CVR and Virk — the Danish company register explained
Published: 2026-07-23
CVR (Det Centrale Virksomhedsregister) is the central register of all Danish businesses, maintained by Erhvervsstyrelsen (the Danish Business Authority). Virk (virk.dk) is the portal through which CVR data is made available and through which companies file documents, including annual reports (årsrapport). This is where every company has its CVR number and data on legal form, management, status and beneficial owners. The data is public, but kept in Danish, and how much financial detail is disclosed depends on the company's size class — it is easy to misread a status or misjudge which omission is normal. Below we explain what CVR and Virk are and what the individual terms mean. We describe the step-by-step process in our guide on checking a Danish company.
What is CVR and what is Virk?
CVR is the register itself — the set of data on Danish companies maintained by Erhvervsstyrelsen. Virk is the portal (virk.dk) through which that data is made available and through which companies file documents, including annual reports (årsrapport). In practice, CVR refers to the data, and Virk to the place where you access it.
Tax matters lie outside CVR: VAT (moms) registration is handled by Skattestyrelsen. Enforcement debt is another separate source — it is handled by Gældsstyrelsen and you will not find it in CVR. A full picture of a Danish company therefore combines several sources.
Like Sweden, Denmark is part of the European Union, so you can check a Danish VAT number (moms) in the EU's VIES system.
What does the CVR number mean?
The CVR number (CVR-nummer) is a unique 8-digit identifier of a Danish company — the equivalent of a national company registration number. It is assigned by Erhvervsstyrelsen at registration.
A Danish VAT number (moms) is the CVR number with a DK prefix. Because Denmark is in the European Union, you can verify this number in the EU's VIES system. Note: being in CVR does not mean the company is VAT-registered — that is a separate status held by Skattestyrelsen.
What do the most common terms and statuses mean?
The register uses Danish terms that are easy to confuse. Below are the most common terms and statuses worth knowing.
| Term (Danish) | What it means | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| CVR-nummer | 8-digit company number | VAT number = DK + CVR; Denmark is in the EU, so it is in VIES |
| Virk (virk.dk) | portal for accessing CVR and filing documents | annual reports (årsrapport) sit here |
| ApS / A/S | private / public limited company | ApS is the most common form; IVS was abolished in 2019 |
| regnskabsklasse (B/C/D) | company size class | determines how much financial data is disclosed (a small one may omit turnover) |
| reelle ejere | beneficial owners | as a rule control over 25%; access scope has been adjusted after EU case law |
| konkurs / tvangsopløsning | bankruptcy / compulsory dissolution | significant warning signs; easy to confuse in Danish |
CVR vs a NordScan report — what's the difference?
CVR is public, but kept in Danish, and how much financial data is disclosed depends on the company's size class. On top of that, enforcement debt sits outside CVR (Gældsstyrelsen). To build a full picture of a company you need to read Danish, know where to look for what, and correctly interpret the statuses and financial figures. For one company that is a fair amount of time; across many counterparties it becomes a real risk of error.
A NordScan report pulls this data into one readable whole in your language: registry data, legal form, management, status and financials — in a single PDF, without needing Danish. We are not a public authority or a state register; the fee covers preparing and delivering the report in your language, based on publicly available registry data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is CVR available in English?
- No. CVR and Virk are kept in Danish. The data is public, but to understand it correctly you need to know the Danish terms. A NordScan report presents the same data in your language.
- What is the difference between CVR and Virk?
- CVR is the register itself — the set of company data maintained by Erhvervsstyrelsen. Virk (virk.dk) is the portal through which that data is made available and through which companies file documents, including annual reports. In short: CVR is the data, Virk is the access to it.
- Is a Danish VAT number (moms) in VIES?
- Yes. Denmark is part of the European Union, so a Danish VAT number (DK + CVR number) can be verified in the EU's VIES system. This differs from Norway, whose VAT number is not in VIES.
- What does the status konkurs or tvangsopløsning mean?
- Konkurs means bankruptcy, and tvangsopløsning means compulsory dissolution by the court (often after overdue filings). Frivillig likvidation is voluntary liquidation, and rekonstruktion is reorganisation. These are significant warning signs that are easy to confuse in Danish.
- Is the data in CVR current and reliable?
- CVR is the official state register, and in case of discrepancies its entry prevails. Bear in mind, however, that the extent of financial data depends on the size class (regnskabsklasse), reports describe a closed financial year, and some statuses change with a delay — always check the date and the class.
Check a company — your first report is free
Registry data, management, owners and financials — in a single PDF report in your language.
Related guides
This guide is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Laws and registry rules may change — the information held in the relevant country's official registers is always decisive.