Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Obtaining a Danish passport is much more than a simple administrative formality. It’s a highly regulated process, with rules that vary depending on age, place of residence, travel urgency, and type of status in Denmark. This guide gathers, in plain French, everything you need to know to apply if you are already a citizen, as well as special cases (travel documents for foreigners, emergency passports, children, etc.).
Understanding the General Framework
To apply for a Danish passport, the basic requirement is to already be a citizen of Denmark and to be registered as such in the Danish Central Population Register (CPR). Without this correct registration, no application can be successful, and you must first rectify the situation with the National Register (Folkeregisteret) of your municipality.
The application must absolutely be made in person, regardless of the applicant’s age. In Denmark, you must go to a Citizen Service Center (Borgerservicecenter) or the citizen service of your municipality. Abroad, you must go through an embassy, a general consulate, or, in some specific cases and depending on age, an honorary consulate. Mail-in applications are never accepted.
All passports are physically manufactured in Denmark, even when the application is submitted abroad. This is one of the reasons for processing times of several weeks, especially for consular missions.
Where to Apply Based on Your Situation
In practice, where you submit your application depends on two main factors: age and place of residence.
In Denmark, any resident citizen can go to any Citizen Service Center to renew their passport. Expatriates can also do this during a stay in the country, with the option of having the new document sent to a diplomatic mission abroad for pickup.
Abroad, the rule is slightly different. From age 12, the application must in principle be submitted at an embassy or general consulate because biometric data (photo, fingerprints, signature) must be collected on-site with specific equipment. Children under 12 can, in many countries, submit the application at an honorary consulate, since no fingerprinting is required.
In some countries, affiliated consulates may also process adult applications, but this possibility depends on the country and must be checked on the local representation’s website under the practical information section.
Validity Period and Processing Times
The Danish passport does not have the same validity period for everyone. It varies with age, and certain special cases (nationality abroad, the 22-year rule) further nuance the situation.
Validity by Age
The standard validity rule is structured by age groups. The table below summarizes the applicable durations.
| Holder’s Profile | Passport Validity Period |
|---|---|
| Adult (18 years and older) | 10 years |
| Child aged 2 to 18 | 5 years |
| Child aged 0 to 2 | 2 years |
| Citizen born outside Denmark who has never lived there* | Until the 22nd birthday |
* In this last case, the reduced duration is linked to the “22-year rule“: a citizen born abroad who has never resided in Denmark risks losing their nationality at age 22 if they do not apply to retain it. If they obtain a Certificate of Nationality or prove continuous residence in Denmark for at least three months before turning 22, a full-term passport (10 years) can then be issued.
Manufacturing Times
Since all passports are printed in Denmark, fixed lead times apply. They also vary depending on the place of application.
| Application Submission Location | Indicative Processing Time |
|---|---|
| In Denmark (Service Center) | Approximately 2 to 4 weeks |
| In Denmark (standard renewal) | Approximately 3 weeks |
| Abroad (Embassy / Consulate) | Approximately 3 to 5 weeks |
| In some high-demand posts | Sometimes 6 to 8 weeks |
The applicant is notified when the passport arrives at the competent office. They must then schedule an appointment to pick it up, bring their old passport to have it canceled, and potentially handle the transfer of visas or residence permits to the new document, in coordination with the local authorities of the country of residence.
Eligibility Conditions: Nationality and CPR Registration
The first filter, often overlooked by expatriates, is registration in the National Population Register (CPR) under the correct nationality. To issue a passport, the authorities rely on this register.
If a citizen has been registered in the CPR under a different nationality or does not appear as a national of Denmark, they will not be able to obtain a passport until the situation is corrected. This correction is done with the Folkeregisteret of the relevant municipality. It is possible to check your status online via the borger.dk portal, using your digital ID MitID.
Children do not always have a CPR number for their first passport application. This is not a blocking issue: the number is not mandatory, provided the child’s nationality is proven by the required documents, such as a birth certificate or a Certificate of Nationality.
Dual Nationality Rule
Denmark now allows multiple nationalities. Since September 1, 2015, a Danish citizen can acquire a foreign nationality without losing their Danish one. Children born before this date may already hold multiple passports if both nationalities were obtained automatically at birth. For those born after this date, dual (or multiple) nationality is fully accepted, provided the other state also allows it.
To obtain a Danish passport, it is essential to provide clear proof of Danish nationality, such as a birth certificate or a Certificate of Nationality. This requirement is particularly important for citizens born abroad who may hold two different travel documents. The Danish authorities also check the consistency of the situation in the Danish National Register (CPR).
