Visiting, working, studying, living and moving in Denmark is easy, but obtaining Denmark citizenship is another thing. When it comes to citizenship, Denmark plays no games. In order to become a Danish citizen, you must meet all the Denmark citizenship requirements and go through a detailed application process.
Benefits of Denmark Citizenship
Denmark citizenship comes with great benefits:
- You become eligible to live, work, and study in Denmark and other EU countries.
- You can travel in and out of Denmark anytime you want.
- You are allowed to become citizens of other countries.
- Your children will automatically acquire Danish citizenship
- Free education and healthcare.
How to Get Denmark Citizenship?
Danish citizenship can be acquired in the following ways:
- By descent. You get Danish citizenship automatically at birth if one of your parents is a Danish citizen. Citizenship is also granted to children under the age of 12, who are adopted by Danish citizens.
- By naturalization. You must have lived in Denmark for at least 9 years before you can apply for citizenship.
- By declaration (Nordic citizens). Citizens of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden can obtain citizenship by declaration after living in Denmark for seven years.
Denmark Citizenship by Descent
Children born after 1 July 2014 automatically acquire citizenship at birth if one of the parents is Danish. The citizenship of children born before that date depends on the rules which were on effect at the time. For example, for children born between February 1, 1999, and June 30, 2014, the following rules apply:
- If the parents are married and one of them is Danish, then the child is considered a Danish citizen.
- If the parents are unmarried, and only the father is Danish, the child acquires Danish citizenship only if he/she is born in Denmark.
- If a child born to a Danish father and foreign mother did not acquire citizenship at birth, the child will be eligible for citizenship if the parents get married before the child’s 18th birthday.
- A child found on Danish soil is considered a Danish citizen, unless otherwise stated.
Danish Citizenship by Naturalization
To obtain Denmark citizenship by naturalization, you must meet a number of conditions:
- You must submit a declaration of allegiance and loyalty.
- You must have an indefinite residence permit.
- You must have nine years of uninterrupted residence in Denmark.
- You must have a clean criminal record.
- You must not have any overdue debt.
- You must be able to support yourself financially.
- You must have been fully employed for at least three years and six months within the last four years.
- You must be proficient in the Danish language.
- You must pass the Denmark Citizenship Test.
- You must participate in the municipal constitution ceremony.
Danish Citizenship for Children of Naturalized Persons
You can become a Danish citizen alongside your parents if you meet the following conditions:
- You are unmarried
- You are under the age of 18
- You live in Denmark and have a legal residence (valid residence permit or a valid residence registration certificate).
- You are not charged with or have committed any crime.
- The parent with whom you will be admitted has full or shared custody of you.
- The other parent has given his or her consent (for shared custody).
If you cannot be admitted as an accompanying (secondary) person to your parent, you may be admitted as a main applicant if:
- You were adopted by Danish citizens.
- You were born out of marriage by a foreign mother and a Danish father between the dates of 11 October 1993 to 30 June 2014.
- You could not become a Danish citizen due to termination of cohabitation.
- You were born stateless in Denmark.
Denmark Citizenship for Citizens of Nordic Countries
Citizens of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden can obtain Danish citizenship by submitting a declaration to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration Affairs, the National Ombudsman in the Faroe Islands, or the National Ombudsman in Greenland. To do this you must meet the requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must have had permanent residence in this country for the last seven years.
- You must not have a criminal record during this period.
Danish Citizenship Application Process
You have to apply for Danish citizenship through the Ministry of Immigration and Integration’s digital application (NemID). Before you apply, you must pass the Danish language and citizenship test. During the online application, you will be required to upload copies of the following documents:
- A copy of your passport (only the page with passport photo and information about the applicant).
- Copy of indefinite residence permit.
- Copy of your Danish language test.
- Copy of proof that you have passed the citizenship test.
- Any medical documentation (if you want a dispensation from specific requirements).
- Documentation of custody, if a child under 18 is covered by the application as a secondary person. If you are married to the child’s parent and share joint custody in the marriage, documentation of custody is not required.
When submitting the application, you have to pay a fee of DKK 4,000 (appx. €537) to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration. If you apply online, you must pay using Dankort.
Can I Lose My Denmark Citizenship?
You can lose your Danish citizenship in the following ways:
- If you acquired citizenship by birth but never lived in the Kingdom of Denmark by the age of 22 years (not applicable for stateless people).
- By court order, if you acquired your citizenship by fraudulent conduct (e.g., sham marriage).
- By court order, if you are convicted of a violation of one or more provisions of Parts 12 and 13 of the Danish Criminal Code (crimes against national security).
- By voluntary application to the Minister for Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs.
Does Denmark Allow Dual Citizenship?
Yes, Denmark has accepted dual citizenship since 1 September 2015. You can have both Danish citizenship and another citizenship. For dual citizenship to be possible, the country you have been a citizen of so far must also allow it.
Denmark Citizenship Test
The Denmark citizenship test has 45 questions and is a multiple-choice test on Danish culture, society, and history. 35 of the questions are based on study materials. The remaining ten questions are random; five relate to current events, and five relate to Danish values (freedom of expression, equality, the relationship between religion and legislation, etc.)
To pass the citizenship test, you must have a minimum of 36 correct answers, including four on the Danish values.
Before sitting for the test, you will be required to show a valid photo ID, such as your residence card, passport, driving license, etc.
To register and pay for the Denmark citizenship test, click here.
Danish Citizenship for Stateless Children
If you were born stateless in Denmark, you must apply for citizenship at the Ministry of Immigration and Integration Affairs. You are not required to pay a fee, but you must use a special application form to apply for Denmark citizenship.
Denmark Citizenship by Investment
Denmark does not have direct citizenship by investment program. Investors can apply for a Startup visa, which grants them a renewable two-year residence permit. You can only get Danish citizenship after living in Denmark for nine years.
Denmark Citizenship by Marriage
Spouses of Danish citizens can obtain Danish citizenship only after 6-8 years of uninterrupted residence in Denmark, depending on the duration of the marriage. You need to be legally and voluntarily married and must have permanent residence status in the Kingdom of Denmark to become a citizen.