When it comes to citizenship, even the countries with friendliest of immigration policies can have a tricky and tedious process. In recent years, as Denmark has emerged as a popular European immigration destination, number of immigrants applying for Danish citizenship has also increased.
The Danish Government has clearly outlined the citizenship process. People from Nordic countries (Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland) can become Danish citizens by declaration. On the other hand, immigrants from other countries can become Danish citizens through the process of naturalization.
Although, applying for Danish citizenship is not a complex process, but a single mistake in your application can cost you significant time and money. Firstly, you come to know whether your application is refused only when the results are declared. Secondly, if your application is rejected then you have to go through the entire process all over again and pay the application fee of DKK 1000 (approx. US$170) again.
Here is a five step guide on how to proceed while applying for Danish citizenship.
Ensure Your Eligibility
Make sure that you are actually eligible to apply for Danish citizenship. To become a Danish citizen, you first need to be living there as a permanent resident. The minimum PR requirement under general category is 9 years. If you are a refugee in Denmark then it is 8 years. If you are married to a Dane for at least three years, then the PR requirement is 6 years. Citizens of Nordic countries need to wait for 2 years before they become eligible to apply for Danish citizenship.
Check Your Debts
Before lodging your citizenship application, make sure you don’t have debts to any public Danish institution. Also, verify that you haven’t received any public assistance for a period longer than 6 months in past 5 years.
Enroll and Prepare for the Danish Citizenship Test
Passing the Danish Citizenship test is a crucial part of the citizenship process. The test is held only at the designated test centers twice a year – in June and December. Schedule your test in advance, so that you have enough time to prepare for it. You can get guidelines on how to prepare for the test on Danish immigration website. There are also some other private websites that offer practice material and sample test papers. You can also take help from them.
Lodge your application
After you have made sure that you are eligible to apply for Danish citizenship and have passed the citizenship test, you can get, fill in and lodge your citizenship application at your nearest police station. The results are announced twice every year – in April and October.
Confirm the status on Dual Citizenship
Currently Denmark immigration policy is quite restrictive about dual citizenship. However, Danish Parliament is in the process of allowing its citizens to have dual citizenship. But you also need to ensure that your native country allows it. Visit the embassy of your country in Copenhagen to ensure that.
It is expected that by summer 2015, Danish citizens will be allowed to have dual citizenship. In case, you are granted Danish citizenship before that, you can reclaim your original citizenship after the new rules come in force.
The Danish Government has clearly outlined the citizenship process. People from Nordic countries (Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland) can become Danish citizens by declaration. On the other hand, immigrants from other countries can become Danish citizens through the process of naturalization.
Although, applying for Danish citizenship is not a complex process, but a single mistake in your application can cost you significant time and money. Firstly, you come to know whether your application is refused only when the results are declared. Secondly, if your application is rejected then you have to go through the entire process all over again and pay the application fee of DKK 1000 (approx. US$170) again.
Here is a five step guide on how to proceed while applying for Danish citizenship.
Ensure Your Eligibility
Make sure that you are actually eligible to apply for Danish citizenship. To become a Danish citizen, you first need to be living there as a permanent resident. The minimum PR requirement under general category is 9 years. If you are a refugee in Denmark then it is 8 years. If you are married to a Dane for at least three years, then the PR requirement is 6 years. Citizens of Nordic countries need to wait for 2 years before they become eligible to apply for Danish citizenship.
Check Your Debts
Before lodging your citizenship application, make sure you don’t have debts to any public Danish institution. Also, verify that you haven’t received any public assistance for a period longer than 6 months in past 5 years.
Enroll and Prepare for the Danish Citizenship Test
Passing the Danish Citizenship test is a crucial part of the citizenship process. The test is held only at the designated test centers twice a year – in June and December. Schedule your test in advance, so that you have enough time to prepare for it. You can get guidelines on how to prepare for the test on Danish immigration website. There are also some other private websites that offer practice material and sample test papers. You can also take help from them.
Lodge your application
After you have made sure that you are eligible to apply for Danish citizenship and have passed the citizenship test, you can get, fill in and lodge your citizenship application at your nearest police station. The results are announced twice every year – in April and October.
Confirm the status on Dual Citizenship
Currently Denmark immigration policy is quite restrictive about dual citizenship. However, Danish Parliament is in the process of allowing its citizens to have dual citizenship. But you also need to ensure that your native country allows it. Visit the embassy of your country in Copenhagen to ensure that.
It is expected that by summer 2015, Danish citizens will be allowed to have dual citizenship. In case, you are granted Danish citizenship before that, you can reclaim your original citizenship after the new rules come in force.
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