The “22-Year Rule”
A citizen born abroad who has never lived in Denmark can, in principle, lose their nationality at age 22, unless they prove a genuine connection to Denmark. To avoid this automatic loss, they must, between the ages of 20 and 22, submit an application to retain their nationality and obtain a Certificate of Nationality.
If this certificate is not produced, passports issued to these individuals are generally limited to the date of their 22nd birthday. Conversely, a continuous stay of at least three months in Denmark before this age may be sufficient to demonstrate the connection and allow for the issuance of a 10-year passport.
Documents to Provide: Adults and Children
A Danish passport application requires a lot of documentation. The required documents depend on the type of application (first-time application, renewal, passport expired for more than two years, etc.) and the applicant’s age.
Application for an Adult
For an adult, there are essentially two scenarios.
For a first-time application or if the old passport expired more than two years ago, you must provide:
– A completed and signed passport application form,
– The original birth certificate listing both parents’ names,
– The parents’ marriage certificate if applicable (e.g., for individuals born abroad before July 1, 2014, where only the father was a Danish citizen at the time of birth),
– A Certificate of Nationality (Statsborgerretsbevis / Indfødsretsbevis), if such a document has already been issued.
For a renewal or if the old passport expired less than two years ago, the requirements are lighter:
To renew your passport, you must provide: a completed and signed application form, your current passport, as well as original documents attesting to any name change since the last issuance. Note that this name change must already be registered in the CPR (Central Population Register).
Diplomatic missions may request additional documents, especially when some documents come from abroad. In this case, legalization (apostille) may be required, and the application must be completed within 30 days or it will be canceled.
Application for a Child
All children, even newborns, must have their own passport to travel. It is not possible to add children to a parent’s passport.
Again, a distinction is made between first-time application / long-expired passport and simple renewal. For a child’s first application—or if the previous passport expired more than two years ago—the basic documents are:
To obtain a passport for a child, you must provide: a form signed by a parent, a declaration of consent signed by both holders of parental authority, the child’s original birth certificate, both parents’ IDs, and, if applicable, the parents’ marriage certificate (for certain children born abroad before July 2014), the child’s old passport, and their Certificate of Nationality.
For a renewal with a passport expired for less than two years, the structure remains comparable, plus the child’s current passport and name change documents.
The parents should in principle come with the child. It is preferable for both parents to be present to sign the declaration of consent and facilitate identity verification. If a parent cannot attend, their ID must be provided and they may be contacted by phone. In case of exclusive custody, proof of this situation allows requiring consent only from the parent holding custody.
Parentage, Consent, and Digital Procedures
Danish law is very strict regarding children’s passports: until age 18, the rule is consent from all holders of parental authority. This principle applies both in Denmark and abroad, including for an emergency passport.
An absent parent can give consent for a child’s passport application in several ways: by going to a Danish embassy or consulate abroad, to any municipality if they reside in Denmark, or digitally via a dedicated website if they have MitID. This digital consent must be done separately for each child.
This system, which combines physical presence and digital solutions, is designed to limit the risks of parental abduction or unauthorized travel of minors.
Biometric Data and Photo: Technical Requirements
The Danish passport is biometric. For all individuals aged 12 and older, the embassy, general consulate, or service center in Denmark takes a digital photo, fingerprints, and a digital signature on-site. These elements are then stored in the chip embedded in the passport.
Children under 12 do not provide fingerprints but must still provide a compliant photo. Depending on the location, this photo is either taken on-site (in many Danish municipalities) or brought by the family (especially at honorary consulates and for babies).
Characteristics of a Compliant Photo
The photo requirements are very precise. Most application rejections are due to a non-compliant photo. The main criteria are as follows:
The reference size for the height of the head, from chin to crown, on an ID photo.
For printing, matte photo paper is required, with a resolution of at least 600 dpi. The official services recommend avoiding digital retouching or social media-style filters, even though some specialized applications (id‑photo.ai, Visafoto, 7ID, etc.) are used to frame and resize the image.
For children’s ID photos, the technical rules (neutral background, sharpness) are identical to those for adults. However, some tolerance is applied regarding facial expression and gaze direction, especially for very young children. For babies, it is not mandatory for their eyes to be open. They can be photographed lying on a plain sheet or seated in a chair covered with a smooth, pattern-free cloth.
Cost and Places to Get the Photo
The photo can be taken at a service center in Denmark, often for a fee around 130 DKK. Photo studios, post offices, or copy shops also offer this service, usually between 100 and 200 DKK for several prints. Automated booths, for example in shopping centers, are a bit cheaper. Online services often charge a fixed fee (around 80 to 150 DKK) for a compliant digital file and a printable sheet.
Passport Fees: Who Pays What, and How Much?
Fees for issuing a national passport are set annually. In practice, the exact amounts vary slightly from year to year, and abroad, the consular mission converts the amount into local currency. Payment is always made when submitting the application, usually by bank card (Visa, Mastercard, Dankort, etc.). In Denmark, some municipalities still accept cash, but this is not the case for most embassies.
Indicative Fee Schedule in Denmark
The basic fees distinguishing the main age categories can be presented as follows.
| Applicant Category | Indicative Fee Range (DKK) |
|---|---|
| Child aged 0 to 11 | 150 |
| Teenager aged 12 to 17 | 178 to 181 |
| Adult (18 and older, before pension age) | 890 to 893 |
| Person who has reached the legal retirement age | 378 to 381 |
The pension age threshold is not the same for everyone: it depends on the year of birth. For some it is 65, for others 67 or 68. The reduced fee applies from this retirement age determined by Danish legislation.
Fees Abroad and Special Cases
Abroad, a consular surcharge is added to the standard fees. For example, a mission may charge around 1,145 DKK in consular fees for a passport, all ages combined, which corresponds to about 177 USD. In some Eurozone embassies, fees are displayed in euros: around 165.70 EUR for an adult passport and 144.40 EUR for a minor. An additional fee of around 26.30 EUR may apply when the application is submitted at a location that does not normally process this type of application.
The cost to renew a lost, stolen, or damaged passport is double the standard fee.
| Situation | Indicative Amount (DKK) |
|---|---|
| Child 0–11, lost passport | 300 |
| Youth 12–17, lost passport | 356 |
| Adult before pension age, lost | 1,780 |
| Adult at retirement age, lost | 756 |
| Application abroad, all ages, lost | 2,290 (approx. 355 USD) |
Manual extensions and emergency passports follow a different fee schedule. In 2024, a simple extension or an emergency passport costs 1,130 DKK, but fees rise sharply if the operation takes place outside normal opening hours or on official holidays, where fees can reach 2,640 DKK or even 3,770 DKK.
Submitting the Application: Concrete Steps
Even if details vary slightly from one office to another, the general logic is always the same. First of all, you must make an appointment. Most embassies and general consulates have an online reservation system. Some honorary consulates simply require an email. In Denmark, municipalities often offer a digital appointment booking platform.
On the appointed day, the applicant must appear with:
To prepare your application, you must present: your completed and signed form, all supporting documents required for your situation (birth certificate, Certificate of Nationality, old passports, parents’ marriage certificate in some cases, proof of name change, etc.), a payment method accepted by the office, and a compliant ID photo. This photo is mandatory if the application location does not offer on-site photo capture, and it is systematically required for very young children and for emergency travel documents.
For applicants aged 12 and older, the digital photo, fingerprints, and electronic signature are collected on-site at embassies, general consulates, and equipped municipal service centers. The administrative interview generally lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, the time needed to check the documents and enter the application into the system.
Once the application is accepted and paid, it is sent to the central printing facility. You must then wait for notification that the passport is ready, then schedule an appointment for pickup. Remember to bring your old document for cancellation at this appointment.
In some countries, if in-person pickup is impossible, the new passport can be sent by secure mail (e.g., FedEx), at the applicant’s risk and expense. The diplomatic mission declines all responsibility in case of loss during shipping.
Extensions, Emergency Passports, and Crisis Situations
Life doesn’t always follow formality schedules. Sometimes a passport is about to expire</right before a trip, or is lost or stolen abroad. The Danish system provides several solutions, but with significant restrictions.
Manual Passport Extension
A passport that expired less than three months ago, or is about to expire when a trip is imminent, can sometimes be extended once. This is a handwritten entry in the existing document that extends the validity date while the new passport is being produced.
The manual extension of a passport is not universally accepted. Before any trip, it is imperative to check whether the destination country recognizes this type of validity. The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers a guide, in Danish, listing countries that accept or refuse it.
The extension is never free and follows the specific fee schedule mentioned above, with costs increasing outside opening hours or on holidays.
Emergency Passport (provisional passport)
When it is impossible to obtain a regular passport in time, an emergency passport can be issued to allow for a specific trip. This document is temporary, often with a very short duration, and must be returned after use. It does not offer the same possibilities as a standard passport: some countries do not accept it for entry or exit. Travelers must therefore absolutely inquire in advance.
