Denmark’s Citizenship Freeze Leaves 487 Applicants in Limbo

Two Danish opposition parties are calling for 487 people to be granted Danish citizenship before a proposed screening system for anti-democratic views is introduced, after their applications were put on hold in the Denmark citizenship freeze, despite earlier promises that they would be included in a naturalisation bill.

FAKTA

• The 487 applicants: They were told through the e-Boks digital mailbox that the Ministry of Immigration and Integration expected to include them in an October naturalisation bill. Their cases have since been put on hold.
• Who is asking: The Alternative (Alternativet) and the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten) say people who met the existing requirements should not have to wait for rules that have yet to be agreed.
• A separate group: A different group of 2,055 applicants is covered by a government compromise. Their cases will be fully re-examined before a bill is reintroduced, expected in the first half of 2027.
• The freeze: Denmark has suspended the review of most citizenship applications since March 2026, and parliament has not passed citizenship laws since June 2025.
• Screening plan: An expert group is working on screening future applicants for anti-democratic views. Its recommendations are now expected in mid-March 2027.

The Denmark citizenship freeze: two groups, two outcomes

The 487 applicants had received letters saying they could expect to be included in a naturalisation bill in October, but their cases were put on hold, DR reported on 28 October. The Alternative and the Red-Green Alliance argue that people who have met the existing requirements should not have to wait for rules that have yet to be agreed.

The government has agreed to move forward with a different group: the 2,055 people covered by an earlier naturalisation bill, L 98, which lapsed when an election was called. That decision does not mean those applicants have already acquired citizenship. In its announcement on 5 October, the ministry said it would conduct a renewed, full review of whether they met the requirements before reintroducing the bill, and it expected to submit it in the first half of 2027.

The question was raised in a parliamentary hearing on 28 October with Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bødskov. The Naturalisation Committee asked why the 487 applicants faced an indefinite delay and questioned the possible retrospective effect of stricter rules.

The royal yacht Dannebrog flies the Danish flag. Citizenship in Denmark is granted through a law passed by parliament.

The screening plan

The government wants future citizenship applicants to be screened for anti-democratic statements and views that conflict with fundamental freedoms and human rights. An expert group is drawing up the recommendations, but its work has been delayed. On 23 October, the ministry announced that the group’s chair, Henrik Thomassen, now expects it to finish in mid-March 2027, rather than around the turn of the year.

The delay, Thomassen said, reflects the scale and complexity of the work. Until the recommendations are ready, the final criteria for the new checks have not been approved, leaving thousands of applicants in uncertainty.

How Danish citizenship works

Denmark’s system differs from procedures in many other European countries. Foreigners obtain citizenship through a special law adopted by parliament, the Folketinget, which must list each applicant by name. No citizenship laws have been passed since June 2025, and the review of most applications has been suspended since March 2026, after parliamentary elections were announced.

For people who have sought refuge in Denmark, including Ukrainians, the suspension of naturalisation does not cancel the right to stay. Residence permits and citizenship remain separate legal mechanisms. Denmark has also extended residence permits granted under the Act on Temporary Residence Permits for Persons Displaced from Ukraine to March 2028, the Minister for Immigration and Integration decided on 2 November.

Read more Denmark news on Watan News International – Denmark.

Conclusion

The fate of the 487 applicants now depends on a political decision: whether people who already met the rules should be allowed to proceed, or whether they must wait for a screening system that will not be ready until March 2027. For the applicants, the wait has already lasted months, and the next milestone is the parliamentary debate that will decide which group moves first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the 487 applicants?

They are people who applied for Danish citizenship and were told through the e-Boks digital mailbox that they could expect to be included in an October naturalisation bill. Their cases were then put on hold.

Why are their cases on hold?

Denmark suspended the review of most citizenship applications in March 2026 and is preparing new screening checks for future citizens. The final criteria for those checks have not yet been agreed.

What about the other group of 2,055 applicants?

They are covered by a government compromise. Their cases will be fully re-examined and a bill reintroduced, expected in the first half of 2027.

How does someone become a Danish citizen?

Qualifying applicants must be included in a naturalisation bill approved by the Danish parliament, the Folketinget. Citizenship is granted by law, not by an administrative decision alone.