Can International Students Get a Credit Card Without Local Credit History in Denmark?

Can International Students Get a Credit Card Without Local Credit History in Denmark?

Yes, international students may be able to get a credit card without an established Danish credit history. Denmark does not generally require applicants to use another local credit card first or spend months “building a credit score” before applying.

However, approval depends on whether the bank can verify your identity, residence, income, expenses and ability to repay. A newly arrived student may therefore be rejected because the bank has too little financial information—not because the student has failed to build a traditional credit history.

Last updated: July 23, 2026

Is Danish Credit History Mandatory?

There is no universal rule requiring an international student to have previously borrowed money in Denmark.

Before issuing a credit card, the lender must complete a creditworthiness assessment using sufficient information about the applicant’s finances. The assessment should determine whether the person’s disposable income can cover ordinary variable expenses and payments on the new credit.

The bank may examine:

• Salary and other documented income.
• Rent and fixed household expenses.
• Existing loans and credit facilities.
• Payment arrears.
• Records in relevant Danish databases.
• The requested credit limit.
• Information provided in the application.

A student with no previous Danish credit card may still qualify when the bank can confirm stable finances.

How Credit Assessment Works in Denmark

Denmark does not rely solely on one universal consumer credit score.

A bank can evaluate an applicant using several sources, including:

• Account and salary activity.
• Tax and income information.
• Existing debt obligations.
• Payment history.
• Negative payment records such as RKI.
• Documents supplied by the applicant.

The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority confirms that lenders must assess creditworthiness before providing a credit card, overdraft or consumer loan.

This means that having no local borrowing history is not automatically negative. The key question is whether the bank has enough reliable information to conclude that you can repay the credit.

What Is RKI?

RKI is a Danish register operated by Experian containing negative information about unpaid debts and payment remarks.

A person may be registered after failing to pay qualifying debts and after the applicable notice and registration conditions have been satisfied. Businesses can use RKI information when deciding whether to provide credit.

There is an important difference between:

• No Danish credit history: You have limited or no previous local borrowing information.
• An RKI registration: You have a recorded negative payment issue.

Having no history may make assessment more difficult, but an active RKI registration is much more likely to lead to rejection.

Is Foreign Credit History Accepted?

A positive credit score from your home country will not normally appear automatically in Danish credit databases.

This is an inference from the Danish assessment system, which focuses on documented income, debts, Danish payment information and databases such as RKI. A bank may consider foreign documents, but it decides whether they provide sufficient evidence.

Useful supporting documents may include:

1. Employment contract.
2. Recent Danish salary statements.
3. Foreign bank statements.
4. Scholarship confirmation.
5. Foreign tax documents.
6. Proof of savings.
7. Documentation of existing foreign debts.
8. Danish university enrolment confirmation.

Foreign documents may need to be translated or supplemented before the bank accepts them.

What International Students Usually Need

1. Danish CPR Number

International students are generally advised to obtain a CPR number before opening a Danish bank account. The CPR number is used for identification and access to many Danish services.

Receiving a CPR number does not guarantee credit approval, but it makes local identification and banking much easier.

2. Danish Bank Account

A Danish account allows you to:

• Receive salary.
• Pay rent and bills.
• Document regular income.
• Use local payment services.
• Establish a relationship with a Danish bank.

Official Study in Denmark guidance recommends that international students open a Danish bank account after obtaining their CPR number.

3. MitID

Most Danish banks use MitID for online identification, banking and signing agreements.

Without MitID, access to digital banking and credit applications may be limited. A basic account may still offer certain services, but additional products are subject to the bank’s identity and risk checks.

4. Verifiable Income

Income is often more important than previous credit use.

Possible income sources include:

• Salary from a part-time job.
• Salary from full-time employment.
• Other recurring income accepted by the bank.
• A documented scholarship, when the lender agrees to consider it.

Savings and family transfers may demonstrate that you can support yourself, but the bank may not treat them as stable repayment income.

5. No Negative Payment Records

Applicants should have no unresolved debts, serious arrears or RKI registration.

Pay rent, mobile-phone bills, utilities and instalment payments by their deadlines. When an invoice is incorrect, dispute it formally rather than ignoring it.

Credit Card Options to Consider

Danske Bank Mastercard Basis

Danske Bank Mastercard Basis provides:

• Up to six weeks of interest-free credit.
• A minimum credit facility of DKK 15,000.
• Combined debit and credit functionality.
• Mobile-wallet compatibility.
• Optional travel insurance.
• Cashback offers from participating retailers.

Eligible customers aged 18–27, or students under 32, may receive the card without an annual card fee through Danske Bank’s youth and student package. However, the bank expressly states that Mastercard Basis requires credit approval.

The DKK 15,000 minimum facility may still be too large for a student with limited income.

Nordea Credit

Nordea offers credit cards with interest-free payment periods and insurance-related benefits. However, Nordea confirms that obtaining a credit card requires a credit assessment.

This option may be more realistic for students who already receive regular salary into a Nordea account.

Why a New Student May Be Rejected

Common reasons include:

• No regular Danish income.
• Income is too low or irregular.
• The student recently arrived and has limited financial documentation.
• High rent leaves insufficient disposable income.
• Existing loans or foreign debt are substantial.
• The requested credit limit is too high.
• The applicant has negative payment information.
• The bank’s internal lending requirements are not met.

A rejection does not necessarily mean that you have bad credit. The bank may simply lack enough evidence to approve additional borrowing.

How to Improve Your Approval Chances

International students should:

1. Open a Danish account after receiving a CPR number.
2. Obtain MitID.
3. Deposit part-time salary into the same account.
4. Build several months of regular account activity.
5. Keep employment and address information updated.
6. Pay every invoice on time.
7. Avoid several credit applications at once.
8. Apply through the bank handling your salary.
9. Request the lowest available credit limit.
10. Provide clear documentation of foreign income or savings when requested.

Do not take unnecessary loans merely to create a local credit record. Stable income and responsible payment behaviour matter more than borrowing for its own sake.

What to Do If You Cannot Qualify

Use one of these alternatives:

• Danish debit card.
• Visa/Dankort.
• Mastercard Direct.
• Existing credit card from your home country.
• Prepaid or balance-controlled payment card.

Danske Bank’s student package can include Visa/Dankort or Mastercard Direct without an annual card fee. These cards do not require the same credit facility as Mastercard Basis.

Final Answer

International students can potentially get a credit card without previous Danish credit history.

The strongest applicants usually have:

• A CPR number and Danish address.
• MitID and a local bank account.
• Regular, documented income.
• No RKI registration.
• Low existing debt.
• Enough disposable income to repay the card.

Newly arrived students without income should start with a debit card and apply for credit only after establishing a stable financial position.

Official Sources

• Danish Consumer Ombudsman – Creditworthiness Assessments
• Danish Financial Supervisory Authority – Banks and Basic Accounts
• Experian Denmark – Information About RKI
• Study in Denmark – Bank and Budget
• Danske Bank – Mastercard Basis
• Danske Bank – Student and Young Adult Accounts
• Nordea Denmark – Loans and Credit