arrival information to help you settle in Denmark.   

Read more about the Getting Started in Denmark orientation and registration event

There are a number of documents you must bring in order to successfully register with the public authorities. The required forms, documents and certificates depend on your nationality.

See the page about documents to bring to get registered

If you are bringing family with you, the same rules for registration with the public authorities applies as for the main applicant. 

EU/EEA citizens

You can come based on the following conditions of residence:

• Family member to an EU citizen - child, spouse or cohabitating partner
• Sufficient resources - There are two options:
  • You support yourself financially (Please include documentation such as bank statement, scholarships or documentation of other means)

  • Another person supports you financially (Please include documentation from the person supporting you financially such as a declaration about financial support, employment contract/employers declaration and pay slips, bank statement or other documentation)

• Worker - You are in paid employment in Denmark
• Self-employed person - You have started or intend to start independent business activity in Denmark
• Student - You are enrolled at an educational establishment that gives students the right to receive support from the Danish Education Support Agency (SU). 
  You must submit a declaration that you have sufficient resources for your period of residence so that you will not become a burden on the social assistance system.

Read more about who can get an EU residence document on the New to Denmark website  

In order to get your CPR number, you need to register with an address in Denmark. To be eligible to register, you need to prove that you will stay in Denmark for more than 3 months and that you have a fixed place of residence for minimum 1 month from the day of registration.

Fixed place of residence = 1 month

Stays of a minimum of 1 month normally fulfil the conditions of a fixed place of residence, but stays of less than 1 month do not.

You need to live at the address you register with. Thus, you cannot register before you have moved to your fixed place of residence.

Types of housing that you can register with

It is possible to register as address rental apartments, guest houses, private rooms but also camping lots, hotels and hostels. The important thing is that you will be sleeping there regularly, you must have your belongings at the address and prove that you will stay there for a minimum of 1 month.

You should also make sure that you can have your mail forwarded to the address. Your name must be on the mail box in order for you to receive mail on the address, otherwise Post Danmark cannot deliver your mail.  

What documentation do you need?

When you register, you need to bring both:

• Proof of your address(es) in Denmark such as rental contract(s) or letter(s) from your landlord
• Proof that you will be staying in Denmark for more than 3 months (work contract, invitation letter, etc.)

Read more about address registration 

Aarhus University has a framework agreement with the translation bureau Amesto Translations, and has worked with Amesto to design a one-stop-shop solution for translations of official documents for the university’s researchers and students. This service is not free, but Amesto offers special and low prices to employees and students.

Aarhus University does not translate official documents for employees or students, and does not provide references to specific translators working in specific language combinations.

Read more about translations of official documents

You are a cross-border commuter (also known as a frontier worker) if you live in another EU/EEA country and work in Denmark.

Most cross-border commuters in Denmark are from Sweden, Germany and Poland.

Cross-border commuters do not need to apply for an EU Certificate of Registration in Denmark but non-EU/EEA citizens will need a valid work permit.

Being a cross-border commuter has an influence on your tax, social security and rights to drive in Denmark among others. Therefore, we advise you to investigate carefully whether you qualify to be a cross-border commuter and whether you wish to register as such.

You can read more about cross-border commuters and find links to websites for cross-border commuters from Sweden and Germany on the Lifeindenmark website

You do not need to register with the National Registry. You will not be covered by Danish health insurance and must sign private health insurance.

Read more under Short-term stays