Country Update 2026: DENMARK

Contributed by: Helle Holm Thomsen (Holm/Thomsen Law)

May 2026

1. Legislative Changes

The following is a list of legislative changes. The details regarding them will be

explained in the subsequent sections.

• A new work permit scheme for non-EU citizens was proposed and lapsed due to the

  elections. This was supposed to allow foreign workers to enter Denmark on a work

  permit at a lower salary threshold.

• Foreign doctors and nurses have been barred from applying for authorization by

  setting up a quota system and setting the quota at 0 until December 31, 2026.

• Accompanying families of students studying at non-state-approved higher educationinstitutions are no longer eligible for residency permits.

• Accompanying families of students and workers now have an opportunity to keep

  residency permits after end of cohabitation if they have been subject to domestic

  violence.

• The Act on Temporary Residence Permits for Persons who have Assisted Danish

  Authorities etc. in Afghanistan has been repealed.

• Unrest in the Middle East means deportation deadlines are suspended for Iran and

  Lebanon.

• The temporary residency permits for persons from Ukraine are automatically

  extended until 17th of Marts 2027.

2. Business Immigration

A new work permit scheme was proposed by the previous Government that would allow certified companies covered by collective agreements to recruit foreign employees more easily. The scheme is a trade-off because it grants businesses easier access to foreign workers, but in return it reinforces the Danish model by

requiring collective agreements with Danish work standards and cracking down on social dumping. It will be beneficiary to use this scheme for employers related to jobs that is not high-income jobs since the minimum salary requirement is going to be lowered to a minimum of DKK 322,000 per year (2026 level). However, the

employer is required to offer full-time jobs, payment must be transferred to a Danish bank account (for control purposes), and the salary and employment conditions must align with the relevant collective agreement. Usage of the scheme will be seasonally adjusted gross unemployment rate remains below 3.75% on average over the three months leading up to the application. Furthermore, Denmark will restrict the pathway to include only 16 countries with whom Denmark shares close partnerships and trade relations. These are mainly western countries, some from BRICS+ and some from nations close to EU. But due to the calling of a general election, the bill lapsed before being formally passed. However, it is expected to be reintroduced once a new government is formed, but it depends on who will form the new Government.

On October 7th of 2025 the Healthcare Professionals Authorization Act was amended, granting the Minister for the Interior and Health the power to establish quotas on permits for authorization for non-EU applicants. This measure ensures authorization aligns with specific labour shortages According to the Danish Patient Safety Authority. The quota for foreign doctors and nurses was set to zero until December 31, 2026. Consequently, all new non-EU authorizations are paused. The quota doesn’t affect individuals already legally residing in Denmark (including those on authorization stays) or those who is offered a job as a doctor or nurse after obtaining authoritization.

3. Family based immigration

On 2nd of May 2025 new restrictions has been added for accompanying family members of students who are studying at non-state-approved higher education institutions. Spouse, cohabiting partner or registered partner, and children under 18 years old of the student are no longer eligible for residence permits as accompanying

family.

On 1st of July 2025 new amendments in the Danish Alien Acts has entered into force, providing the possibility for accompanying family of foreign workers and students to keep their residence permits even after end of cohabitation due to domestic violence etc. It is required that the end of cohabitation is due to assault, abuse or other harm etc., including negative social control. Special consideration must also be given to whether the termination of the cohabitation is due to the

decease of the spouse or cohabiting partner. Children with a residence permit as accompanying family are also covered by the new rules.

However, the spouse needs documentation of the claimed abuse. The spouse and children can keep their residence permit for up to 5 years without any requiriement for self-support. After 5 years, the right to continued residence will generally be conditioned on the person’s ability to support her- or himself.

4. Asylum

The Act on Temporary Residence Permits for Persons who have Assisted Danish Authorities etc. in Afghanistan has been repealed on the 30th of November 2025. Foreigners with residence permit under the Special Act has expired on this date. This group of people will have to apply for residence permits and asylum on normal terms.

In October 2025, the Minister for Immigration and Integration has determined that residence permits granted under the Act on Temporary Residence Permits for Persons Displaced from Ukraine may be extended until 17 March 2027. As consequence permits will automatically be reassessed without further requirements from this group of Ukrainians. If they have a pending application for asylum, it will be suspended until they are no longer covered by this Act.

Due to the highly uncertain situation in Iran, the Refugee Appeals Board and Immigration Service have suspended the processing of cases regarding refugees from Iran on the 12th of January 2026. Furthermore, the Refugee Appeals Board and Immigration Service have decided to suspend the departure deadlines for Iranians

with denied residency. On 10th of March 2026 the departure deadlines for people from Lebanon also got suspended due to conflicts and uncertainty.

In March 2026, The Refugee Appeals Board processed 10 cases concerning Syrian nationals for the first time since the change of regime in Syria in December 2024 to decide whether they were in need of protection. The Board concluded that Syria nationals are still generally not covered by the Danish Alien Act article 7(3) (general

risk of death penalty, torture of being subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment). The EUAA´s Country Guidance Syria 2025 was taken into consideration while assessing the level of “indiscriminate violence”. In seven of the

ten cases the individuals were considered to have an individual claim for protection due to risk of persecution.

5. Deportation

Denmark was one of the driving sources behind the Chisinau Political Declaration on migration which is a guide to the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights, especially with the focus on article 3 and article 8 and the options for deporting foreigners with a criminal record.

6. Citizenship

There af discussion on either leaving the European Convention on Nationality or getting it amended to deprive people with dual citizenship of their Danish nationality due to ordinary crimes.