Your first steps in Danish bureaucracy

Even if it seems easy, your first steps in Danish society will be long and rough, especially if you don’t like bureaucracy. For me, it was a nightmare so I took some notes I will share with all of you to make it easier for you.

Residence permit

If you come to Denmark to study your university will probably help you with that so please, contact them first!

If you are in Denmark or have read about what to do as a newcomer, you have probably heard about the CPR number or yellow card. This card is almost holy in this country since if you don’t have it you can’t almost do anything. The first steps to get it will now be explained.

So, before getting your CPR number you need to get a residence permit. To do so you have to go to SIRI and to go to SIRI you need an appointment. Go to newindenmark.dk

You need to bring several things to that appointment! For example, as a European international student, I needed my national ID or passport, a passport picture, and an OD1 form (I did it online but kept the PDF version). Also, you need to prove that you have grounds for your residence: a letter of acceptance from your university, a declaration of sufficient funds and/or a declaration of study activity.

The OD1 form can be completed online and then you can attach it as a PDF one to three proofs of grounds for your study.

I am always stressed with these things so I took everything !!! The ID, passport, OD1 form (even if I did it online), a letter of acceptance, a declaration of sufficient funds and a declaration of study activity.

Yes, it was a long weekend.

CPR-number and NemID

After you get this permit you have to go to the citizen’s service of your kommune to make a CPR number and Nem-ID. To get it you need to go with someone who has already had it for at least 6 months and has not been a witness for anyone else since 4 months ago.

In the office, you get 2 papers with CPR number and Nem-ID. You also get your code card so don’t lose it! After this, I suggest you download the Nem-ID app so you don’t need to use so code card every time.

After making them you will get a temporary paper only valid for 1 month and in the following 2 weeks, you will receive your CPR card.

Don’t forget to activate your Nem-ID if they didn’t do it in the office. Go to nemid.nu. This operation will take 1 hour.

When you get your CPR card via post you can download the app Sundhedskortet. Remember to change your localisation on your device and Google or Apple account otherwise, the app may appear as non-available.

If you come to Denmark to study your university will probably help you with that so please, contact them first!

E-boks

I spelt it right. E-boks. It is an electronic mail system that is available using your NemID. It is used to send official papers and messages.

To activate it you need to use your NemID (as for everything in Denmark). Go to e-boks.com and follow the steps. You can afterwards download the phone app.


I am proud of you. You survived all those steps and now you are registered in Denmark!

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