Q&A - applying for a CPR number and receiving your health insurance card
Find answers to the most common questions on the process of getting a CPR number and health insurance card.
Everyone who lives in Denmark is required to have a civil registration number called a CPR number.
Having a CPR number means that you are covered by the Danish health insurance scheme. You also need it to open a bank account, access your health insurance, borrow books from the library, pay tax, receive a salary and so on.
Facts about the CPR number
- The CPR number consists of ten digits. The first six digits are your date of birth (day, month and year) while the last four digits provide a unique identification number for all citizens in Denmark. The final four numbers also indicate your gender, ending in even numbers for women and odd numbers for men.
- You can only obtain a CPR number after you arrive in Denmark (however, citizens from outside the EU/EEA may have been issued with an administrative CPR number in relation to their residence permit. If so, your CPR number will be stated on your residence permit)
- You will receive a yellow health card (sundhedskort) approximately 2 weeks after you are registered in the Civil Registration System (CPR system). Please have your name on your post box. If your name is not on your post box the health insurance card cannot be delivered. We will then contact you and you will then need to pick it up at Citizen Service (Borgerservice).
- The majority will be able to apply for a MitID in connection to finishing CPR registrations at Dokk1.
YES. You always need to have an appointment - one per person.
Please call us at +45 89401040 (you'll get through to International Citizen Service West) if you need help booking an appointment.
If this is your first time applying for a CPR number you must have applied for a CPR online before you appear at Dokk1.
If you do not have a Danish phone number, you can type in 8 digits e.g. your birthday or another combination you can remember.
When you arrive for your appointment with Citizen Service at Dokk1, you must type in the 8 digits at the check-in stand in the arrival area.
You need the reservation number to check in when you arrive at Citizen Service at Dokk1. You have received an email containing your reservation number. Check your spam filter in case the email is not in your inbox.
If you still can’t find the email please call Citizen Service (Borgerservice) at +45 89 40 10 40 or email us at icswest@aarhus.dk. Please tell us your full name and the date and time you have booked the appointment. We will then find your reservation number in the system.
We can always find your online application if you bring your ID when you show up for your appointment at Citizen Service at Dokk1. Please do not apply again.
When you show up at Citizen Service at Dokk1 to get the CPR number, you need to bring the physical document.
If you leave Denmark, also if it's earlier than expected, you must report your departure at lifeindenmark.dk using your MitID.
Please find information about leaving Denmark on lifeindenmark.dk.
Yes, you can.
When you finish your registrations for a CPR number with Citizen Service you will be allocated a general practitioner (GP/family doctor).
You will take a temporary health insurance card in the form of a document with you, when you leave Citizen Service.
The document will hold the name, telephone number and address of your GP.
Bring the document in case you need to visit your GP, go to a specialist, a dentist or to the hospital.
The temporary health insurance card looks like this:
If you do not have your name on your postbox, the card may be returned to Citizen Service at Dokk1.
We will contact you so you can come by Citizen Service to pick it up. We will keep the yellow card for up to 6 months. If we no longer have your card, you will need to pay for a new one.
It is very important that your name is correctly spelled. Call Citizen Service at +45 89 40 10 40. We will make sure that you receive a new card with the correct spelling of your name.