What it is called where
| Country | Name | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | Codice fiscale | Agenzia delle Entrate (tax office) |
| Sweden | Personnummer | Skatteverket (tax agency) |
| Denmark | CPR-nummer | International Citizen Service / municipality |
| Finland | Personal identity code | Digital and Population Data Services |
| Hungary | Tax number and identity documents | National tax authority (NAV) |
| Bulgaria | EGN / foreigner's number | Immigration authority |
| Greece | AFM (tax number) plus AMKA | Tax office (DOY) |
| Malta | Tax number / e-Residence number | Identità / tax department |
| Cyprus | ARC / tax number | Immigration and tax departments |
⚠️ Office names and procedures change, and vary by city. Your university's international office is the best guide here — many universities arrange this registration for students, so ask before making your own trip.
Two different kinds of number
Not all of these are the same thing, and the distinction avoids confusion:
- Tax numbers (Italy's codice fiscale, Greece's AFM) exist mainly for tax, are often quick and easy to obtain, and can sometimes be issued before you even arrive
- Civil registration numbers (personnummer, CPR) are tied to registered residence, so they require a permanent address and a permit of a certain duration, and take longer
In the Nordics the second kind matters most, because healthcare and banking are attached to it.
A real warning for the Nordics
⚠️ In Sweden and Denmark, obtaining the civil registration number normally requires a residence permit of a minimum duration (often a year or more). If your programme is shorter than a year, you may not receive one — which makes banking and healthcare considerably harder.
This belongs in your programme choice, and almost nobody mentions it. The practical difference between a one-year and a two-year master's is larger than it looks.
What to bring
- 1Passport and visa or permit
- 2Proof of accommodation
- 3The university's enrolment letter
- 4Passport photographs
- 5The application form — often to be completed online beforehand
While you wait
It can take days to weeks. Rather than stalling:
- Start your financial life with a digital bank (how)
- Keep the application receipt — in many places it is accepted provisionally
- If you need urgent medical care, your health insurance covers it; do not postpone treatment waiting for a number
Once you have it
- 1Store it safely — on your phone and on paper
- 2Go to the bank — opening an account is far easier now
- 3Register with healthcare — get assigned a GP or doctor
- 4Update the university's records
- 5Register for online government services — most European administration is digital, and this number is your digital identity
Official sources — check for yourself
Rules and figures change. We review these articles periodically and show the date above, but always confirm the current requirement with the official source before you act on it.
Common questions
Why is the personal number so important?+
Bank accounts, doctors, employment contracts, phone contracts and government online services all depend on it. It should be your first or second task after arriving.
Is a one-year programme a problem?+
In the Nordics it can be. Sweden and Denmark normally require a residence permit of a minimum duration (often a year or more) before issuing the civil registration number, and without it banking and healthcare are much harder. Check this before choosing a programme.
How long does it take?+
Days to weeks depending on country and city. While waiting, use a digital bank for your financial life and keep the application receipt, which is accepted provisionally in many places.
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