Dual citizenship in Denmark: what the 2015 change actually allows

Denmark spent decades as one of the few European countries refusing to recognise dual nationality. That ended in 2015, and it changed the calculation for two groups at once: people applying for Danish citizenship, and Danes living abroad.

What changed

Act No. 1496 of 23 December 2014 came into force on 1 September 2015. From that date:

• you no longer have to renounce your original nationality to take Danish citizenship
• Danes who acquire another nationality no longer lose their Danish one automatically
• and former Danes who had lost citizenship by acquiring another could apply to have it restored, a window that closed on 1 September 2020.

What holding two nationalities means day to day

Full rights in both countries. In practice:

• two passports
• voting rights in both, subject to each country’s local rules
• the right to live and work in either
• and consular assistance from either state when you are in a third country.

Where it is still not possible

Denmark’s position is only half the question, the other country has to permit it too, and many do not:

• China, Japan, India, Indonesia and Singapore generally do not allow dual nationality.
• Others permit it only in defined circumstances.
• Check the rules on your existing nationality before you apply for Danish citizenship, not after.

Tax

Citizenship and tax residence are different things. Where you are taxed follows your residence and your sources of income, not the passport in your pocket. Dual nationality does not by itself create double taxation, though it can matter for inheritance and similar questions, which is worth putting to a tax adviser in each country concerned.

Military service

In principle either country may impose an obligation. In practice dual nationals are frequently exempted where service has been completed in the other, but the rules vary and are worth checking against your specific nationality.

Getting to the Danish half

Danish citizenship comes through naturalisation, with the Folketing passing a citizenship act twice a year. The main conditions:

• nine years of unbroken residence in Denmark
• a pass in the citizenship test
• a pass at Danish Language Test 3
• self-support and no debt to public authorities
• and satisfying the conduct requirement.

You can read how we work on citizenship cases, or ask us whether you qualify yet.