Denmark citizenship requirements

There are several was through which a person can acquire Danish nationality. Apart from the acquiring Danish citizenship from parent i.e., by birth, naturalization has become one of the most common ways in which immigrants acquire Danish nationality.

According to the Denmark citizenship requirements, one can be eligible for nationality by birth if both or one of the parents is a Danish citizen at the time of birth. naturalization is however a far more complicated way of becoming a Danish citizen. A number of Denmark citizenship requirements have to be met and a long and complicated application process completed before one can become naturalized.

For one to be eligible for naturalization under the Denmark citizenship requirements, the person must have resided in Denmark for the last 9 years under a permanent work and residence permit. Special considerations exist for special groups of people with regard to this period. People living under refugee status can be allowed to apply for naturalization after only 8 years. This period can even be shorter if the applicant is either married to a Dane, is a Nordic national, or immigrated to Denmark as a minor and has been educated in Denmark.

Another Denmark citizenship requirement is that the applicant has to prove that he can support himself. This means that the applicant should not have benefited from any social support scheme for the past 12 months. The applicant must also prove to have been self supporting for 4 and half years of the recent 5 years before the date of application. However, benefiting from educational grants, old age and anticipatory pensions are not considered as social benefits.

On submitting your application, a fee of DKK 1,000 has to be paid in accordance to the Denmark citizenship requirements. A written examination is also provided to prove that you are a fluent Danish speaker. The exams also test your knowledge of Danish culture, society and history.

Once you have fulfilled all these requirements, you have to renounce your previous citizenship and pledge you allegiance to Denmark and declare that you are willing to observe Danish laws.  Danish laws don’t allow for dual citizenship. You have to prove that you have renounced your previous country or made sufficient effort to do so. You criminal record also has to be disclosed.