Citizenship Guides
Complete guide to Danish citizenship: 9-year residence (shorter for some groups), Prøve i Dansk 3, the Indfødsretsprøven civic test and the 2026 fees.
Danish citizenship is among the most demanding in Europe to obtain. The standard residence requirement is 9 years, the language requirement is relatively high (Danish at level 3, roughly B2 on the CEFR), and a civic knowledge test (Indfødsretsprøven) is mandatory. Shorter residence periods apply only to specific groups: refugees and stateless persons, spouses of Danish citizens, and Nordic citizens.
The standard rule is that you must have been continuously resident in Denmark for 9 years on a valid basis (residence permit or permanent residence). "Continuously" means without extended breaks, extended absences can interrupt the residence calculation.
There is no points or bonus system that shortens the residence requirement. A higher Danish language level, full-time employment, Danish education or voluntary work does not take years off the 9-year rule. Reduced periods apply only to the groups below.
Reduced periods apply for:
You must pass Prøve i Dansk 3 (Danish Test 3) or an equivalent test. Its written and oral parts are related to level B2 on the CEFR. It is held at approved language centres in Denmark and tests reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Prøve i Dansk 2 (related to B1 written and B1+ oral) can be enough if you meet the self-support requirement and have received public assistance for no more than 3 months in the last 9 years.
A higher-level test such as Studieprøven also meets the requirement, but it does not shorten the residence period. If you have a degree from a Danish university or have completed Danish upper secondary education, you may be credited with the language requirement. There is no age exemption. Applicants with a documented long-term disability can have their case referred to the Folketing's naturalisation committee (Indfødsretsudvalget), but a dispensation is not guaranteed.
The Indfødsretsprøven is the official civic knowledge test for Danish citizenship applicants. It is held twice a year (May/June and November/December): SIRI writes the test and language centres (sprogcentre) hold it. Most applicants must pass it, but some groups are exempt, for example children under 12 and applicants living in Greenland or the Faroe Islands, among others. Applicants with a documented long-term physical or mental disability can have their case referred to Indfødsretsudvalget for a dispensation, which is not guaranteed.
The test has 45 questions, each with two or three answer options: 35 on the official learning material (Læremateriale til Indfødsretsprøven, August 2026 edition, 246 pages in 6 chapters), 5 unprepared questions on current affairs from roughly the last six months, and 5 unprepared questions on Danish values. The learning material covers topics such as:
Danish democracy and the constitution. The Constitutional Act of 1849 and subsequent amendments, the structure of Danish democracy (the Folketing, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Constitutional Monarchy, the courts), the Danish welfare state, fundamental rights and freedoms, the electoral system and political parties, Denmark's membership in the EU and NATO
Danish history. Viking Age, the Kingdom of Denmark's formation, Denmark's role in the Napoleonic Wars (the Bombardment of Copenhagen 1807, Napoleonic alliance), the loss of Schleswig-Holstein (1864), the two World Wars (Denmark's occupation 1940 to 1945, resistance movement, collaboration debate), the welfare state's development in the 20th century, Danish reunification with Sønderjylland (1920)
Danish society and culture. The Danish education system, the healthcare system, the labour market and the "flexicurity" model, Danish cultural values (hygge, Janteloven, trust culture), Danish architecture (Copenhagen landmarks), Danish literature (Hans Christian Andersen, Karen Blixen), Danish design and innovation, Danish television (DR), major Danish institutions
Danish geography and the territories. The Jutland peninsula and the islands (Zealand, Funen, Bornholm), the capital Copenhagen and other major cities (Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg), Greenland and the Faroe Islands (autonomous territories), the Øresund region, the landscape (fjords, heaths, forests)
You need to answer at least 36 of 45 questions correctly (80%) to pass, including at least 4 of the 5 values questions. This is a high pass mark. The test is written and offered in Danish only, with no aids and no translated version. You have 45 minutes. Results come within up to 4 weeks.
The test can be retaken, but each attempt costs a new fee (946 kr. in 2026), and there is no free resit if you are ill. You register and pay directly with a language centre (sprogcenter), at the latest 5 weeks before the test: the winter 2026 test is on 25 November 2026, with a registration deadline of 21 October 2026. The official portal danskogproever.dk has the learning material and past papers with answer keys.
No serious criminal history. Serious criminal convictions result in disqualification or a mandatory waiting period before you become eligible. The specific rules depend on the nature of the offence and the sentence. Minor offences may not affect eligibility.
No significant debt to the state. Significant unpaid debt to Danish authorities (tax debt, overpaid social benefits, etc.) can block citizenship until resolved.
Self-sufficiency. You must generally not have received certain forms of social assistance during the past several years. The specific rules have changed multiple times; always check the current circular.
Danish citizenship is granted by a law passed by the Folketing (parliament), not by an administrative decision. This is unusual in Europe. The conditions for citizenship are set out in a circular on naturalisation (cirkulæreskrivelse om naturalisation, from 2021, amended in 2022). You submit an application to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, which verifies whether you meet all conditions. If you do, your name is included in a bill (lovforslag) presented to the Folketing, and the Folketing passes a law, a citizenship act, granting citizenship to everyone listed in it.
This means the process has a parliamentary rhythm. Applications are processed on a rolling basis, but citizenship is granted in batches aligned with when the Folketing passes the relevant act. The process from submitting a complete application to receiving citizenship typically takes 1 to 2 years.
The application fee is 6,270 DKK from 1 January 2026 (around 840 euros; it was 6,000 DKK from 18 June 2025). The Indfødsretsprøven test costs 946 DKK per attempt in 2026, and a retake requires a new fee. Danish language courses and tests (Prøve i Dansk 3) are partly subsidized by municipalities; the cost varies.
Denmark has permitted dual citizenship since 2015. You do not need to renounce your previous citizenship when becoming Danish. Verify your country of origin's rules as some countries automatically strip citizenship upon naturalisation abroad.
Træn til prøven med 30 øvespørgsmål til indfødsretsprøven med svar og forklaringer, eller begynd de komplette serier på CivicPass Danmark.