Dual Citizenship
New rules for dual citizenship
Are you currently residing outside Denmark, and are you interested in knowing more about the new rules and regulations on multiple nationality?
In December 2014, the Danish Parliament passed new rules regarding multiple nationality (dual citizenship). The rules appear in Act 1496 from the 23rd December 2014, regarding changes in the law on Danish citizenship. The law entered into force on the 1st of September 2015. The main elements include:
1) Abolition of the regulation in the citizenship act where the acquisition of the Danish citizenship would dependent on renouncing the citizenship in other states, and Danish citizenship being lost when acquiring the citizenship of another state by application.
2) A 5-year transitional scheme, which allows for previous Danish citizens, who have lost their Danish citizenship in connection with acquisition of another citizenship, to reacquire their Danish citizenship by handing in a declaration. This transitional scheme was renewed by the Danish Parliament in 2021 to last until 1 July 2026.
The Ministry of Immigration and Integration will be responsible for the case processing regarding reacquisition by declaration. You can read more about the law here.
How can you apply to reacquire your Danish citizenship?
You can apply to reacquire your Danish citizenship by sending in a declaration directly to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration - also from outside Denmark. You can also, by paying an extra fee, hand in your declaration via a Danish Embassy or one of the many Danish Consulates around the world. You can find a list of the Danish missions here. On the website of the Ministry of Immigration and Integration you can find further information and guidance regarding the rules.
Retention of Danish citizenship
An application for documentation of Danish citizenship which is submitted from the age of 20 will now be handled as an application for the retention of Danish citizenship, thus applications for the retention of Danish citizenship may now be handed in from the age of 20 and not only from the age of 21.
More information (in Danish) can be found on the website of the Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration - Ændret ansøgningstidspunkt i sager om bevis for bevarelse af dansk statsborgerskab (uim.dk).
How do I obtain a Danish passport?
You will be able to apply for a Danish passport, once the Ministry of Immigration and Integration has processed your application and decided that you have reacquired your Danish citizenship. For persons over the age of 12, the passport must contain biometric data (fingerprints and picture via the chip). You can find the latest list of places with a biometric station where you can apply for your Danish passport here. Remember that you, as a general rule, should make an appointment with the Danish mission in order to hand in your passport application.