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Denmark

Last Updated: 2026-03-31

Official Portal: Ministry of Immigration and Integration — Danish Citizenship

Embassy Finder: Danish Missions Abroad

Quick Facts

CategoryDetails
Residency for naturalization9 years of continuous lawful residence (reduced to 8 for refugees; 6—8 for Nordic and EU citizens under certain conditions)
Language requirementPass Provei Dansk 3 (PD3) — roughly equivalent to B2 CEFR
Civics testIndfodsretsproven (Citizenship Test) — 40 questions on Danish society, history, culture, and politics
Processing time12—24 months (naturalization is granted by Act of Parliament, not executive decision)
Naturalization feeDKK 3,800 (approximately EUR 510)
Dual citizenshipFully permitted since 1 September 2015
Citizenship by birth in DenmarkNo general jus soli — birth on Danish territory does not confer citizenship
Citizenship by descentYes (jus sanguinis) — automatic if at least one parent is a Danish citizen
Governing lawIndfodsretsloven — Danish Nationality Act (Consolidation Act No. 422 of 7 June 2004, as amended)

Dual Citizenship

Denmark fully permits dual and multiple citizenship since the entry into force of Act No. 1496 of 23 December 2014, effective 1 September 2015.

Post-2015 rules:

  • Danish citizens who acquire a foreign nationality do not lose their Danish citizenship.
  • Foreign nationals who naturalize as Danish are not required to renounce their prior nationality.

Pre-2015 rules (for reference):

  • Voluntary acquisition of a foreign nationality resulted in automatic loss of Danish citizenship (unless the foreign nationality was acquired automatically, e.g., by marriage in certain countries).
  • Naturalization applicants were required to renounce their prior citizenship.

Transitional provision: Former Danish citizens who lost their citizenship between 1 September 2015 and the date they acquired a foreign nationality prior to the reform may apply for re-acquisition by declaration within a specified window. See Restoration below.

Self-governing territories: Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat) and the Faroe Islands (Foroyar) are part of the Kingdom of Denmark. There is no separate Greenlandic or Faroese citizenship — all hold Danish citizenship.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Denmark does not apply a jus soli principle. Birth on Danish territory (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands) does not in itself confer citizenship.

Exceptions:

  • Foundlings found in Denmark are deemed Danish citizens until another nationality is established.
  • A child born in Denmark who would otherwise be stateless may acquire Danish citizenship, but this is handled through application, not automatic acquisition.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Danish citizenship is acquired automatically at birth if (Section 1 of the Nationality Act):

  • The mother is a Danish citizen at the time of birth (regardless of where the child is born), OR
  • The father is a Danish citizen at the time of birth AND either:
    • The parents are married, OR
    • The child is born in Denmark (even if parents are unmarried), OR
    • Paternity is established and the father has Danish custody.

Historical note: Before 1979, only fathers transmitted citizenship to children born in wedlock. The law was equalized in stages (1979 for mothers, further reforms through 2014).

Generational limit for births abroad (Section 8):

  • A Danish citizen born abroad who has never resided in Denmark and has no other substantial connection to Denmark loses Danish citizenship at age 22, unless:
    • They apply to retain it before turning 22, OR
    • Loss would render them stateless.
  • This provision prevents indefinite transmission of citizenship through generations with no connection to Denmark.

By Adoption

A child under 12 adopted by a Danish citizen acquires Danish citizenship automatically upon the adoption becoming effective under Danish law (Section 2A), provided:

  • The adoption is recognized under the Danish Adoption Act.
  • The child is under 12 at the time of the adoption order.
  • Children aged 12—17 adopted by Danish citizens do not acquire citizenship automatically but may apply through a simplified process.

By Marriage

Marriage to a Danish citizen does not confer citizenship and does not create a separate facilitated pathway. The foreign spouse must naturalize through the standard parliamentary process. However, marriage and cohabitation with a Danish citizen are considered positively in the assessment.

There is no reduced residency period specifically for spouses. Denmark is notably strict in this regard compared to most EU member states.

By Naturalization (Residency)

Danish naturalization is unique among EU countries: citizenship is not granted by executive decision but by Act of Parliament (Indfodsretslov). The Folketing (Danish Parliament) passes a naturalization bill (typically twice per year) listing all approved applicants by name.

