🚨 Emergency Numbers
Life-threatening Urgent medical help Poison hotline Crisis support 112 1813 (Lægevagten) 82 12 12 12 70 201 201 (Livslinien) If you are in immediate danger, call 112. For urgent but non-life-threatening medical issues, call 1813 first — they will assess and direct you. → Full Emergency Guide
A practical, community-built knowledge base for international residents navigating the Danish healthcare system.
This wiki is maintained by International Patients in Denmark (IPID), a non-profit association representing international patients' voices in the Danish healthcare system. Whether you just moved to Denmark or have lived here for years, this wiki helps you understand the system, know your rights, and avoid common frustrations.
đź’ˇ New to Denmark? Start with Your First 30 Days below, then explore the topics that matter to you.
If you just arrived in Denmark, these are the steps to set up your healthcare access, in order:
Register at the International Citizen Service (Copenhagen) or your local Borgerservice. Your CPR number (Central Person Register) is your key to everything — healthcare, banking, taxes, housing. You will need your passport, proof of residence, and either a work contract or enrollment letter.
→ Full guide: CPR Number & Registration
MitID is your digital identity in Denmark. You need it to access health portals, read official mail, and manage prescriptions. You can set it up at Borgerservice when you register your CPR, or later at any bank.
→ Full guide: Setting Up MitID
After CPR registration, you will automatically receive a yellow health card (Sundhedskort) by mail within 1–3 weeks. This card shows your assigned GP and is your proof of access to public healthcare.
What if I need care before my card arrives? You can still access emergency care (112 / 1813). For non-urgent care, contact your local kommune for a temporary health certificate.
→ Full guide: Health Card & Insurance
You will be assigned a GP automatically, but you can change to a different one. Use sundhed.dk to search for GPs near you — you can filter by language and check if they are accepting new patients. Changing your GP costs a small fee (currently around 225 DKK) unless you recently moved.
→ Full guide: Choosing Your GP
| Tool | What it does | How to access |
|---|---|---|
| sundhed.dk | National health portal — view your medical records, test results, prescriptions, and find providers | sundhed.dk |
| Min Læge (app) | Book GP appointments, send messages to your doctor, renew prescriptions | App Store / Google Play |
| e-Boks / Digital Post | Official mail from hospitals, government, and health authorities | e-boks.dk |
| Borger.dk | Municipal services, benefits, social support | borger.dk |
→ Full guide: Digital Health Tools
Before diving into specific topics, it helps to understand how the system is structured:
| Free (with CPR + health card) | Partially subsidized | You pay in full |
|---|---|---|
| GP visits | Prescription medication (tilskud) | Dental care (adults) |
| Hospital treatment | Psychologist (with referral, specific conditions) | Private specialists without referral |
| Specialist visits (with referral) | Physiotherapy (with referral) | Most alternative treatments |
| Emergency care (112, 1813) | Some dental procedures | Glasses and contact lenses |
→ Full guide: How the Danish Healthcare System Works
→ Full guide: Health Costs & Financial Support
Your GP (praktiserende læge) is the center of Danish healthcare. Most of the problems international patients experience happen at this level.
→ All GP topics
→ All specialist & hospital topics
One of the most misunderstood and consequential parts of the Danish system.
Knowing your rights is the single best protection against bad experiences.
→ All children's health topics
→ All chronic condition topics
→ All domestic violence topics
Ready-to-use documents in English:
Essential terms organized by situation:
| Resource | URL / Number | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Sundhed.dk | sundhed.dk | National health portal (records, booking, info) |
| Min Læge | App Store / Google Play | GP booking, messaging, prescriptions |
| Borger.dk | borger.dk | Municipal services and benefits |
| STPS | stps.dk | Patient Safety Authority — complaints |
| Patienterstatningen | patienterstatningen.dk | Treatment injury compensation |
| PatienthĂĄndbogen | sundhed.dk/patienthaandbogen | Medical encyclopedia by Danish Medical Association |
| 1813 | Call 1813 | Medical Helpline (non-emergency urgent care) |
| 112 | Call 112 | Emergency (ambulance, fire, police) |
| Livslinien | Call 70 201 201 | Suicide and crisis support |
| Børnetelefonen | Call 116 111 | Children's helpline |
| LOKK | lokk.dk | Women's shelters and domestic violence |
| Giftlinjen | Call 82 12 12 12 | Poison hotline |
International Patients in Denmark (IPID) is a non-profit association founded in 2025 to represent international patients' voices in the Danish healthcare system.
Our purpose: We organize, survey, discuss and debate policy and practice to support international patients in Denmark with their health, especially when facing medical challenges and maltreatment.
We believe that all Danish residents with legal residence deserve quality healthcare regardless of visa status, medical history, age, gender, socio-economic status, race, religion, and culture.
📢 This wiki is a living document. It grows with every shared experience. If you find an error, have a suggestion, or want to contribute content, please contact us or post in the IPID Facebook Group.
Last updated: March 2026