Danish Citizenship Requirements (2026): 9 Years, Prøve i Dansk 3, the Citizenship Test and No Debt
Denmark naturalises by Act of Parliament: your name goes into a bill that the Folketing passes twice a year. Before it does, the Ministry of Immigration and Integration checks residence, language, knowledge of Denmark, self-support, criminal record and public debt against a fixed list. This guide takes the conditions from the ministry's own pages and the government's Life in Denmark portal.
Quick answer
To naturalise in Denmark you normally need 9 years of continuous residence (8 for recognised refugees and stateless people, 2 for Nordic citizens, 6 to 8 for spouses of Danish citizens depending on the length of the marriage), a permanent residence permit held for at least 2 years when the bill is passed (1 year for refugees and stateless people) and residence in Denmark. You must have passed Prøve i Dansk 3 or an equivalent or higher test, and the citizenship test of 2021 (a pass in the 2015 test is still accepted). You must sign a declaration of allegiance and loyalty, be self-supporting, have no listed overdue debt to public authorities and meet the character conditions. Bills are prepared in April and October. Dispensation from the Danish requirement goes to the Folketing's Naturalisation Committee, for example for a long-term documented disability.
Residence
| Who | Continuous residence required |
|---|---|
| Most applicants | 9 years |
| Recognised refugees, people equated with refugees, stateless people | 8 years |
| Nordic citizens | 2 years |
| Spouses of Danish citizens (citizen for at least 3 years) | 6 to 8 years, depending on the length of the marriage |
| People who entered Denmark before the age of 15 | May apply on reaching the age of majority, subject to the other conditions |
Residence must be continuous. Long interruptions, or regular and frequent travel abroad, can break the count; the Life in Denmark portal sets out how interruptions are assessed.
Permanent residence permit
You must have held a permanent residence permit for a minimum of 2 years when the naturalisation bill is passed, and be resident in Denmark. For recognised refugees, people equated with refugees and stateless people the minimum is 1 year. The condition applies to EU citizens with an EU registration certificate as well. Nordic citizens, former Danish citizens, certain people born to a Danish mother between 1961 and 1978, and some children applying without their parents are exempt from the permanent-permit condition.
Danish: Prøve i Dansk 3
As a general rule you must have passed the Danish education system's Prøve i Dansk 3, or one of the tests listed in annex 3a of the naturalisation circular as equivalent or higher. The ministry gives examples of equivalents: a Folkeskole 9th or 10th grade leaving exam with an average of at least 6 on the 13-point scale or 02 on the 7-point scale in the Danish subjects (excluding neatness), and other listed exams. Where a medically diagnosed long-term physical, mental, sensory or intellectual disability means you cannot pass Prøve i Dansk 3 or Prøve i Dansk 2, even with special conditions and aids, the application is referred to the Folketing's Naturalisation Committee for dispensation; the doctor must also say whether a lower-level test (Prøve i Dansk 2 or 1) would be possible.
Knowledge of Denmark: the citizenship test
You must have passed the citizenship test of 2021 (Indfødsretsprøven af 2021). Applicants who passed the 2015 citizenship test are treated as meeting the condition. Certain groups, including some children and applicants living in the Faroe Islands or Greenland, are exempt.
Allegiance, self-support, debt and character
- Declaration. You declare allegiance and loyalty to Denmark and Danish society, promise to comply with Danish law including the constitution, and to respect fundamental Danish values and legal principles including democracy. The declarations are signed with MitID in the digital application.
- Self-support. You must be self-sufficient; the portal lists the benefits that count against the condition.
- Debt. You may not have certain types of overdue debt to public authorities: repayable social-service benefits, student-loan arrears, overpaid housing allowance, penalty fares of DKK 3,000 and over, police fines and victim contributions, court fees and litigation costs, and housing-deposit repayments, unless an extension or instalment agreement is in place.
- Character. No criminal record of the kinds that bar naturalisation under the guidelines.
Process
- Apply digitally with MitID; the ministry's guidance to the digital form walks through each condition.
- Naturalisation happens by statute: applicants who meet the conditions are listed in a bill that Parliament passes. Bills are prepared in April and October.
- The application fee is set in Danish kroner each year; check the ministry's page for the current amount before paying.
The two tests, side by side
Prøve i Dansk 3 is the language test; the Indfødsretsprøve is the knowledge test. You need both, unless an equivalent exam covers the language condition. Book Prøve i Dansk 3 first: the citizenship test is short and offered regularly, while reaching PD3 level is the long part of the journey.
Frequently asked questions
How many years do I need to live in Denmark to become a citizen?
Normally 9 years of continuous residence; 8 for recognised refugees and stateless people; 2 for Nordic citizens; 6 to 8 for spouses of Danish citizens.
Which Danish test is required for citizenship?
Prøve i Dansk 3, or a test listed as equivalent or higher, such as a Folkeskole leaving exam with at least 02 in the Danish subjects.
Is the 2015 citizenship test still valid?
Yes. Applicants who passed the 2015 test are treated as meeting the citizenship-test condition; new applicants take the 2021 test.
Do I need permanent residence first?
Yes, held for at least 2 years when the bill is passed (1 year for refugees and stateless people), with exemptions for Nordic citizens and some other groups.
Can debt stop my application?
Yes. Listed overdue debt to public authorities, such as police fines, court fees or penalty fares of DKK 3,000 and over, bars naturalisation unless an extension or instalment agreement is in place.