Becoming a citizen of Denmark: residence and dual nationality

Danish citizenship is one of the hardest in Europe to obtain, and the process is unusual: foreign citizens are not granted citizenship by an agency decision but by an act of the Danish Parliament. For an American, the route is long, starts with permanent residence, and requires proof of years of full-time work, strong Danish, and a clean record. The good news is that Denmark has allowed dual citizenship since 2015, so becoming Danish no longer means giving up a US passport under Danish law.

This guide is based on the Ministry of Immigration and Integration's pages on Life in Denmark and uim.dk, and on New to Denmark for permanent residence.

Citizenship is granted by statute

Life in Denmark explains that foreign citizens can only acquire Danish citizenship by statute. If you meet the conditions, the Ministry of Immigration and Integration includes you in a naturalisation bill, which Parliament passes. The ministry submits these bills twice a year, in April and October, and closes each bill roughly two to three months before submission. Parliament normally takes two to three months to consider a bill, and the bill is public: your name, municipality, year and country of birth and previous citizenship are listed.

Because citizenship is granted by Parliament, decisions cannot be appealed administratively. If you are rejected, you can reapply at any time.

Step one: permanent residence

A core condition is that you have held a permanent residence permit for at least two years when the naturalisation bill is passed, and that you live in Denmark and are registered in the CPR.

New to Denmark states that permanent residence normally requires eight years with a temporary residence permit, or four years in certain situations, plus further requirements on work, language and conduct. The fee for a work or study based application is DKK 7,570, and the expected maximum processing time is 12 months. This step alone takes most Americans the better part of a decade.

Nine years of continuous residence

The general rule is nine years of continuous residence in Denmark. Life in Denmark warns that long interruptions, or regular or frequent travel abroad, can affect whether you meet this requirement. Spouses of Danish citizens who have held citizenship for at least three years can qualify after six to eight years depending on the length of the marriage. People who received a substantial part of their education in Denmark may qualify sooner under specific conditions.

Work and self-support

The employment requirement is strict. You must have been in ordinary full-time employment, or self-employed, for at least three years and six months within the last four years, and you must be connected to the labour market when the bill is submitted. Full-time means an average of at least 30 hours a week. Certain short postings abroad for a Danish employer count.

You must also be self-supporting. Life in Denmark says you cannot have received financial assistance under the Law on active social policy or the Law on integration in the last two years, or for more than four months in total in the last five years. Being supported by your spouse, or receiving a state pension, does not disqualify you.

Danish language and the citizenship test

The general language requirement is Danish language test 3 (Dansk 3). If you have not received certain public assistance for more than three months over the last nine years, Danish language test 2 is enough. You must also pass the 2021 citizenship test (Indfødsretsprøven af 2021), which covers Danish society, culture and history.

Denmark offers free Danish education to adult residents with a CPR number, and many Americans start lessons in their first year so that Dansk 3 is done long before the residence clock runs out.

Criminal record, fines and debts

A conviction with a prison sentence, including a suspended one, generally bars naturalisation. Smaller penalties create waiting periods. Life in Denmark gives an example: a fine of DKK 3,000 or more triggers a waiting period of four years and six months from the offence. Several fines extend the wait. This can include serious traffic fines, so drive carefully.

Certain overdue debts to public authorities also block citizenship, including unpaid taxes, police fines, nursery payments and public transport penalty fares of DKK 3,000 or more.

Applying and the fee

Applications are made online with MitID. You attach your passport photo page, your permanent residence permit, your Danish test certificate and proof of passing the citizenship test. The fee is DKK 6,270 (2026). A first reapplication after a rejection is free; later reapplications cost DKK 3,135 (2026). The fee is not refunded if the application is processed and rejected.

The ministry's guidance lists the average processing time for applications concluded in 2021 as about 14 months. Your confirmation letter states the expected time for your case.

The constitution ceremony

After Parliament passes the bill, you must attend a constitution ceremony in your municipality within two years. You sign a declaration that you will comply with the Constitution and respect basic Danish values, and you shake hands with the mayor or an alderman. You also submit a sworn declaration about any criminal offences. Citizenship takes effect once this is done, and the ministry sends a citizenship certificate. Children under 18 included in your application become Danish with you.

Dual citizenship and your US passport

The Ministry of Immigration and Integration states that the Danish Parliament amended the Nationality Act to allow full access to multiple nationalities, in force from 1 September 2015. Foreign citizens included in a naturalisation bill are no longer required to renounce their previous nationality. The ministry notes that multiple nationality also depends on the law of the other country.

US citizens who naturalize elsewhere generally keep US citizenship unless they intend to give it up. You remain subject to US tax filing as a citizen, so becoming Danish does not change your IRS obligations.

A realistic timeline

• Years 1 to 8: live and work in Denmark on a temporary permit, learn Danish, keep a clean record.
• Around year 8: apply for permanent residence (up to 12 months to process).
• Two years after permanent residence and with nine years of residence: apply for citizenship.
• Up to two bill cycles later: Parliament passes the bill, then attend the ceremony.

Common questions

Can I keep my US citizenship if I become Danish? Danish law has allowed multiple nationality since 1 September 2015, and Denmark no longer requires new citizens to renounce their previous nationality. US citizenship is not lost by naturalizing in Denmark unless you intend to give it up.

How many years until an American can apply? Normally nine years of continuous residence plus at least two years holding permanent residence, which itself usually needs eight years on a temporary permit. Spouses of Danish citizens can qualify after six to eight years.

What level of Danish is required? Danish language test 3 as the general rule, or Danish language test 2 if you have not received certain public assistance for more than three months in the last nine years. You must also pass the 2021 citizenship test.

Can a traffic fine delay citizenship? Yes. A fine of DKK 3,000 or more triggers a waiting period of four years and six months from the offence, according to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration.