Denmark To Establish A New And Easier Citizenship Test By Next Year

08 Oct 2013

If you are not aware of who Asger Jorn was, or the country where approximately 300,000 Danish people emigrated to in the 19th century, then it may be difficult for you to answer a few questions on the present indfødsretsprøven (Danish Citizenship Test). However, a new, modernized version of statsborgerskabsprøven (the test) is going to be ready by June which will focus more on the present society of Denmark than trivial history.

A draft of legislation was released by the Justice Ministry giving it the power to create a new citizenship test with a more modern focus and less overall questions. However, the ministry says the test will still ensure that new Danes have a concrete fundamental knowledge of the Danish political system, society and other aspects of daily life.

Annually, the test will be held twice, and foreigners who passed the previous test can still apply that result for obtaining citizenship.

Having the right to vote is the primary difference between permanent residents and citizens. To obtain Danish citizenship, applicants need to have permanent residence already. In addition to that, the applicants also need to have an address in Denmark, have no criminal record and be self-sufficient and debt-free.

The new test which should have been implemented this year was postponed several times and was again brought to the political agenda when PM Helle Thorning Schmidt opened parliament on 1st October.

Earlier this year, an agreement was reached with far-left party Enhedslisten by the government parties Socialistisk Folkeparti, Socialdemokraterne, Radikale to make the application of Danish citizenship easier for foreigners, especially by softening the Danish language skills requirements. Individuals can now apply for citizenship if they have passed Dansk 2, the second level of Danish courses, whereas previously they had to pass the more difficult Dansk 3.

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