Country Update 2021: DENMARK

Contributed by: Helle Holm Thomsen (Advokat Kompagniet)

May 2021

1. Legislative Changes

A new proposal on moving the asylum treatment out of Denmark outside EU is expected to be approved. This is the initial law proposal that should make it possible for Denmark to send asylum seekers entering Denmark to a third country outside Denmark. The asylum seeker will have an evaluation on whether there are any special circumstances why they should not be sent out. If they are sent to a third country, it is this country that will deal with the application and the refugee if accepted will get the refugee status in that third country. No agreements have yet been made with any specific country, both there is initial talks with e.g. Rwanda.

New regulations took effect from 1 January [2021?]for a number of schemes in the area of work and study, for example requiring that salaries for persons with work permits must be paid to a Danish Bank account, regardless of the category of work permit.

Once again, the rules for obtaining Danish citizenship have been tightened, e.g. applicants should have permanent residence for a period of two years and have worked for 3½years within the previous 4 years. It is also still a requirement that applicants have no debt to public authorities, have no conviction, are being self-supported, have passed the Danish [language] test 3 and Danish history test, and applicants must shake hands with the mayor in the city in which they live (this is to ensure no Muslim extremist will get citizenship, but a bit of a crisis with the COVID-19 situation).

2. Business Immigration

I have described the new regulation above under legislative changes, but further information could be found at https://nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/News%20Front%20Page/2020/12/New-regulations-danish-bank-account

3. Family based immigration

No new amendments has been made

4. Asylum

See description above.

5. Deportation

No forcible deportation of Syrian [refugees?], however they are housed in deportation centers and pressure is applied for them to leave “voluntarily”.

6. Citizenship

See the abovementioned.