Born Out of Wedlock 1993-2014
Children born abroad out of wedlock to a Danish father and a mother of foreign nationality between 11th October, 1993 and 30th June, 2014 (both days included) did not obtain Danish nationality by birth.
As an alternative, children born under these circumstances are able to apply for Danish nationality by naturalization without meeting the general requirements. It is a condition that the father was a Danish citizen at the time of the child’s birth. Read about it at the Ministry of Integration > Children born out of wedlock 1993-2014.
If the parents married before the child turned 18, and if the child was unmarried, the child will automatically obtain Danish nationality from the date of the parents' marriage. However, please note that children born abroad must apply for retention of their Danish citizenship before the age of 22.
Born before 11 October 1993
If a child is born abroad out of wedlock to a Danish father and a mother of foreign nationality before 11th October, 1993, and if the parents remained unmarried, the child cannot obtain Danish nationality without meeting the general requirements.
Born on or after 1 July 2014
Children born on or after 1st July, 2014 automatically obtain Danish nationality by birth if the father or mother is Danish – regardless of whether the parents are married or not.
Step by step - How to apply
When you apply for Danish nationality by naturalization without meeting the general requirements, it is not a requirement that you reside in Denmark at the time of the application. Nor is it a requirement that you pass the Danish citizenship test, including the language test.
Step 1: Complete Application form and Payment of Fee
A completed application form and payment of the non-refundable processing fee of DKK 1200 is a requirement for an admissible application. The fee of DKK 1200 is only for applicants aged 18 or older. If the applicant is under 18, there is no fee for the application.
Step 2: Collect Documents
A document checklist can be found on page 2 in the application form.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that all necessary documents are submitted. It is strongly recommended that you contact the Nationality Division at the Ministry of Immigration and Integration for any updates regarding the submission of correct documents. Failure to submit all the required documents may result in delays or rejection of your application.
Neither the Embassy of Denmark in South Africa nor our consulates can be held responsible for any problems you may have as a result of missing documents.
Step 3: Submit the Application
You can submit the application and documents directly to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration at the following address:
Udlændinge- og Integrationsministeriet
Slotsholmsgade 10
DK-1216 København K
Denmark
You can also submit your application through one of the Danish consulates in South Africa. Please note that if you choose to do so, there is an additional handling fee payable to the consulate. The Embassy’s fee schedule can be found here. If case processing is required, e.g. if documents are missing or the Ministry of Immigration and Integration has additional questions to the client, an additional hourly fee shall be charged as stated in the fee schedule mentioned above.
If you have any questions
Please contact the Nationality Division at the Ministry of Immigration and Integration directly.
Tel.: +45 70 80 24 50. The phone hours can be found here (local time).
Email: [email protected]