Denmark Lists 7 Categories of Foreigners Who Can Get Citizenship Without Permanent Residency

Denmark Lists 7 Categories of Foreigners Who Can Get Citizenship Without Permanent Residency

  • Denmark outlined specific categories of foreign nationals who are exempt from the permanent residence permit requirement for citizenship
  • The exemptions cover groups such as Nordic citizens, former Danish citizens, and persons of Danish descent, among others
  • A separate set of exemptions also waives the requirement to actually be residing in Denmark at the time of the naturalisation bill

Denmark has published a detailed breakdown of the conditions under which foreign nationals may apply for Danish citizenship through naturalisation, including a list of seven categories of people who are not required to hold a permanent residence permit before becoming citizens.

Under standard rules, applicants must have held a permanent residence permit for at least two years by the time the naturalisation bill is passed in parliament.

Denmark waives its permanent residence requirement for selected groups seeking citizenship through naturalisation.
Denmark outlines seven groups of foreigners who do not need permanent residence to qualify for citizenship.
Source: Getty Images

However, the Danish government has carved out notable exceptions to both conditions.

Who is exempt from Danish permanent residence requirement

Seven groups of people are not required to meet the permanent residence permit condition. These are:

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Denmark lists 4 categories of foreigners exempt from attending citizenship ceremony

1. Nordic citizens

2. Former Danish citizens

3. Persons of Danish descent

4. Members of the Danish minority community in the Southern Schleswig region of Germany

5. Applicants living abroad because their Danish spouse is working for Danish interests

6. Individuals born between January 1, 1961, and December 31, 1978, to a Danish mother who could have acquired citizenship had the mother made a formal declaration between January 1, 1979 and December 31, 1981

7. Children applying for citizenship independently of their parents.

The inclusion of the 1961 to 1978 birth cohort reflects a historical correction. Danish law at the time did not automatically pass citizenship through the maternal line, and this exemption gives those affected an alternative route to formalising their status.

The information is published on the official Life in Denmark portal maintained by the Danish government, which serves as the primary resource for foreign nationals navigating residency and citizenship requirements in the country.

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Denmark lists 6 categories of foreigners who can become citizens without passing naturalisation test

Legit.ng also published residency years for foreigners who want to become Qatari citizens.

Citizenship: Australia mentions residency years for foreigners

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Australia's Department of Home Affairs outlined the residence requirement foreigners must meet before applying for citizenship.

Applicants must have lived in Australia on a valid visa for a number of years before the date they apply for citizenship.

The rules also specify how much time applicants are allowed to have spent outside Australia during that period.

Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Victoria Nwahiri avatar

Victoria Nwahiri (Human Interest Editor) Victoria Nwahiri is an award-winning Reuters-certified journalist with 5+ years of experience in digital, social media, and print journalism. She has extensively covered lifestyle, entertainment, and human interest stories that have impacted and attracted top policymakers. She is currently a Human Interest Editor at Legit.ng and can be reached via victoria.nwahiri@corp.legit.ng

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