How to Obtain Danish Citizenship: Requirements and Documents

Acquisition of Danish citizenship is governed by the country’s Constitution, the Danish Citizenship Act, and the circular on naturalization. Foreign nationals obtain a Danish passport primarily through naturalization—that is, after being included in a specific bill passed by Parliament.

What are the grounds for citizenship, what requirements must be met, what documents need to be prepared, and how much will the application cost in 2026? We’ll cover all of this below.

Are you planning to apply for Danish citizenship but aren’t sure if you meet all the requirements?

An immigration lawyer from the Visit World portal can help you verify your residency and employment periods and prepare your application package.

Grounds for Obtaining Danish Citizenship

Citizenship of Denmark is acquired by birth, through adoption, by declaration (for certain citizens of Nordic countries), or through naturalization. For most foreigners, naturalization remains the primary route: according to § 44 of the Danish Constitution, a foreigner may obtain citizenship only by law. The Ministry of Immigration and Integration includes eligible applicants in a bill, and the Folketing makes the final decision.

• By birth. A child born on or after July 1, 2014, becomes a Danish citizen if the mother, father, or co-parent holds Danish citizenship. The child’s place of birth and the parents’ marital status are irrelevant. For children born on or after January 1, 2025, the co-parent’s citizenship also serves as a basis for citizenship.
• By adoption. A child under 12 years of age automatically receives citizenship upon adoption by Danish citizens with a Danish adoption permit or pursuant to a foreign decision recognized by Denmark.
• By declaration. This route is available to citizens of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden who acquired their country’s citizenship by birth or adoption. The applicant must be over 18 years of age, have resided in Denmark for the past 7 years, and not have been sentenced to imprisonment during that time.
• Through naturalization. This route is available to other foreign nationals who meet the requirements of the naturalization circular.

About the new rules for foreign nationals planning to study in Denmark—read more at the link.

How many years must you live in Denmark to qualify for citizenship?

The standard requirement is 9 years of continuous residence in Denmark, particularly for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, and Spain. Long breaks or frequent trips abroad may affect fulfillment of this requirement. At the time the bill is passed, the applicant must have held a permanent residence permit for at least 2 years and be registered at an address in the CPR registry. For recognized refugees and stateless persons, this period is 1 year.

Shortened residency periods are provided for the following categories:

• 8 years: refugees, persons granted refugee-equivalent status, and stateless persons;
• 2 years: citizens of Nordic countries;
• 6–8 years: spouses of Danish citizens, depending on the duration of the marriage, provided that the husband or wife has held Danish citizenship for at least 3 years;
• upon reaching the age of 18: individuals who entered Denmark before the age of 15 and received a Danish-style education;
• 5 years: individuals who have received a substantial portion of their general or vocational education in Denmark for a period of at least 3 years or have completed it with an exam.

The application must list all stays abroad lasting more than 4 weeks over the past 12 years. All trips must also be declared for any year in which the total time spent abroad exceeded 6 weeks or the number of leisure trips reached 10 or more.

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Basic Requirements for Naturalization in Denmark

In addition to the residency requirement, the applicant must be financially self-sufficient and work full-time. The applicant must not have any outstanding debts to the state or a criminal record that would preclude naturalization. The applicant must also demonstrate proficiency in the Danish language, pass a citizenship exam, and sign a declaration of allegiance and loyalty to Denmark and Danish society. The declaration is signed via MitID as part of the online application.

• Financial Self-Sufficiency. Over the past 2 years, the applicant must not have received benefits under the Active Social Policy Act or the Integration Act (specifically kontanthjælp and integrationsydelse). Over the past 5 years, the total duration of such benefits may not exceed 4 months. A state education grant (SU), a pension, or financial support from a spouse does not constitute an obstacle.
• Employment. The applicant must have at least 3 years and 6 months of full-time employment (30 hours per week or more) or self-employment within the last 4 years. The applicant must also be employed at the time the bill is submitted.
• Debts. The applicant must not have any overdue debts, including taxes, SU student loans, police fines, daycare fees, and fines for fare evasion of 3,000 DKK or more.
• Criminal record. Actual or suspended prison sentences, crimes against the state and terrorism, organized crime, violence against children, sexual offenses, and a permanent entry ban preclude eligibility for citizenship.

Other offenses trigger a waiting period. For example, a fine of 3,000 DKK results in a waiting period of 4 years and 6 months from the date of the offense. Individuals of retirement age, as well as recipients of early retirement (førtidspension) and senior pensions, are exempt from the employment requirement.

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Language Test and Danish Citizenship Exam

The basic requirement is passing the Prøve i Dansk 3 (PD3) exam or an equivalent test listed in Appendix 3a of the naturalization circular. For applicants who have received social assistance for no more than 3 months in the last 9 years, passing the Prøve i Dansk 2 (PD2) or a test from Appendix 3b is sufficient. Knowledge of Danish society, culture, and history is demonstrated by passing the Indfødsretsprøven 2021 exam.

The Indfødsretsprøven 2015, taken between June 2016 and June 2021, is also accepted. Exemptions from the language test and the exam are provided, in particular, for Swedish- and Norwegian-speaking applicants with a diploma from a Swedish- or Norwegian-language school. For individuals with long-term health conditions, the Parliamentary Committee on Naturalization may grant an exemption based on a medical certificate.

