Denmark grants no new citizenships as right seeks checks on applicants’ “views”

Denmark is currently granting no new citizenships. About 16,000 people who reportedly meet the requirements are waiting for a decision, some of them for years, because Parliament remains deadlocked over how citizenship should be assessed.

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pledge to Danish values

Denmark already applies strict rules. Applicants must demonstrate a higher level of language proficiency than required in Switzerland and work at least 30 hours a week, counted as full-time employment. They must show that they worked those hours for at least 42 months during the past four years. At the citizenship ceremony, they must also shake hands with the mayor or a council member from their home municipality as a “pledge to Danish values.” Refusing the handshake for religious reasons means citizenship is denied.

Unlike Switzerland, where municipalities decide on citizenship, Denmark’s national Parliament holds the authority. It normally votes on naturalizations twice a year. That process has now stalled amid a dispute over whether checks should cover more than conduct, reputation and integration.

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views

Right-wing and centrist politicians want officials to examine applicants’ “views” as well. Proposed checks could search social-media accounts for “anti-democratic attitudes” or contempt for “basic Danish values,” including opposition to women’s rights or negative comments about homosexuality. The Social Democrats are not opposed to tightening the rules, and an expert group will examine whether such screening is possible.

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anti-democratic attitudes

Critics fear that an ideological test would endanger freedom of expression and allow arbitrary decisions based on old internet statements. Lawyers also argue that the criteria should not be changed retroactively. Parliament is additionally discussing a probationary passport, supported by the liberal Venstre party, under which a person could lose Danish citizenship after receiving an unconditional prison sentence within five years. A final agreement could still take months, with a Social Democratic spokeswoman saying the stalemate might continue until October 2027.

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basic Danish values