Denmark tightens the citizenship laws after an agreement between the government (Social Democrat government of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen) and the three opposition parties on Tuesday 20 April (jyllands-posten.dk/visa-guru.com). Tougher new rules will not however affect the ones, victims of crimes. Employment requirements, hurdles for criminals, and citizenship interviews are one of the major changes imposed.
On this occasion, Morten Dahlin, the Danish politician from Venstre political party said, “Strong agreement on new rules for granting citizenship. Clear imprints from @venstredk – For example, we are now cracking down harder on criminal foreigners AND we get a greater focus on Danish values. All in all, a good day”.
On the other hand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Integration Mattias Tesfaye said, “Today we have agreed on a number of tightenings of the rules for obtaining Danish citizenship”.
Denmark has an immense rate of foreigners in its population. In 2020, of the approximately 7,000 people who became Danes, more than half were Europeans. On the other hand, 11% of Denmark’s 5.8 million inhabitants are of foreign origin – either born abroad or with parents born abroad. Out of these, about 58% are citizens of a country classified as “non-Western.
Important changes for citizenship law
For the new tight rules, the parties have agreed that:
New employment requirements
The candidates when they apply for the citizenship of Denmark, they must show that they have had employment for at least 3 years and 6 months of the last 4 years.
No citizenship for criminals
More strictrules have been introduced for those who have been convicted against crimes.
- It will no longer be possible for persons with both a conditional and an unconditional prison sentence to obtain Danish citizenship.
- The waiting period for fines must be tightened, but not for parking fines under DKK 3,000.
- The application for citizenship is rejected in the event of overdue debt to the government. The list of types of debt that can prevent Danish citizenship is expanded to also include overdue SU debt, fines for police and victim contributions, court fees, fees and costs in lawsuits and bailiff cases, and certain control fees for transport companies.
Citizenship test with more questions
The citizenship test must contain several questions about “Danish values”. According to the text of the agreement, there will be five additional questions. The agreement states that the new questions about Danish values in the citizenship test “may concern, for example, freedom of expression, equality, the relationship between religion and legislation, etc.”
Citizenship interviews
- The Ministry of Immigration and Integration Affairs, within the framework of the Constitution, must within one year prepare a statement on whether individual interviews can be held and possibly conducted.
- Individual processing of applications in the Folketing’s citizenship committee when a person applies for Danish citizenship. According to the agreement, this will be done with inspiration from Austria and Switzerland.