Key Findings
Best practice (100% score)
Electoral rights and political liberties for political participation
Unfavourable
Eligibility for labour market access
Eligibility for access to nationality
Equality policies for anti-discrimination law
Critically unfavourable (0% score)
Eligibility for family reunion
Implementation policies for political participation
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Overview
Denmark has not traditionally considered itself a country of immigration. Refugees, former guest workers and their family members form a relatively small group within an otherwise rather ethnically homogenous population. Most newcomers arrive from North America and the EU, particularly the Nordic countries, and migrate to join their families, work or study. The limited flows of non-Western migrants are mostly family members and asylum seekers. Non-EU citizens in Denmark have an unemployment rate 8.3 percentage points higher than Danish nationals. For young people aged 15-24, the unemployment gap rises to 25.2 percentage points(1). Denmark's opt-outs on European Citizenship and the sector of Justice and Home Affairs considerably affects migration and integration issues.
Long-term residence is the clear area of strength in Denmark's integration policies. It ties on this strand with IT, PL, PT, and the UK for fifth. The policies for legally resident third-country nationals (hereafter 'migrants') to participate in political life score halfway to best practice. Policies for access to nationality are the third least favourable in the EU-15, family reunion second, and anti-discrimination policies worst.
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Integration Policy Timeline
12/2005
Migrant workers get easier access to long-term residence permits if they pass Danish and English language exams
01/2006
Couples who want to start a business can receive their spouse under special dispensation for family reunion
04/2006
Larger subsidies to attract migrants to work provided by New Aliens Act
04/2006
New Aliens Act rules that non-EU citizens must pass a high-level test on Danish language and culture and prove financial independence for four to five years to naturalise
10/2006
New common complaints committee for equal treatment established, to start work in 2008
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Migrant Profile
