Using the Archive

You can use the National Archives to research the history of Greenland, your family history, school assignments, academic papers, and much more.

For general inquiries, you are welcome to contact us by email or telephone. We are available Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 15:00 (local time).

For research-related inquiries, requests for access to archival materials, or assistance in locating specific documents, please use our Research Request Form.

We aim to respond to all queries within a week.

Please note that inquiries requiring in-depth research by our staff may incur a fee. If applicable, we will inform you of the terms and conditions before any work begins.

Family History Research

Church ledgers are the most common source for family history research in the archive. These records are available online and can be accessed remotely at any time.

Research

In addition to church ledgers, we have many other documents and records. If you would like to use other sources for research or other purposes please submit a request using our Research Request Form.
Visit the form and guidelines here to get started.

Please note that the documents and records in our archive are subject to different accessibility time limits. Records from public authorities are accessible after 25 years – or 80 years if they contain personal information. In principle the same rules apply to records submitted by private individuals or associations. There are cases, however, where specific time limits have been agreed between the archive and those submitting documents. Some documents and records may also be inaccessible due to their poor state of preservation.

If you wish to access documents that are not publicly available, you may apply for special permission. Applications must be submitted in writing and should include details about the specific documents or records, the purpose of your request, and your full name and contact information. To apply, please use our Research Request Form and provide as much detail as possible to support your request.

Handling and Photographing Documents

All records and documents are to be handled with care. Gloves are not necessary, but your hands should be clean and devoid of hand cream, etc. prior to touching any documents. In general you are allowed to photograph the documents made available to you, with the exception of those under copyright. These include various kinds of manuscripts. The archive staff will inform you of any such limitations before the documents are made available.

Delivery of Private Archives

You are also welcome to contact us regarding the delivery of material. We accept documents and records with links to Greenland from associations, individuals, companies, etc.

Services for Public Authorities

The National Archives advise public institutions in Greenland on the storage and delivery of documents worthy of preservation, as well as on archiving current casework. The work of the National Archives is subject to current archive legislation and regulations.