You must obtain permission from the Department of Civil Affairs if you are a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, and you do not have domicile in Denmark according to the Acquisition of Property Act, or you have not had residence in Denmark for at least 5 years.
It is not possible for the Department of Civil Affairs to grant a general permission to acquire a permanent dwelling. Permission can only be granted for a specific property.
You can change your permission to buy a permanent dwelling to another permanent dwelling within 3 months after the decision date.
Conditions for the permission
Permission to buy a permanent dwelling is conditional on you having lawful residence in Denmark and using the property as your permanent residence.
As a general rule, you must not move from the property without selling it. If you do, you risk the Department of Civil Affairs ordering you to sell or transfer the property within 6 months. If you do not comply, you could be fined.
However, if you have lived in Denmark for more than 5 years when you move from the property, you are not obligated to sell or transfer the property.
Special considerations for those who are being posted abroad from Denmark
If you are being posted abroad and have not lived in Denmark for at least 5 years, you can apply to the Department of Civil Affairs to keep the property during your posting. Your application must include the following:
- A contract or similar document proving your temporary posting
- A declaration stating that you will move back to the property after your posting ends
How do I apply to buy a permanent dwelling?
In order to process your application, the Department of Civil Affairs will need the following:
- Documentation proving you have legal residence in Denmark (e.g., a valid residence permit)
- A declaration that you will 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 acquisitionInformation on whether you own any other real property in Denmark. If so, please provide the address
- Additionally, you must answer the following questions about yourself for the assessment of whether you have domicile according to the Acquisition of Property Act:
- Whether you are married or cohabiting
- Whether your spouse/partner lives in Denmark
- Whether you have minor children
- Whether your children attend school or daycare in Denmark
- Whether you speak Danish
- Whether you have taken Danish courses, including which ones
- Whether you work or study in Denmark. If so, please provide details
- Whether you have other connections to Denmark
The Department of Civil Affairs has developed an application form that you can use when applying for permission to buy a permanent dwelling.
The processing time is approximately four weeks.
You can find application forms on the Department of Civil Affairs' website. The application forms are available in both Danish and English.