Moving to Gentofte from abroad

There can be lots of details to keep track of when moving here from abroad. You can get help at Gentofte Kommune Borgerservice (citizen service center) or at International House Copenhagen, where skilled employees are ready to guide you through everything from entry and registration of residence, to a CPR (civil registration) number and MitID.

Read more:
Moving to Gentofte from abroad
Borgerservice in Gentofte (citizen service center)
International House Copenhagen

You can register with the Danish Civil Registration System, if your stay in Denmark is planned to last more than 3 months, and you have a place to live or a fixed place of residence (you must be able to document this, for example with a rental contract or similar documentation).

If you are moving to Denmark from a Nordic country or an EU/EEA country, you only need to report your move to the Civil Registration System if your stay will last more than 6 months.

It is important that you book an appointment for CPR registration at the right place when you move to Denmark. Where you need to go depends on your situation.

You must attend Citizen Service Gentofte if:

• You are moving back to Denmark (re-entry)
• You are coming to Denmark through family reunification.

Please note the following:

• If you move to Gentofte Municipality from abroad, you must go to Citizen Service (Bernstorffsvej 161, 2920 Charlottenlund) no later than 5 days after you have moved. Book an appointment through our online appointment booking system.
• You must document your address, for example with a rental contract or similar documentation.
• You must bring your passport and your residence permit, if you have one.
• If you are married or divorced, you must bring documentation of your marital status.
• If you have children, you must bring them with you, as well as birth or baptism certificates for all children.

You must register at International House if:

• You are moving to Denmark for the first time
• You need a CPR number for the first time.

You must also register for a CPR number at International House if you come to Denmark as an au pair.

In these cases, we cannot assist you at Citizen Service Gentofte. Instead, you must follow the guidance on the International House website about CPR registration: Registration & Guidance | International House Copenhagen

There are three different guidance pages, depending on whether you are a Nordic citizen, an EU/EEA citizen or Swiss citizen, or a citizen from a country outside the EU.

Why do I need to go to International House?

International House provides registration services for international citizens living in Copenhagen and in several municipalities both inside and outside the Capital Region, including Gentofte Municipality.

A CPR number is your civil registration number in Denmark. It is used in all communications with the Danish authorities.

You also need a CPR number to work in Denmark and to obtain Danish health insurance.

Read about Danish health insurance 

The Danish national eID, MitID, is every resident’s personal key to digital services in Denmark, including self-service solutions provided by the public sector.

In Denmark, your contact with the public authorities and many private companies starts on the internet. In a large number of areas, you are obliged to use digital self-service.

In order to access digital self-services, you need MitID which is your personal digital ID for login and digital signature. It allows for citizens to access their public services 24 hours a day.

In the public sector this applies, for example, when you:

• change your address
• apply for childcare
• see your tax
• choose a doctor
• read your Digital Post
• leave Denmark

Read about MitD at lifeindenmark.dk

You can apply for MitID by contacting your local municipality’s Citizen Service.

If you do not have MitID and, for instance, have received a summons from your hospital that you need to read immediately, you should contact your local municipality’s Citizen Service and apply for MitID.

It is important that you bring valid identification in order to receive MitID.

Read more about MitID on MitID.dk (new window)

Visit the International Citizen Service website

In Denmark, various services such as libraries, roads, children’s schools and the health sector are financed in part through taxes. Everyone working in Denmark is required to pay tax. The tax system is progressive, which means that the more you earn, the higher the percentage of income tax you pay. If you want to work in Denmark, you need to apply for a tax card at SKAT (the Danish Customs and Tax Administration).

Read about the Danish taxation system at skat.dk

You can apply for a tax card on SKAT’s website.

Apply for a tax card at skat.dk

If you plan to have an income in Denmark, you will need a Danish bank account. Employers pay your salary directly into your bank account. Other payments such as cash benefits, educational grants, child maintenance payments and pensions are transferred directly as well.

Read about how to obtain a Danish bank account at lifeindenmark.dk

Whether you need to exchange your driving licence for a Danish one depends on your circumstances and where your driving licence is issued.

Read about the rules for exchanging foreign driving licences at lifeindenmark.dk  

If you need to exchange your driving licence, you must attend Borgerservice in person.

If you have a Danish CPR number, you will receive your mail from public authorities through Digital Post. You will find your Digital Post at lifeindenmark.dk at the top of the page. You need to use MitID to log on. 

Learn about Digital Post at livingindenmark.dk

The yellow health insurance card (sundhedskort in Danish) entitles you to medical treatment in Denmark. The card shows your name and address, your CPR number and the name and address of your doctor. 

If you need medical treatment while travelling in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein (EEA) or Switzerland, you will have to use the blue European Health Insurance Card.

Read about the yellow health insurance card and the blue health insurance card on the healthcare page

If you need help finding work, you can see a careers advisor at Gentofte Kommune’s Job Centre.

The careers advisor will guide you. You can get advice about the labour market, job-seeking and your industry, for example.

Read about job-seeking on our job opportunities page 

All children in Denmark from birth to age 6 are guaranteed a place in a daycare facility. There are various facilities available, so you can choose whatever best suits your child.

Visit the childcare page

In Denmark, there is compulsory education for children from the age of 6 to 16. Gentofte has primary and lower secondary schools, and private schools.

Read about schools and how to enrol your child on our School page