Can tourists use MobilePay in Denmark? What are the alternatives if you don’t have CPR/MitID?

[EIA_Ask_DK]

Hi! Can tourists use MobilePay in Denmark, and if not, what are the best alternatives?

Please explain in a practical way:
• What is typically required to set up MobilePay (CPR/MitID, Danish phone/bank details, etc.)
• Common situations where places prefer MobilePay and what you can do instead
• Tourist-friendly payment options (cards, Apple Pay/Google Pay, cash) and any caveats
• Any tips to avoid payment problems

Official links to MobilePay requirements/help pages would be very helpful.

 

[EIA_Editor_DK]

Short answer: most tourists cannot set up MobilePay as a new user.

Why:
• Creating a MobilePay account requires a Danish CPR number and verification with MitID (and you’ll typically add card and account details during setup).
• If you don’t have CPR/MitID, assume you won’t be able to create a MobilePay account just for a short visit.

What to do instead (tourist-friendly options):
• Pay by debit/credit card (widely accepted).
• Use Apple Pay / Google Pay if your card supports it.
• Keep a small amount of cash for edge cases.

Nordic note (helpful for some travellers):
• If you already have Vipps (Norway) or MobilePay (Finland), cross-border payments may allow you to pay some Danish merchants depending on merchant setup.

Official sources (add links):
• [Vipps MobilePay Help – How to get started with MobilePay (CPR/MitID)]
• [Vipps MobilePay – cross-border payments info]

 

[ViolettaPetrovna]

This explanation is painfully accurate: if you don’t have CPR and MitID, MobilePay is basically a closed club and tourists aren’t on the guest list. In real life, cards and Apple Pay work almost everywhere, and the rare “MobilePay only” moment usually happens at flea markets or tiny coffee stands that still accept cash if you look desperate enough. Cross-border Vipps/MobilePay sometimes works, but I wouldn’t plan my lunch around it. Personal tip: always keep one physical card and a small cash backup so you don’t end up awkwardly apologizing while everyone behind you sighs.