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Prøve i Dansk 3: The Danish Citizenship Test
By Language Lab editorial team
Danish citizenship needs Prøve i Dansk 3 or an equivalent, plus the Indfødsretsprøve of 2021. Which exams count, the school-exam alternative, and dispensation.
To become a Danish citizen by naturalisation you must document your Danish. As a general rule that means passing Prøve i Dansk 3, the highest of the three state Danish exams, or one of the exams listed as equivalent or higher in the naturalisation circular. A Folkeskole 9th or 10th grade leaving exam with an average of at least 6 on the 13-point scale or 02 on the 7-point scale in the Danish subjects also counts. Separately you must pass the Indfødsretsprøve of 2021, the citizenship knowledge test; a pass in the 2015 version is still accepted. If a medically diagnosed long-term disability makes Prøve i Dansk 3 or Prøve i Dansk 2 impossible even with special conditions and aids, the application goes to the Folketing's Naturalisation Committee for dispensation.
The language condition
| Proof | Counts for citizenship |
|---|---|
| Prøve i Dansk 3 (PD3) | Yes, the standard route |
| An exam listed as equivalent or higher in the circular's annex | Yes |
| Folkeskole 9th or 10th grade leaving exam, average at least 6 (13-scale) or 02 (7-scale) in Danish subjects, neatness excluded | Yes |
| Prøve i Dansk 2 | No, except by dispensation |
| Prøve i Dansk 1 | No, except by dispensation |
The Ministry of Immigration and Integration lists the condition on its Danskkundskaber page. The equivalents include Danish upper-secondary exams and certain older language-centre tests; the New to Denmark site keeps the list of tests equivalent to or higher than Prøve i Dansk 3. For permanent residence, by contrast, a lower test can be enough; citizenship sits at the top.
What Prøve i Dansk 3 tests
PD3 is the final exam of Danish education 3, the track for people with a longer school background. It covers reading, writing, listening and speaking at a level that lets you follow Danish news, write a structured text and hold a conversation about work and society. It is the exam most employers and universities recognise, which is why the citizenship rules settle on it.
The knowledge test
Language is one condition; knowledge of Denmark is another. You must pass the citizenship test of 2021, the Indfødsretsprøven af 2021. Applicants who passed the 2015 citizenship test are treated as meeting the condition. Some children and applicants living in the Faroe Islands or Greenland are exempt.
Dispensation
The ministry refers an application to the Folketing's Naturalisation Committee when the applicant has a medically diagnosed long-term physical, mental, sensory or intellectual impairment and therefore cannot, or has no reasonable prospect of, passing Prøve i Dansk 3 or Prøve i Dansk 2, including with special exam conditions and aids. The doctor's statement must also say whether a lower-level test, Prøve i Dansk 2 or 1, would be possible, and whether the applicant could learn Danish at a lower level. There is no standard medical form for this.
Order of work
- Finish Danish education 3 and sit Prøve i Dansk 3; the written and oral parts are offered in set sessions.
- Book the Indfødsretsprøve of 2021 once PD3 is in hand; it is short and offered regularly.
- Check the other conditions, residence, permanent permit, self-support and debt, on the Life in Denmark portal before applying.
Frequently asked
Which Danish exam do I need for citizenship?
Prøve i Dansk 3, or an exam listed as equivalent or higher, such as a Folkeskole leaving exam with at least 02 in the Danish subjects.
Is Prøve i Dansk 2 enough for citizenship?
No. PD2 can count only through a dispensation from the Naturalisation Committee on medical grounds.
Do I also need the citizenship test?
Yes. You must pass the Indfødsretsprøve of 2021; a 2015 pass is still accepted.
Can I be exempted from the Danish test?
Only by dispensation, where a long-term documented disability makes PD3 or PD2 impossible even with special conditions and aids.
Does PD3 expire?
The citizenship rules do not set an expiry on the exam; the ministry asks for proof of a pass.
Checked against the Ministry of Immigration and Integration's Danskkundskaber page, the Life in Denmark citizenship conditions and the New to Denmark list of equivalent tests on 3 November 2026.
