In 2019, Denmark received 53 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free mobility), ‑4.4% compared to 2018. This figure comprises 54.6% immigrants benefitting from free mobility, 16.6% labour migrants, 15.3% family members (including accompanying family) and 3.3% humanitarian migrants. Around 8 500 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 7 500 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants (excluding intra-EU migration). In addition, 46 000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2019, an increase of 130% compared to 2018. These posted workers are generally on short-term contracts.
Romania, Poland and Germany were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2019. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Italy registered the strongest increase (200) and Lithuania the largest decrease (‑400) in flows to Denmark compared to the previous year.
In 2020, the number of first asylum applicants decreased by ‑45.7%, to reach around 1 400. The majority of applicants came from Syria (300), Eritrea (200) and Morocco (100). The largest increase since 2019 concerned nationals of Turkey (10) and the largest decrease nationals of Eritrea (‑300). Of the 1 200 decisions taken in 2020, 35.1% were positive.
Emigration of Danes to OECD countries increased by 1% in 2019, to 8 300. Approximately 22% of this group migrated to Sweden, 13% to Norway and 11% to Spain.
Two new labour migration schemes were introduced in Denmark in mid‑2020. The Labour Market Attachment Scheme allows foreigners who have been working in Denmark for at least two years, but who have lost a Danish residence permit for family or humanitarian grounds, to apply for a new residence permit of up to 2 years. The Positive List for Skilled Work is a list of skilled professions experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals in Denmark. Foreigners who have been offered a job included in this list can apply for a Danish residence permit in this scheme, provided the employer has fulfilled certain educational obligations on a societal level regarding training of apprentices. In addition to these two new schemes, the Establishment Card, which grants a change of immigration status for work purposes to foreign students who have completed some tertiary educated degrees, was extended to include bachelor and professional bachelor graduates.
In August 2020, new legislation on the housing of refugees was adopted, making it possible for municipalities to apply for and to voluntarily receive a higher number of refugees than originally allocated to them, if the total amount of refugees to be allocated is expected to rise beyond certain thresholds. A Danish Return Agency has been established and has been operational since August 2020. The new agency is responsible for the return of persons with illegal stay in Denmark and for providing counselling and co‑ordinating both voluntary and forced returns.
In June 2020, Denmark has amended The Law on Danish Language Courses for all adult immigrants and others, rendering the participation payment to Danish language courses free for foreign workers and students and regulating the deposit for the same migrant group. The government currently supports several integration initiatives, in particular those with the aim to increase the integration of women with a migration background into the Danish society and labour market.
To address the problems of vulnerable residential areas, where a high average share of the population are without employment or education, have a conviction for crime, low income, and a non-Western background, Denmark in 2018 launched a wide range of initiatives aiming at turning those areas into regular neighbourhoods before 2030. From 2019‑26 DKK 10 billion are prioritised in the National Building Fund for conversion of these residential areas via i.e. renovation, demolition, new infrastructure, social housing initiatives and rehousing of residents. Since 2019, schools where more than 30% of the pupils live in those vulnerable neighbourhoods are also required to perform a special language test in 0 grade (kindergarten).
During the lockdown and border closures following the peak of the COVID‑19 pandemic, third-country nationals who were not able to renew their permits were temporarily tolerated in Denmark. Departure deadlines were as a rule extended two months from the decision date. The government also implemented temporary suspensions of a number of integration efforts requiring personal attendance, such as employment efforts and language education. These suspensions and exceptions have been gradually lifted.
For further information:
www.uim.dk (in Danish).
www.integrationsbarometer.dk (in Danish).
