Frequently asked questions

The Acquisition Act stipulates that persons who have domicile in Denmark do not need permission to purchase real property in Denmark.

Living in Denmark is not the same as being domiciled in Denmark within the meaning of the Acquisition Act. Being domiciled is a specific assessment of whether you can be considered to have your permanent and habitual home in Denmark. This is determined based on a number of factors: How long have you lived in Denmark, do you have your family in Denmark, including whether, for example, you have children in daycare, whether you speak Danish and have taken Danish lessons, and whether you work or study in Denmark. Other factors may also be relevant.

The Land Registration Court has the final authority to determine whether you have domicile in Denmark, but the Department of Civil Affairs will generally make a preliminary assessment when we receive your application.

The key factor is whether you have domicile in Denmark according to the Acquisition Act, or if you have lived in Denmark for a total of 5 years.

If you have lived in Denmark for 5 years or more at any point in your life, you do not need the Department of Civil Affairs permission to purchase real property. The same applies if you are domiciled in Denmark according to the Acquisition Act.

Your nationality has no relevance in relation to the Acquisition Act.

Real property is a collective term for all immovable property. This means that villas, owner-occupied apartments, cooperative housing, building plots, holiday homes, allotment garden houses, etc., are considered real property.

EU and EEA citizens can, as a general rule, purchase a permanent dwelling in Denmark without the Department of Civil Affairs’ permission. Instead, EU and EEA citizens must submit a declaration to the Land Registry Court.

The European Union and the Swiss Confederation have entered into an agreement, which means that Swiss nationals are also covered by the acquisition regulations.

As a result of the United Kingdom's final exit from the EU on January 1, 2021, British citizens are no longer considered EU citizens. This means that British citizens, among other things, are no longer subject to the special rules for EU/EEA citizens acquiring residential property in Denmark.

Therefore, British citizens must generally apply to the Department of Civil Affairs for permission to acquire real property in Denmark. However, this is not necessary if you, as a British citizen, have domicile in Denmark as defined by the Acquisition of Real Property Act or if you have lived in Denmark for at least 5 years

A permanent dwelling is the property where you actually live and have your address registered.

A non-permanent dwelling refers to all other properties, such as summer houses or holiday apartments.

A property that is intended as a permanent dwelling but where you do not register your address will be considered a non-permanent dwelling.

You must submit:

•  Documentation proving that you have legal residence in Denmark, e.g., a valid residence permit.
• A declaration stating that you intend to use the property as your permanent dwelling.
• A copy of the contract of sale or the estate agent’s particulars of sale as well as information on the anticipated date of acquisition
• Information about whether you own other real property in Denmark. If yes, please provide the address.

Additionally, you must answer the following questions about yourself:

• Are you working in Denmark? If yes, please provide the name of your workplace.
• Do you speak Danish?
• Have you taken Danish language courses, including language courses? If yes, please provide details.
• Are you married or living with someone?
• Do you have children? If yes, do your children attend school, daycare, or similar in Denmark?

You can apply for permission to acquire a permanent dwelling here.

No. The Department of Civil Affairs makes decisions regarding permission for the acquisition of specific properties. You cannot obtain a general permission to purchase a permanent dwelling. Therefore, you must identify the property you wish to purchase before submitting your application to the Department of Civil Affairs.

You must submit:

• A description of your connection to Denmark, including a list of your previous vacation stays in Denmark.
• A copy of your passport.
• The address of the property you wish to purchase.
• Documentation of your previous vacation stays in Denmark, to the relevant extent.
• Information about whether you own other real property in Denmark. If yes, please provide the address.

You can find the application form here.

You can apply for a pre-approval to purchase a non-permanent dwelling in Denmark if you have not yet found a property.

Yes, it is possible to get permission for a "parental purchase".

If you wish to apply for permission to make a parental purchase, you must submit the following:

• A declaration stating that your child will use the property as their permanent dwelling.
• A copy of the contract of sale or the estate agent’s particulars of sale and the anticipated date of acquisition
• A copy of your passport.
• A copy of your child’s passport.
• Information on whether you own any other real property in Denmark. If so, please provide the address.

You should be aware that permission for a parental purchase will be conditional on your child using the property as their permanent dwelling. Therefore, the permission may be revoked if your child no longer uses the property as their permanent dwelling at any point.

Permission may also be granted for a "reverse parental purchase," where you buy a property for your parents.

It is possible to rent out your (real) property under certain conditions. You must apply to the Department of Civil Affairs for permission to do so.

With your application, you must submit:

• An explanation of how you intend to use the property.
• A copy of your passport (or only your CPR number if you reside in Denmark).
• Information about whether you own any other rental properties in Denmark or abroad.
• Information about whether you own any other (real) property in Denmark.

If you reside in Denmark at the time of your application, you must also answer the following questions:

• Do you work in Denmark? If yes, please provide the name of your workplace.
• Do you speak Danish?
• Have you taken Danish language courses, including language lessons? If yes, please provide details of which course(s).
• Are you married or cohabiting? If yes, please provide the nationality of your partner.
• Do you have children? If yes, do your children attend school, kindergarten, or similar in Denmark?

The Department of Civil Affairs is unable to prioritize individual cases over others, regardless of the reason, as all cases are considered urgent.

If it is a condition in your permit that you must use the property as your permanent dwelling, you are generally not allowed to move away from it without selling it. The same applies if you have declared to the Land Registry Court that you will use the property as your permanent dwelling.

However, if you are being posted abroad, there is the possibility to apply for permission to retain the property during your posting. If you wish to apply for such permission, you must submit:

• A contract or similar documentation for the temporary posting.
• A declaration that you will move back into the property after the posting ends.

If you have lived in Denmark for more than 5 years, you are not obligated to sell the property.

If you inherit a property or receive it as a gift from relatives in the direct ascending or descending line, i.e., parents, grandparents, children, etc., you do not need the Department of Civil Affairs’ permission.

However, if it is a partial inheritance or gift combined with partial personal payment, you will need the Department of Civil Affairs’ permission.