Danish citizenship can be obtained via descent, meaning that a person can become a citizen if, at the time of their birth, one of their parents was a citizen of Denmark. Jus sanguinis, which translates to “right of blood,” is another name for Danish citizenship by ancestry.
No matter where a kid is born, if a parent is a citizen of Denmark, the child will automatically become a citizen of Denmark. Furthermore, even if the kid was born outside of Denmark but one or both parents were Danish citizens at the time of the birth, the child may still qualify for Danish citizenship by descent.
Who is Eligible?
According to Danish nationality law, the following people may obtain Danish citizenship through their ancestors:
- No matter where they were born, children who had a parent who was a Danish citizen at the time of the child’s birth
- Children of parents who were citizens of Denmark at the time of the child’s birth who were born abroad, provided that the Danish parent satisfies certain qualifications, such as having lived in Denmark for a specific amount of time or having significant ties to Denmark
- Children younger than 18 who are adopted by a Danish citizen, provided that the adoption has been formally acknowledged and that the adoptive parent(s) meets specific standards
The Process
Depending on an individual’s situation, several steps may be required to get Danish citizenship through descent. Here are some typical actions that could be taken:
- Obtain the necessary paperwork: The paperwork needed for a Danish citizenship application may differ depending on the circumstances of the applicant, but it typically consists of birth certificates for the child and the parents, as well as any other pertinent documents like marriage licenses or adoption papers
- Application: The State Administration (Statsforvaltningen) in the region where the applicant is residing or where their parent is residing must receive the application for Danish citizenship through descent. A regional State Administration office is where you can submit the application in person or online
- Wait for processing: The processing time for Danish citizenship applications can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the workload of the relevant authorities. It’s recommended to check with the State Administration for specific processing times
- Attend an interview (if required): Depending on the individual’s circumstances, an interview may be required as part of the citizenship application process
- Take the citizenship test (if required): Individuals who are over 18 years of age and do not speak Danish as their first language may be required to take a citizenship test to demonstrate their knowledge of Danish language and culture
- Receive a decision: Once the application has been processed, the State Administration will issue a decision on whether the applicant has been granted Danish citizenship
