Denmark Residency Planner — Permanent Residence & Citizenship

Read this first. This is an unofficial planning tool, not legal advice and not a decision from any authority. Rules change and individual cases vary. The logic reflects official Danish rules as published on nyidanmark.dk (16 June 2026) and lifeindenmark.borger.dk (11 June 2026). Always confirm your own situation with SIRI / the Danish Immigration Service before acting.

1When did your clock start?

Both routes count continuous legal residence from the day your first qualifying residence permit began (work, study, family reunification, asylum, etc.) — not the day you were born or first visited. Pick the month and year your first qualifying permit took effect.

Start of your continuous legal residence The month your first qualifying permit took effect.

2A few pertinent questions

These map directly onto the official requirements. Answer for your situation today.

Are you 18 or older?

What is your residence permit based on? Asylum/refugee and Nordic status shorten the citizenship clock.

Do any of these special situations apply to you? These can dramatically shorten the citizenship route.

Highest Danish language exam you've passed? PD2 is the baseline for PR; PD3 is needed for citizenship and counts as a PR "fast-track" point.

Full-time work in Denmark (30+ hrs/week) within the last 4 years? 3 yrs 6 mths is a basic requirement; 4 yrs is a fast-track point.

Are you employed right now (at least 15 hrs/week, or self-employed)?

Has your average taxable income over the last 2 years been ≥ DKK 346,156/yr? 2026 threshold. A PR fast-track point.

Active citizenship: passed the active-citizen exam, or 1+ year on a board / association / youth work? A PR fast-track point.

In the last few years, have you received social assistance (kontanthjælp / integration benefits)? Cash welfare under the Active Social Policy Act or Integration Act — not SU, pension, or unemployment insurance.

Any overdue public debt (taxes, overpaid benefits, childcare, etc.)?

Any criminal conviction, or current charge, in Denmark or abroad?

🏠 Permanent residence

A secure, indefinite right to live & work here

🇩🇰 Citizenship

A Danish passport & full rights

Rules sourced from the official Danish authorities: nyidanmark.dk — permanent residence (updated 16 Jun 2026) · lifeindenmark.borger.dk — citizenship conditions (updated 11 Jun 2026). This tool does not transmit or store your answers.