IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Municipal authorities in Denmark have tightened civil registration rules, particularly those related to providing marriage or birth certificates when completing civil registration (CPR registration).

What does the change mean? Foreign nationals should be prepared to provide the appropriate documentation – including apostilled or legalized marriage and birth certificates, if necessary – when applying for CPR registration.

  • Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing.
  • Visas/permits affected: Civil Personal Registration (CPR registration).
  • Who is affected: Foreign nationals applying for CPR registration.
  • Impact on processing times: CPR registration could be delayed if registrants do not provide the proper documentation.

Background: CPR registration requirements have traditionally varied from municipality to municipality, but authorities are growing stricter across Denmark in asking for apostilled or legalized marriage or birth certificates from certain applicants. In general, apostilled or legalized marriage or birth certificates may be required for certificates issued by non-EU countries. Apostillization or legalization is generally not required for certificates issued by EU countries, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Turkey or the United States.

Generally, an assignee who is married in a country that is subject to greater scrutiny will be asked to provide apostilled or legalized marriage certificates if the assignee’s spouse is traveling to Denmark. Those with children who were born in a country that is subject to greater scrutiny should be prepared to provide apostilled or legalized birth certificates for their children. Assignees who are married but not traveling with their spouse will generally be permitted to provide a copy of their marriage certificate. Assignees who are single are not affected.

BAL Analysis: If an applicant does not have proper documentation, authorities will likely begin the CPR registration process and ask that the documentation be provided when available. Registration may be delayed in these cases. Those with case-specific questions about what documents they should be prepared to provide should contract BAL.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Denmark. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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