Denmark stops thousands of citizenship applications ahead of elections: what it means for applicants

The Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration has temporarily halted the review of almost all submitted applications for citizenship. The suspension began on March 9 and, according to preliminary guidance, is expected to continue until a new government is formed after the parliamentary elections. After that, processing will resume only once new naturalization rules are agreed. In the worst case, the timeline may run into mid-to-late 2026.

The pause affects hundreds of applicants, including many people who already met the existing standards. A large share have been waiting more than two years. At the same time, the ministry will keep the non-refundable fee: applicants pay DKK 6,000 (around US$924), and that amount will not be returned even if the review process remains suspended for an extended period.

How citizenship is granted in Denmark

Denmark’s naturalization process is unusual compared with many other European systems. Under Article 44 of the Danish Constitution, citizenship for foreign nationals is granted through legislation. This means every applicant must be listed personally in a separate act adopted by the Danish parliament, the Folketing. In other words, there is no automatic administrative procedure that leads to citizenship.

In practice, coalition parties negotiate the terms for admission. The parliament then considers naturalization bills, which are typically presented twice each year, and the proposals include the names of those approved.

These requirements are not fixed forever in a single permanent law. If the coalition composition changes and a different political majority supports the bills, the conditions can be adjusted.

Research by the Open Society Justice Initiative notes that Denmark differs from many European countries in several important respects: lawmakers have wide discretion; citizenship decisions are not handled through the usual framework of administrative law; refusals do not require the ministry to provide reasons; and there is no direct route for judicial review of parliament’s decisions. In 2013, Denmark’s Supreme Court allowed a limited exception—courts may verify whether a ministry’s decision aligns with international law—but that oversight does not extend to acts of parliament.

Why Denmark halted citizenship reviews

The ministry’s stated rationale is mainly procedural. Officials say the current coalition is unlikely to retain a majority after the elections on March 24 (during the transition period). Reviewing applications against criteria that could soon change, the ministry argues, may create legal uncertainty.

In statements to Danish media, a ministry spokesperson also emphasized that the pause is intended to maintain political neutrality while power is shifting after the election.

Similar situations have occurred before. In 2005, uncertainty over the coalition’s position on naturalization also led to a freeze. However, today’s context is more complex, because in 2025 parliament cancelled one of the two scheduled annual naturalization bills, pointing to the extra workload associated with Denmark’s EU Council presidency.

The main worry: new rules could apply to existing cases

This development is more than a routine administrative delay. The ministry has indicated that the updated requirements could potentially be applied retroactively. In other words, conditions agreed by a new parliament might, in theory, be used to reassess applications already submitted.

That creates a risk for people who previously satisfied the criteria: even after years of meeting the requirements, an applicant could be re-evaluated under tighter standards and ultimately lose eligibility for citizenship.

Before the pause, processing typically took 18 to 30 months. When election timing, government formation, and political negotiations are added, migrant support organizations estimate the real total wait could reach 2.5 to 3.5 years.

What political shift could mean for requirements

Election outcomes will determine whether naturalization conditions become even stricter. Migration policy is a central theme of the campaign. Troels Lund Poulsen, leader of Venstre, has highlighted a tougher approach to migration as a core promise.

Today, Denmark’s naturalization benchmarks are already among the strictest in Europe: 9 years of continuous residence; permanent resident status; successful completion of the Danish language test Dansk 3; an examination covering civic knowledge; at least 3.5 years of full-time work within the previous four years; no criminal record; no public debt; and participation in the citizenship ceremony.

The ceremony involves a mandatory handshake with the mayor and a signed statement affirming loyalty to Denmark’s democratic principles.

There has also been a fee increase. The cost rose from DKK 4,000 to DKK 6,000, implemented in the second half of 2025.

Some parties want further tightening. For instance, the Danish People’s Party (DF) has proposed abolishing permanent resident status for foreign nationals altogether and applying that change retroactively—an approach that could remove that status from people, including Syrian refugees who arrived during the 2015 migration period.

Venstre has also proposed withdrawing from the Council of Europe Convention on Nationality, which currently restricts the ability to revoke citizenship from individuals with dual nationality. Separately, work by an expert panel appointed by the outgoing government to explore an approach to “individual selection” based on personal views and commitment to democratic values was paused specifically because of the election process.

Are there any legal options for applicants?

Applicants do not have a contract with the state guaranteeing fixed processing deadlines, and there is no established procedure that ensures judicial oversight. Even if someone satisfies all formal requirements, political timing can still create long periods of uncertainty.

Seen alongside broader economic and political measures, the freeze fits a wider pattern. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has suggested introducing a 1% wealth tax for the wealthiest residents. That proposal split her coalition and triggered snap elections, which quickly influenced the day-to-day work of advisers and consultants supporting Danish clients. The citizenship pause adds another layer: authorities are making it harder for people to manage income and assets while simultaneously making the citizenship route less predictable.

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