Asylum policy in Denmark

Among European Union countries, Denmark has an average proportion of non-EU residents but a below average rate of asylum claims. In recent years it has implemented policies designed to deter asylum claimants and encourage the temporary stay of recognised refugees.

Since 2015, these include issuing short-term residence permits for refugees so that their need for protection can be regularly reviewed; requiring those refused asylum to live in ‘departure centres’ to incentivise voluntary return; delayed family reunification rights for certain refugees; passing legislation to enable the seizure of valuables to defray asylum support costs; and exploring externalised asylum processing in Rwanda (although no such scheme was implemented). The country has also maintained border checks within the Schengen zone since 2015.

In general, deterrence policies are not thought to influence asylum seekers’ choice of destination. But the country’s overall reputation can be relevant, and some argue that Denmark’s well-publicised desire for “zero” asylum seekers has made an impact. 

Successive Danish governments have also been concerned about integration. Danish law tries to prevent the formation of ‘parallel societies’ (previously called ‘ghettos’) in public housing estates.

An area can be designated as a parallel society if over 50% of residents are non-Western migrants or their descendants, and it also meets two out of four other criteria on unemployment, education, poverty and criminality. In such areas, new tenancies cannot be offered to non-EU migrants or benefits claimants, and if the estate remains a parallel society for five years it becomes a ‘transformation area’ (previously called a hard ghetto) in which the local authorities must reduce the proportion of public housing tenants to 40%.

The attached briefing goes into more detail.