Moving to Copenhagen from abroad

If you are a Danish citizen who have previously lived in Denmark, you should already have a CPR number.

What you need to bring to Copenhagen Citizen Service when you arrive

1. Proof of your address for at least three months

• Bring a rental contract, co-operative certificate, or deed.
• If you live with a private landlord, the landlord must sign a housing confirmation.
• If you live in multiple locations during the three months, you must bring a signed housing confirmation for each location.

See template for housing confirmation

2. Valid Danish passport or Danish driving licence

• If you do not have a valid passport or driving licence, you can bring an original birth certificate, certificate of baptism or certificate of personal data.

Order a certificate of personal data (borger.dk)

3.  A completed form stating that you wish to move to Copenhagen

Download form for notification of entry (kl.dk)

4. If you have children who are moving to Copenhagen with you

Parents with custody of the child must consent to the child moving to Copenhagen. 

• Parents with custody of the child must present themselves at Copenhagen Citizen Service.
• If a custodial parent is unable to show up, they must fill out a consent form. 

Download consent form for child entry

The child must be present at Copenhagen Citizen Service Centre regardless of age.

Please print out the relevant documents before showing up in person at Copenhagen Citizen Service or make sure to borrow a PC/printer from them before your appointment.

You get a new health card (yellow health insurance card)

Your new health card (health insurance card) will normally arrive in the post within three weeks after you have ordered it.

Remember to put your name on the mailbox

PostNord can only deliver the health card (health insurance card) if your name is on the mailbox. If you are expecting to receive a health card for your child, the child's surname must also be written on the mailbox.

Book an appointment at Copenhagen Citizen Service

The appointment must be after the date of your residence or place of stay in Denmark.

When you move to Copenhagen, you need to register and document your Danish citizenship. Your age has an impact on what documentation you need to bring. 

What you need to bring to Copenhagen Citizen Service when you arrive

1. Proof of your address for at least three months

• Bring a rental contract, co-operative certificate, or deed.
• If you live with a private landlord, the landlord must sign a housing confirmation.
• If you live in multiple locations during the three months, you must bring a signed housing confirmation for each location.

See template for housing confirmation

2. Valid Danish passport or Danish driving licence

• If you do not have a valid passport or driving licence, you can bring an original birth certificate, certificate of baptism or certificate of personal data.

Order a certificate of personal data (borger.dk)

3.  A completed form stating that you wish to move to Copenhagen

Download form for notification of entry (kl.dk)

4. If you have children who are moving to Copenhagen with you

Parents with custody of the child must consent to the child moving to Copenhagen. 

• Parents with custody of the child must present themselves at Copenhagen Citizen Service.
• If a custodial parent is unable to show up, they must fill out a consent form. 

Download consent form for child entry

The child must be present at Copenhagen Citizen Service Centre regardless of age.

5. When you move to Denmark for the first time and wish to register, you must document your Danish citizenship

• Bring your birth certificate (applies to your children too)

• Copy of your parents' passports

  Read more about Danish citizens (uim.dk) - in Danish

  Additional documentation from if you are moving to Denmark for the first time:

  Your age and country of birth will influence whether you need to bring documentation in addition to your birth certificate and a copy of your parents' passport. You may fall into more than one age category:

• If you are over 22 years old
• If you were born abroad before 30 June 2014
• If you are under 18 years old
• All others, please see point 5.

If you are over 22 years old

You must fulfil at least 1 of the 3 requirements below, if you want to move to Copenhagen:

• Residence in Denmark for more than 3 months before you turned 22. You must document that you have had an address in Denmark, where you have kept your belongings and where you have slept regularly. You may have lived in several places during the three months.
• Stayed in Denmark for a total of 1 year before you turned 22 years old. Documentation can be a copy of a bank statement showing that you have been in Denmark. It can also be copies of flight tickets, hotel bills, etc.
• Have lived in another Nordic country for at least 7 years before you turned 22.

If you were born abroad before 30 June 2014

• If your mother is not a Danish citizen, you must bring a marriage certificate from your parents. Please note that marriages in countries outside the EU, EEA, Turkey, USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand require additional documentation.
  Read more about legalisation of foreign documents (um.dk)
• If your parents are not married, you must bring your own proof of citizenship.
  Read more about proof of Danish citizenship (uim.dk) - in Danish

If you are under 18 years old 

• Your parent(s) with parental responsibility must consent to your entry. 
• If the custodial parent(s) cannot show up at Copenhagen Citizen Service, you can bring a completed consent form with you
  Download consent form for child entry 
• If only one parent has custody, you will also need to bring documentation for that.

Please print out the relevant documents before showing up in person at Copenhagen Citizen Service or make sure to borrow a PC/printer from them before your appointment.

You get a new health card (yellow health insurance card)

Your new health card (health insurance card) will normally arrive in the post within three weeks after you have ordered it.

Remember to put your name on the mailbox

PostNord can only deliver the health card (health insurance card) if your name is on the mailbox. If you are expecting to receive a health card for your child, the child's surname must also be written on the mailbox.

Book an appointment at Copenhagen Citizen Service

The appointment must be after the date of your residence or place of stay in Denmark.

If you want to move to Copenhagen and plan to stay for more than 3 months, you need to apply for a CPR number. Please contact International Citizen Service (ICS East) at International House Copenhagen. 

Start your CPR registration (ihcph.kk.dk)