A complete guide to studying in Denmark in 2026 — see this article.

Documents Required for Danish Citizenship

All documents must be submitted along with the application. The official portal lifeindenmark.dk warns that an application without the required supporting documents will most likely be rejected. The core of the application package consists of copies of your passport, permanent residence permit, and certificates of passing the language test and the citizenship exam. Additional documents are required to include children in the application.

• a copy of a valid passport (with no blank pages);
• a copy of the permanent residence permit (for EU citizens, an EU registration certificate is not sufficient);
• a copy of the certificate confirming passing the language test or citizenship exam;
• a copy of the Indfødsretsprøven 2015 or 2021 certificate;
• a copy of the traffic violation fine notice (if applicable);
• a copy of the conviction for crimes against life and health, i.e., under Chapter 25 of the Danish Criminal Code (if applicable);
• medical documents for exemption from certain requirements (if necessary);
• proof of custody and legal residence in Denmark for children under 18 who are included in the application;
• receipt of payment of the application fee (for paper applications).

Children are granted citizenship along with their parents under the following conditions: they are unmarried, under 18 years of age, legally residing in Denmark, and have no criminal offenses that would preclude naturalization. Consent is required from the other parent who holds custody. A child aged 12 or older must sign their own consent form.

See also: Denmark’s 2026 Positive List of Professions. Who Is the Country Willing to Hire Faster?

How much does a Danish citizenship application cost in 2026?

In 2026, the fee for the first naturalization application is 6,270 Danish kroner. For applicants under 25 who were born in Denmark or entered the country before the age of 8, the fee is 4,180 DKK. A second application following an initial rejection is free; for the third and subsequent attempts, the fee is 3,135 DKK. There is no fee for children under 18.

Online payments are accepted via Dankort, Visa, Mastercard, or MobilePay. The fee is non-refundable in the event of a denial following review and, as a rule, if the application is withdrawn. A refund is possible only if the ministry refuses to review the application.

How to Obtain Danish Citizenship: A Step-by-Step Guide

The naturalization process consists of submitting an application, a review of eligibility by the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, inclusion in a legislative bill, its passage by Parliament, and participation in a ceremony. Bills granting citizenship are introduced twice a year, in April and October. Their consideration in the Folketing usually takes 2–3 months.

1. Obtain a permanent residence permit, pass a language test, and take the citizenship exam.
2. Fill out the online application at statsborgerskab.nyidanmark.dk, pay the fee, and sign the application via MitID. The system saves incomplete applications for up to 30 days.
3. Receive confirmation from the ministry with a case number and an estimated processing time.
4. Wait for the review. The Ministry assesses whether the requirements have been met and, if necessary, refers the case to the Parliamentary Committee on Naturalization for consideration of exceptions.
5. Receive a letter confirming inclusion in the next bill. The application window closes approximately 2–3 months before the bill is introduced.
6. After the law is passed, participate in a naturalization ceremony in your municipality.

The paper form is used by individuals without a MitID who live abroad and submit their application through a Danish diplomatic mission, as well as by applicants represented by a lawyer or another person. The bill lists the applicant’s name, municipality of residence, year and country of birth, and previous citizenship. Decisions on citizenship are final and cannot be appealed; however, applicants may resubmit an application at any time.

The world’s best countries to retire in 2026— see the link for details.

Dual citizenship in Denmark: Do you need to renounce your passport?

Denmark has recognized dual citizenship since September 1, 2015. During naturalization, the country does not require applicants to renounce other citizenships, and Danish citizens retain their status if they acquire citizenship of another country. Danish rules are not binding on the laws of other countries, so some countries may require applicants to renounce their citizenship.

An exception applies to applicants residing in Greenland: they must renounce their previous citizenship before acquiring Danish citizenship. Ukrainians should separately verify the requirements of Ukrainian law regarding multiple citizenship.

What rights does Danish citizenship grant?

Danish citizenship entitles the holder to a Danish national passport and the right to vote in elections to the Folketing. As citizens of an EU member state, Danes also hold European Union citizenship, which grants them the right to move and reside freely within EU countries. Children of Danish citizens born after July 1, 2014, acquire citizenship by birth regardless of their place of birth.

Citizenship obtained by fraudulent means, including through the intentional provision of false information or the concealment of facts, is revoked by a court in accordance with § 8 A of the Danish Citizenship Act. Such a decision also applies to children who acquired citizenship through that person, provided they do not thereby become stateless.

In our previous article, we wrote about the best cities in Europe in terms of quality of life in 2026.

Consultation with an immigration lawyer regarding Danish citizenship

Preparing for naturalization in Denmark requires a precise calculation of periods of residence, employment, periods of receiving social assistance, and waiting periods following criminal offenses. An error in any of these areas can lead to a denial, and the application fee is non-refundable in such cases. An immigration lawyer from the Visit World portal will help you assess your situation, verify your compliance with the requirements, and prepare your application package.

Schedule a consultation with an immigration lawyer on the Visit World portal to plan your path to Danish citizenship in accordance with the current 2026 requirements!

Reminder! We previously discussed permanent residence in the EU in 2026 and the fastest ways to obtain that status.