Standard requirements (Circular on Naturalization, regularly updated):

RequirementDetails
Lawful residence9 years of continuous lawful residence in Denmark (8 years for refugees; 6—8 for Nordic citizens)
LanguagePass Proveи i Dansk 3 (PD3) — a demanding exam roughly equivalent to CEFR B2. Tests reading, writing, and oral communication.
Civics testPass the Indfodsretsproven (Citizenship Test) — 40 multiple-choice questions on Danish history, society, culture, and politics. Pass mark: 32 out of 40.
Self-sufficiencyMust not have received public benefits (kontanthjaelp, integrationsydelse, etc.) for more than 4 months in the preceding 5 years. Must not have outstanding public debt exceeding DKK 100,000 (reduced from higher thresholds in recent years).
Criminal recordStrict rules — any criminal conviction may result in a waiting period or permanent bar depending on the sentence. Minor offenses (fines under DKK 3,000) may be disregarded. Prison sentences create waiting periods of 4—18+ years depending on length.
Loyalty declarationMust sign a declaration of loyalty and allegiance to Denmark and its fundamental values.
RenunciationNot required since 2015 — dual citizenship permitted.
FeeDKK 3,800

The parliamentary process:

  1. The applicant submits their application to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration.
  2. The Ministry verifies all conditions are met and compiles a list of eligible applicants.
  3. The list is submitted to the Folketing as a draft bill (lovforslag om indfodsrets meddelelse).
  4. The Folketing debates and votes on the bill. Applicants may be individually removed by parliamentary vote.
  5. Upon passage and royal assent, the listed individuals become Danish citizens.

This process means naturalization is partly political. Bills are typically passed in April and October.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

A Danish citizen may renounce citizenship by making a declaration to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, provided:

  1. They hold another nationality.
  2. Renunciation will not render them stateless.

No fee for renunciation.

Involuntary Loss

GroundDetails
Age 22 rule (Section 8)Danish citizens born abroad who have never resided in Denmark and have no significant connection lose citizenship automatically at age 22, unless they applied for retention.
FraudCitizenship obtained through fraud or false information may be revoked. The 2019 amendment specifically allows withdrawal of citizenship from persons convicted of terrorism or treason — controversially, even if it renders them stateless (subject to international law constraints).
Participation in armed conflict abroadThe 2019 amendment introduced provisions to revoke citizenship from dual nationals who join enemy combatants or commit acts seriously prejudicial to Denmark’s vital interests.

Important: Voluntary acquisition of a foreign nationality no longer causes loss of Danish citizenship (since 2015).

Restoration of Nationality

Declaration for former citizens (Section 4)

Former Danish citizens who lost their citizenship may re-acquire it by declaration under the following conditions:

Nordic citizens (Section 4):

  • A former Danish citizen who is a citizen of another Nordic country (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland) and has resided in Denmark for 2 years may re-acquire Danish citizenship by declaration.

Former citizens who lost citizenship by acquiring a foreign nationality before 2015 (transitional provision):

  • Former Danish citizens who lost their citizenship under the old rules (by voluntarily acquiring a foreign nationality before 1 September 2015) were given a 5-year window (until 31 August 2020) to re-acquire Danish citizenship by declaration. This window has closed, but re-acquisition through standard naturalization remains possible.

General re-acquisition:

  • Former Danish citizens who do not qualify for the above may apply through the standard naturalization process. Previous Danish citizenship is considered a favorable factor, and the residency requirement may be reduced at the discretion of the Ministry.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

  • Foundlings discovered on Danish territory are deemed Danish citizens until another nationality is established.
  • Stateless persons born in Denmark may apply for Danish citizenship by declaration between ages 18 and 21, provided they have resided lawfully in Denmark for at least 5 years (Section 3A). Reduced requirements (no language or civics test) apply.
  • Denmark is a party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Document Checklist

Application form for Danish citizenship (obtained from the Ministry of Immigration and Integration or online portal)

Valid passport and Danish residence permit

Birth certificate (apostilled + certified Danish or English translation)

Marriage certificate (if applicable)

Proveи i Dansk 3 (PD3) certificate or equivalent recognized language qualification

Indfodsretsproven (Citizenship Test) pass certificate

Criminal record certificate from country of origin (apostilled + translated)

Danish criminal record extract (obtained by the Ministry)

Proof of continuous lawful residence (CPR registration history)

Proof of self-sufficiency (documentation of no public benefit receipt for preceding 5 years)

Proof of no outstanding public debt exceeding DKK 100,000

Signed loyalty and allegiance declaration

Biometric passport photos

Fee payment receipt (DKK 3,800)

Sources

  1. Indfodsretsloven — Danish Nationality Act, consolidated. https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2004/422

  2. Ministry of Immigration and Integration — Citizenship. https://uim.dk/arbejdsomraader/statsborgerskab/

  3. Circular on Naturalization (Cirkulaereskrivelse om naturalisation) — Sets out the detailed requirements. Updated periodically. Available via Retsinformation.dk.

  4. Danish Missions Abroad — Embassy and consulate finder. https://um.dk/en/about-us/organisation/find-us

  5. Folketing (Danish Parliament) — Naturalization bills. https://www.ft.dk/

  6. European Convention on Nationality (1997) — Denmark is a signatory. https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=166

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