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What is Dankort and where can you use it?

The national card that Danish banks issue.

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Short answer

Dankort is the Danish national payment card, launched in 1983 and issued by Danish banks. It is still the card with the largest number of transactions in Denmark, and more than 80 % of Dankort payments are now contactless. Most people carry it as a combined card, Visa/Dankort or Mastercard Dankort, so the same card can be used as Dankort in Danish shops and as Visa or Mastercard elsewhere. A Visa/Dankort also works abroad, for card payments and cash withdrawals. Visitors with a private Visa or Mastercard from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein may not be charged a card fee.

Practical info

Why

  1. Dankort has been the Danish home card for more than 40 years.
  2. A combined card gives you Dankort and Visa or Mastercard in one.
  3. Shops may not add a fee when you pay with Dankort.

Details

In 2025 Dankort was used for just over 0.8 billion payments, 36 % fewer than in 2016, while Visa and Mastercard cards issued in Denmark passed about 1.5 billion.

Tip

If you live in Denmark and open a bank account, ask the bank for a combined card so you can pay both at home and on trips.

What may differ

Which card types a bank offers, and their fees, differ from bank to bank.

Common misconception

You need a Dankort to pay by card in Denmark.

What actually happens

Visa and Mastercard cards are now used for more payments in Denmark than Dankort: about 1.5 billion against just over 0.8 billion in 2025.

People also ask

  • Can you use a Danish Visa/Dankort abroad?
  • Do shops in Denmark accept Visa and Mastercard?
  • Can you add Dankort to Apple Pay?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Payment rules, limits and fees change, so check the official sources or your bank before you pay.

Practical info
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