Applicants for Danish citizenship must reside in Denmark in the future to acquire Danish citizenship. This is outlined in a draft law on granting Danish citizenship, which the government is presenting today.
Currently, applicants for Danish citizenship can live in another country while participating in a constitutional ceremony and thus acquire Danish citizenship. The government wants to put an end to this and therefore plans to tighten the residency requirement for some applicants for Danish citizenship.
Most people who acquire Danish citizenship are required to participate in constitutional ceremonies.
The government's proposal would mean that these people must have a residence in Denmark up to the time of their participation in the ceremony and thus eventually obtain Danish citizenship.
Minister for Foreigners and Integration, Kar Dipvad Bec, says:
“Not everyone can and should get Danish citizenship. It’s wonderful to receive it, and when it happens, it means you want to be part of Denmark. Therefore, we already have a number of high requirements. Consequently, of course, you also have to live in this country when you become Danish.”.
This has not been the case until now. People were able to move abroad the day after the Danish parliament passed a bill on notification of the right to citizenship. We want to change that. Even to shake hands at a ceremony, you have to live in Denmark. It's common sense. That's why I'm so happy that we are putting forward this proposal to change the law.“.
The proposed amendment to the supplementary residence requirement will be submitted to the Danish Parliament on April 27, 2023, and if adopted, will enter into force on July 1, 2023. Future supplementary residence requirements will be reflected in legislative proposals on granting citizenship that must be voted on by the Danish Parliament.
Facts: How to become a Danish citizen
- To become a Danish citizen, you must meet a wide range of requirements, including employment, knowledge of the Danish language, and a clean criminal record, among others. You can read more about this here.
- Another requirement is passing the 2021 citizenship test, which you can find here.
- If you meet the requirements—or receive an exemption from the Danish Parliament's Immigration Law Committee—you are included in a draft law on immigration notification, which must be considered by the Danish Parliament. This is because, according to the Danish Constitution, Danish citizenship can only be acquired by law.
- After the bill is adopted and enters into force, most applicants must participate in what is called the constitutional ceremony within two years of the bill's adoption. During this ceremony, they must, among other things, shake hands with the mayor or a council member and sign a declaration that they will abide by the Danish constitution. They then acquire Danish citizenship and are issued a citizenship certificate.
- Certain groups are exempt from the requirement to attend the Constitution ceremony. This applies to people residing in Greenland or the Faroe Islands, people under the age of 18, people who have been exempted from the residency requirement in that country or who have received an exemption from it by the Folketing Immigration Rights Commission, as well as people born stateless in Denmark who have acquired Danish citizenship according to the specific guidelines for that group.
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