Can International Students Open a Bank Account Online in Denmark?
Can international students open a bank account online in Denmark? Yes, many students can submit an application digitally, but completing the entire process online usually depends on having MitID and acceptable Danish registration details.
Students who already have MitID, a Danish address and the required identity documents may be able to open an account without visiting a branch. Newly arrived students without MitID can still apply at certain banks, but manual document checks, a customer meeting or an in-person identity appointment may be required.
Can You Open a Danish Bank Account Fully Online?
A fully online application is generally possible when you have:
- Valid passport or approved photo identification
- MitID
- Danish address
- Danish or accepted mobile number
- CPR number or another accepted identification number
- Residence and enrollment documents when requested
Nordea states that applicants with MitID, a Danish address and a Danish phone number can apply and sign online. Applicants missing any of these items must contact customer service and arrange an assisted onboarding process.
Danske Bank also offers a digital onboarding app. It says a standard application can take less than 10 minutes, while applicants without MitID or those not yet living in Denmark can use a separate application process.
Best Online Account-Opening Options
1. Danske Bank: Best for Digital and Manual Applications
Danske Bank allows applicants with MitID to use its customer application app.
The ordinary process includes:
- Downloading or opening the customer application.
- Verifying your identity.
- Providing financial and personal information.
- Signing the agreement digitally.
- Waiting for final account approval.
Students under 32 can qualify for a DKK 0 monthly Hverdag+ package, subject to the bank’s conditions. The account package includes everyday accounts, one card and mobile and online banking.
International students who do not have MitID or do not yet live in Denmark can use Danske Bank’s alternative application link. However, this application may require manual verification and additional documents rather than providing instant account access.
Best for: Students who want a major Danish bank with both digital and assisted onboarding options.
2. Nordea: Best for Clear Newcomer Instructions
Nordea provides one of the clearest account-opening procedures for international students.
You can apply completely online when you have:
- MitID
- Danish residential address
- Danish phone number
The application is completed and signed using MitID.
Students who do not meet these requirements must contact Nordea and arrange a service meeting. They may be asked to provide:
- Original passport or photo identification
- CPR or foreign tax identification number
- Danish health insurance card
- Residence permit
- University enrollment confirmation
- Address documentation
- Danish tax documentation for short stays
Nordea’s Basic Payment Account currently costs DKK 135 per quarter and includes a bank account, Visa debit card, online banking and mobile banking.
Best for: Newly arrived students who want transparent requirements and a formal basic-payment-account option.
3. Lunar: Best Fully Digital Bank
Lunar is a Danish digital bank without physical branches. Applications are completed through its mobile app.
Lunar’s free account provides:
- Danish bank account
- Digital Visa card
- English-language app
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Mobile budgeting tools
- Ability to register the account as a NemKonto
Applicants need valid identification and MitID. Lunar’s official guidance says that a CPR number is not required to submit an application, although CPR registration is necessary to establish a NemKonto.
The application itself can be completed from home, but a new student may first need to visit a Citizen Service Centre to obtain or activate MitID.
Best for: Students who already have MitID and want a free app-based Danish account.
Do You Need a CPR Number?
A CPR number makes online account opening considerably easier, but it is not always an absolute requirement for submitting an application.
Banks may accept:
- Danish CPR number
- Foreign tax identification number
- Passport details
- Another identification number accepted by the bank
Nordea asks for a CPR or TIN number when available. Lunar states that applicants can apply without a CPR number, provided they satisfy its other identity requirements.
However, you need a CPR number to register a Danish or foreign account as your NemKonto.
Do You Need MitID?
MitID is required for most fully digital bank applications and for ongoing access to Danish online banking.
It is also used to:
- Sign banking agreements
- Access tax information
- Read Digital Post
- Use public self-service systems
- Manage NemKonto
- Verify certain online payments
MitID can be obtained through the app when your passport supports digital verification or through an appointment at a municipal Citizen Service Centre. Official Danish guidance also explains that applicants without CPR may use a P code in certain MitID procedures.
Having MitID does not guarantee account approval. The bank must still complete its customer and anti-money-laundering checks.
Documents Needed for an Online Application
International students should prepare clear digital copies of:
- Valid passport or EU identity card
- CPR number or foreign tax number
- MitID, when required
- Residence permit or EU residence document
- University admission or enrollment certificate
- Danish address or accommodation agreement
- Scholarship, savings or family-support evidence
- Recent foreign bank statement
- Information about expected international transfers
- Danish or international phone number
Students from outside the EU, EEA, Nordic countries or Switzerland may also be asked for evidence that they have sufficient financial resources during their stay.
Why Does the Bank Ask Financial Questions?
During the online application, the bank may ask:
- Where your money comes from
- How much you expect to receive monthly
- Whether your parents will transfer money
- Which countries payments will come from
- Whether you expect to deposit cash
- Whether you will receive salary or scholarships
- How you intend to use the account
Danish banks are legally required to identify customers and understand expected account activity to prevent money laundering and financial crime.
Provide accurate information. Unclear or inconsistent answers can delay approval or lead to requests for additional documents.
Can You Apply Before Arriving in Denmark?
You can begin an application before arrival with certain banks, but receiving a fully activated account may take longer.
Danske Bank provides a separate application route for people who do not yet live in Denmark. Nordea requires applicants without a Danish address, phone number or MitID to contact its customer service for an assisted process.
The most practical order is usually:
- Obtain your residence documentation.
- Register your Danish address.
- Receive your CPR number.
- Activate MitID.
- Submit the online bank application.
- Register the approved account as your NemKonto.
Can a Foreign Account Be Used as NemKonto?
Yes. Denmark allows residents to designate either a Danish or qualifying foreign account as their NemKonto.
You can register it by:
- Using MitID through the NemKonto self-service
- Asking a Danish bank to register the account
- Submitting the official form for a foreign bank account
Assigning an account as NemKonto is free, but you need a CPR number.
This can be a temporary solution while waiting for a Danish account application to be approved.
Final Verdict
International students can open a bank account online in Denmark when they have MitID, valid identification and the registration details required by the chosen bank.
Danske Bank offers both digital and alternative applications, Nordea provides the clearest assisted newcomer process, and Lunar is the strongest fully digital option for students who already have MitID.
Students without MitID can still apply, but should expect manual document verification or a customer meeting. Completing CPR registration and obtaining MitID before applying is usually the fastest route.