To apply for an emergency passport, you must appear in person. You need to provide a duly completed application form, an ID photo compliant with current standards, and all the identity documents you have. If your passport was lost or stolen, you will need to fill out a declaration detailing the circumstances of the loss or theft. A police report may also be required, especially for insurance purposes or to obtain an exit permit from local authorities.
Children are no exception: a minor can only obtain an emergency passport with the consent of both parents or holders of parental authority, as with a regular passport.
Note that a Danish emergency passport is not recognized by some countries, notably the United States, which refuses this document for entry into its territory.
Special Cases: Foreigners with Residence Permits in Denmark
These elements do not directly concern obtaining a Danish passport, but they are often confused. Foreigners who have a Danish residence permit but cannot receive a passport from their country of origin can apply for a Danish travel document, which is not a national passport but a travel title.
There are two main types:
– the refugee travel document (convention passport),
– the alien’s passport.
These documents are issued exclusively by the Danish Immigration Service, not by municipalities or embassies. Obtaining one is subject to strict conditions: you must prove the impossibility of obtaining a national passport, for example if the state of origin refuses to issue one or has no representation in Denmark. For statutory refugees and certain stateless persons, this right is guaranteed by international conventions.
Processing times can be long, up to five months for a first application, plus about three weeks for printing. Validity extensions for these documents can take up to ten months to process.
This is the fee in Danish kroner for an adult passport, according to the current age-based schedule.
The Immigration Service may refuse or withdraw these documents in case of criminal suspicion, unpaid court debt, threat to national security, or false statements. For refugees and certain protected categories, refusal is only possible if issuing the document would pose an immediate risk to public safety.
Name, Identity Change, and Consistency with the Register
An often underestimated point concerns name changes. The passport is always issued under the name that appears in the central register (CPR). If someone has changed their name, by marriage, divorce, administrative or judicial decision, the register must first be updated by the municipality or competent authority. Only after this correction can the passport application be submitted.
When submitting an application, the applicant must present the original documents attesting to a change (marriage certificate, court decision, etc.). For foreign documents, a translation into Danish or English is often required, as well as an apostille for legal recognition.
For people living abroad who change their name in another country, the procedure is a bit heavier: they must obtain an official document, possibly legalized by local authorities, then contact the last municipality of residence in Denmark to update the CPR before scheduling an appointment for a passport.
Nationality, Naturalization, and Connection to the Passport
The passport is only the documentary reflection of an already acquired nationality. For foreigners who wish, eventually, to obtain a Danish passport, the main path is naturalization. It involves several steps: obtaining and maintaining a residence permit, then a permanent residence permit, fulfilling language, integration, and resource conditions, and finally being included in a naturalization bill passed by Parliament.
The complete naturalization process in Denmark far exceeds ten years for most applicants.
Once nationality is acquired, the new citizen is treated like any other for the passport: they must register under the correct nationality in the CPR, prove their identity, and follow the same application procedure.
Practical Tips to Maximize Your Chances
Given the complexity of the rules, a few simple principles can help avoid unpleasant surprises.
First, check the validity date of your passport early enough. Given the 3 to 5 week lead times, sometimes longer, it is prudent to start the process several months before a major trip. For families with children, this foresight is essential, especially if both parents need to coordinate for consent.
Prepare in advance all required original documents: birth certificates (listing parents), Certificates of Nationality, old passports, as well as relevant marriage or divorce certificates. For foreign documents, allow time for legalization procedures and, if necessary, translation.
Regarding the photo, going through a professional or a specialized online service significantly increases the likelihood that the photo will be accepted on the first try. Resist the temptation of retouched selfies or photos from social media.
Finally, keep in mind that diplomatic missions always have the final say regarding required documents. If additional documents are requested, the 30-day deadline to provide them must be respected, otherwise the application is simply canceled, with loss of the fees paid.
In Summary
Obtaining a Danish passport rests on three pillars: a clear and well-registered nationality, a solid documentary file (for adults and children, with particular emphasis on birth certificates and parental consent), and compliance with all technical requirements related to biometric data and photos.
The processing times for this secure document are reasonable but require planning, especially for citizens abroad. In case of urgency, extension mechanisms or emergency passports exist, but they are subject to strict conditions and higher costs.
By mastering these rules and carefully preparing your application, it is possible to navigate this administrative process without a hitch and to receive, on time, a fully compliant passport recognized for travel worldwide.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
