Using eID across borders

With an eID, you can access several public self-services across borders within the EU/EEA

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An eID is short for 'electronic identification', and electronic ID. It is a digital way to identify yourself and log in to digital public self-services. In Denmark, the national eID is called MitID.

The EU/EEA countries have agreed on common rules for digital identities, so that eIDs can be recognised across national borders. The cooperation is based on the EU regulations eIDAS and Single Digital Gateway, which cover digital identification and access to public online services across the EU and EEA.The cooperation makes it possible for you to use a European eID to access public services in Denmark or use your Danish eID to log in to public services in other European countries.

Denmark is part of an EU/EEA cooperation that makes it possible to log in to public self-services across EU/EEA countries.

Here’s how it works:

  • Using MitID: With your MitID, you can log in to several self-services in other EU/EEA countries. Whether you can access a specific self-service depends on whether the self-service allows cross-border use.
  • Using a non-Danish eID: You can use a non-Danish eID to log in to certain Danish public self-services, if the self-service allows it.
  • Connect your CPR number and your non-Danish eID: The first time you log in to a Danish self-service that requires a Danish civil registration number (CPR number), you will be asked to connect your civil registration number to your non-Danish eID. Once this connection is established, you can log in directly to self-services set up to accept non-Danish eIDs without having to connect them again.

You can read more about the technical infrastructure on the Agency for Digital Government's website:

Using MitID in other EU/EEA countries

If you try to use your MitID to log in to a self-service in another EU/EEA country, you may see an error message stating that your MitID’s level of assurance does not meet the requirements to access the self-service. 

The message reads: 'The level of assurance provided by your Danish eID is not meeting the level of assurance requested by the foreign service provider'.

You receive this message because some foreign self-services require your MitID to be at a 'High' level of assurance. Most MitID’s in Denmark are issued at a 'Significant' level of assurance. Self-services from countries such as Germany and Austria typically require a 'High' level of assurance.

Raise the level of assurance of your MitID

You can raise your assurance level at a Citizen Service (in Danish: borgerservice) in the municipality. You must appear in person (remember to book an appointment). Please note that not all Citizen Service centres offer this service. It is therefore a good idea to contact the municipality in advance to check if they can help you.

At mitid.dk you can read more about raising the level of assurance of your MitID:

Your ability to use MitID to access a self-service in another EU/EEA country depends on 3 things:

  • Whether the country is covered by the eIDAS regulation
  • The country’s technical readiness to support log in to self-services using eIDs from other countries
  • Whether the specific self-service allows log in with eIDs from other countries.

This means that it may vary from country to country where you can use your MitID.

Even if a country accepts foreign eIDs, it is not certain that all public self-services in that country allow the use of foreign eIDs. It can also vary from one self-service to another. You should therefore test whether you can log in using MitID. If logging in from Denmark does not appear as an option in the self-service, you cannot use your MitID. In that case, you should contact the authority that owns the self-service to find out about other ways to log in.

If you log in with MitID to a foreign self-service but are unable to carry out any actions or see an error page, it may be because the foreign self-service requires a foreign civil registration number.

As a rule, MitID does not contain foreign civil registration numbers. In some countries, it is possible to apply for identity matching, where your MitID is connected to the local civil registration number. However, not all countries offer this option.

If you have a civil registration number or residency in the country where you want to use your MitID, you should follow the instructions provided by the self-service. If the foreign self-service requires a civil registration number and you do not have one, you need to contact the authorities in the country in question.

You cannot yet log in to foreign self-services using MitID Erhverv. Please contact the authority you are trying to access for assistance.

In future, you will be able to use MitID Erhverv in self-services in EU/EEA countries once MitID Erhverv has been made ready for this.

Whether you can use MitID to sign documents digitally across EU/EEA countries depends on the recipient of your signed document. Contact the recipient so they can tell you whether MitID can be used. Otherwise, they can help you sign the document in another way.

If you sign your document with MitID in a Danish self-service, for example tinglysning.dk, the signed document is usually valid in all EU/EEA countries.

Using a non-Danish eID in Denmark

With an electronic ID (eID) issued in an EU/EEA country, you can access a few Danish self-services.

It is up to each authority in Denmark to decide whether to accept eIDs from another EU/EEA country. This means the number of self-services you can use may vary. 

