Credit Cards in Denmark (2026): Best Cards for Expats

Denmark is one of the most cashless countries in the world, so a good payment card is essential from the day you arrive. But the card system here is different from many other countries: most Danes use a national debit card (Dankort) plus MobilePay, and true credit cards are less common. This guide explains credit cards in Denmark for expats – how Dankort differs from an international Visa or Mastercard, how to get a card as a newcomer without Danish credit history, and what you need to apply.

Be aware that borrowing money costs money.

How we picked the best cards in Denmark

• ✓ English-speaking service and app
• ✓ Good value with low fees
• ✓ Clear terms with no hidden costs
• ✓ Easy to open as a newcomer
• ✓ Widely accepted at home and abroad

Best cards for expats in Denmark

These two options are easy to open as a newcomer and work well before you have a full Danish banking history. Always check the current fees on the provider’s own site.

Card provider	Why it is great
	1 Best for English-speaking newcomers. bunq is a fast-growing digital bank with a fully English app and a quick, fully online onboarding – ideal for expats who do not yet have a Danish banking history. It puts sustainability at the centre of its banking and offers a widely accepted card with no hidden fees.	Visit bunq
	2 Best for a fee-light travel card. Bank Norwegian is well known in Denmark for credit cards and financial products. Its card is popular for low fees, travel benefits and a good mobile app, with strong safety and security. A solid choice for a straightforward international credit card.	Visit Bank Norwegian

Dankort vs an international credit card

The Dankort is Denmark’s national debit card, issued with most Danish bank accounts and accepted almost everywhere in the country. It is usually issued as a combined Visa/Dankort card: the Dankort part works domestically, while the Visa part lets you pay abroad and online internationally. A purely national Dankort is not accepted outside Denmark, which is why many expats also want a proper international Visa or Mastercard. Both are widely accepted across shops, restaurants, healthcare and services in Denmark, and MobilePay (the dominant mobile-payment app) is accepted almost everywhere too.

Getting a card without Danish credit history

As a newcomer you will have no Danish credit history, which can make it harder to get a traditional bank credit card at first. Two things help. First, digital banks such as bunq, Lunar, Revolut and Wise are usually quick to open online and do not depend on a long local history, so they are a practical first card. Second, once you open a Danish account and receive salary, you build a track record: pay bills and any card balance on time, and avoid being registered in RKI (Denmark’s bad-debt register), as that seriously harms your creditworthiness. To open a full account, see our guide to banking in Denmark.

What you need to get a card in Denmark

Requirements vary by provider, but you will typically need:

• A CPR number (your Danish personal registration number)
• MitID, Denmark’s national digital ID, to verify yourself online
• Your passport or national ID
• A registered Danish address
• Usually a Danish bank account
• Proof of income, such as payslips
• To be at least 18 (some credit cards set a higher minimum age or income)

Costs to watch

When comparing cards, look beyond the headline and check the ongoing costs, as these vary widely by provider:

• Any annual card fee
• Foreign-transaction and currency-exchange fees when paying abroad or online in another currency
• The interest rate (and ÅOP, the Danish annual cost measure) if the card has a credit line
• Any cashback, travel insurance or other perks

If you are weighing a card with a credit line against a loan, also see our guide to loans in Denmark.

Debit or credit card: which do you need?

For everyday spending in Denmark, a debit card (usually a Visa/Dankort) plus MobilePay is all most people use. A separate credit card is mainly useful for booking flights and hotels, paying international merchants online, spreading the cost of larger purchases, and perks such as travel insurance or cashback. Many expats carry both: a Danish debit card for daily life and one international credit card for travel and online shopping.

Cards from Danish banks and digital apps

Most cards in Denmark come from a bank when you open an account. The big banks – Danske Bank (the largest), Nordea, Nykredit and Arbejdernes Landsbank – all issue Visa or Mastercard alongside their accounts. If you want an English-first experience, or a card before you have a full Danish banking history, digital options are often easier to start with:

• bunq – fully English app, fast online onboarding, sustainability focus.
• Lunar – a Nordic app-based bank built for the Danish market.
• Revolut and Wise – international fintechs that are excellent for currency exchange and travel spending.

Opening a full local account unlocks a Danish Visa/Dankort and makes daily life easier – see our guide to banking in Denmark.

How card payments work in Denmark

Denmark is almost entirely cashless. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in shops, restaurants, pharmacies, transport and online, and contactless is the norm. MobilePay is used everywhere – from large stores to market stalls and for splitting bills with friends – and links to your card or bank account. Cash is rarely needed, although a small amount can occasionally be handy in remote areas. American Express is accepted in fewer places than Visa and Mastercard, so it is best kept as a backup rather than your main card.

Frequently asked questions