Access to self-services: with or without a CPR number

It is possible to use your non-Danish eID to access some Danish self-services without having a Danish civil registration number (CPR number). Please note that most self-services require you to first connect your non-Danish eID to your CPR number in order to gain access.

The first time you log in to a Danish self-service that requires a CPR number, you will typically be asked to connect your CPR number to your non-Danish eID.

What is a CPR Number?

People who live or have lived in Denmark are assigned a 10-digit civil registration number, known as a CPR number. Everyone is registered in the Central Person Register (CPR).

The CPR number is used in all contact with Danish authorities:

When you log in to a Danish self-service with your non-Danish eID, the flags of EU/EEA countries are displayed in a list. If the flag of the country that issued your eID does not appear in the list of countries, it means that you cannot use your eID from that country to log in.

Conditions for accessing self-services in Denmark with an eID

Your access with an eID issued by another EU/EEA country to a self-service in Denmark depends on 4 things:

  • Whether the country is covered by the eIDAS regulation
  • The country’s technical readiness to support log in to self-services with eIDs from other countries
  • Whether the country in question has an approved (notified) eID under the eIDAS regulation
  • Whether the Danish self-service accepts login using eIDs from other countries.

In principle, an eID can be used in Denmark, if it has been approved (notified) and issued by an EU/EEA country. It is up to the individual country to decide how the eIDAS regulation is implemented nationally. It therefore varies from country to country.

Start Connect your non-Danish eID to your Danish CPR number

You can connect your non-Danish eID to your Danish civil registration number (CPR number). If the information in your eID matches the Civil Registration System (CPR), the connection happens automatically. If not, the connection requires manual processing. Once connected, you can use Danish self-services that require a CPR number.

You only need to connect your non-Danish eID to your CPR number once. You may need to do it again if you get a new eID, or if you have not used the eID in a Danish self-service within the last 2 years.

Automatic connection

  • If a self-service requires a CPR number, you will automatically be directed to an application form where you enter your CPR number and email address.
  • If you do not know your CPR number but have MitID, you can also connect your non-Danish eID to your CPR number using MitID.
  • If the connection can be done automatically or via MitID, you will be redirected to the self-service and can use it immediately.

Manual connection

  • If automatic connection is not possible, you will be automatically redirected to a manual application form. It typically takes about 10 minutes to complete and is processed within 3-11 business days. Please note that you need a valid ID document, such as a passport or national ID card, when completing the application.
  • You will receive an email from the Agency for Digital Government once your non-Danish eID has been connected.Thereafter you can use Danish self-services that require a Danish CPR number.

If you need help, please contact eID support at the Agency for Digital Government:

  • Email: identitymatching@digst.dk

More information

Have you encountered an error when logging into a European self-service with MitID or Danish self-service with a non-Danish eID?

To help you as effectively as possible with the error you experienced, please send an email to the Danish Agency for Digital Government.

It is important that you include the following 6 pieces of information in your email:

  • Insert or attach a screenshot of the error.
  • Copy and paste the error code (TransactionId) from the error you encountered.
  • Provide the date and time when the error occurred.
  • Include the name of and a link to the self-service you tried to use.
  • State which type of eID you used (for example, non-Danish eID, MitID, or MitID Erhverv).
  • State which computer/phone and browser you used (for instance Chrome on PC, Safari on iPhone).

Please note: When contacting the Agency for Digital Government, do not share your CPR number or other sensitive personal information. This information is not required to assist you, and it is not sent securely via this channel.

Contact

Send an email to the Danish Agency for Digital Government:
  • Email: eidas@digst.dk

The use of eID across borders in the EU and EEA is primarily regulated by 2 EU regulations. These regulations set out how national eID solutions can be used in other EU countries and how public authorities must recognise each other’s digital identities.

The following EU regulations are particularly relevant:

The eIDAS Regulation, which establishes the framework for the cross-border use of eID in the EU/EEA:

The Single Digital Gateway Regulation, which requires that citizens and businesses must be able to access selected public services digitally across the EU/EEA:

The revised eIDAS Regulation, which extends the rules and introduces, among other things, a European digital identity wallet:

Written by the Agency for Digital Government

Last updated: 08 April 2026