A number of already adopted, planned or proposed changes to immigration, work permit and citizenship rules could affect foreign nationals in Denmark in 2026.
Report expected on plans for citizenship screening
An expert group, appointed by the government to look at ways to implement a system to screen the personal views of prospective citizens, is due to deliver its report in summer 2026.
The government says it wants screening to ensure that “persons who are awarded Danish citizenship actually share Danish democratic values” and therefore wants to screen “foreigners who apply for Danish naturalisation.”
The expert group’s task is to assess whether it is legally, technically, and practically possible to introduce such a screening system for a large number of applicants.
This includes identifying which parameters should form the basis of an eventual screening process for statements and attitudes deemed by the government to be “anti-democratic”.
Parties to vote against granting citizenship
Currently, the way to obtain citizenship in Denmark is to successfully apply to the Immigration Ministry, which assesses applications based on a range of criteria.
A list of successful applicants is added to a parliamentary bill twice yearly, which is then adopted by lawmakers to naturalise the applicants.
This process has become increasingly uncertain, however, with right-wing parties increasingly voting or abstaining from the bills for various reasons – essentially because they want stricter rules – in some cases specifically targeting applicants from specific countries or regions.
While no citizenship bill has yet failed to be passed in parliament, political developments in 2026 could make that eventuality more likely.
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Potential withdrawal from citizenship convention
The Liberal (Venstre) party, a partner in the coalition government, wants Denmark to leave the Council of Europe Convention on Nationality.
Although the rest of the government does not support the move, there will be an election at some time in 2026 which could see the Liberals form a government with what are now the right-wing opposition parties, which do want the withdrawal.
As such, whether Denmark takes this step could depend on the outcome of the election.
The convention prevents Denmark from stripping citizens of Danish nationality if they hold dual citizenship, including if they are convicted of a crime. One of its main purposes is to prevent statelessness.
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No authorisation work permits for doctors and nurses
Immigration authorities will not issue residence permits to either doctors or nurses from non-EU countries while they seek authorisation to work in Denmark in 2026.
A quota system for medical professionals from outside the EU allows a set number of doctors and nurses to be given work permits so they can enter Denmark while awaiting their qualifications to be authorised.
To set the quota, authorities assess the number of medical professionals needed within a given field.
The quota has been set at 0 for both doctors and nurses until the end of 2026. Doctors who already have work permits in Denmark under the authorisation rules will be able to apply for extensions, however.
New rules on Pay Limit Scheme for work permits
2025 saw reforms to the Pay Limit Scheme, a pathway through which non-EU nationals can be granted work permits. The changes will continue into 2026.
Under the changes, the salary threshold on the Pay Limit work permit scheme is reduced from 514,000 kroner to 300,000 kroner annually for 16 specific non-EU countries.
The move is expected to make it easier for Danish employers to hire from the 16 countries which will be eligible for the lower limit, because it opens the programme to lower-paying jobs and sectors.
The Pay Limit Scheme grants applicants a Danish work permit if they can present a job offer from a Danish company which meets a set minimum salary threshold.
The 16 non-EU countries which will be eligible are the USA, the United Kingdom, Singapore, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, India, Brazil, Malaysia, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Ukraine, and Moldova.
KEY POINTS: The changes Denmark is making to work permit rules
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Restrictions on international students
Rule changes originally planned for summer 2026 were brought forward in October so that they will limit the uptake of international students from this winter.
The new rules are designed to limit the intake of international students from countries outside of the EU, and target students from Bangladesh and Nepal specifically.
The new rules mean “stricter criteria for admission and removal of the right to bring family members for students from third countries,” according to the government.
They also mean more stringent methods will be used to verify applicants’ education certificates. Applicants found to have falsified their applications or certificates can receive stronger sanctions.
Additionally, all Danish universities will be required to verify foreign education certificates before offering a place on one of their programmes.
Universities will be allowed to raise requirements for being accepted onto international programmes, including by introducing their own admission exams or language tests.
Once granted a study permit and after entering Denmark, the international students will be subject to more frequent checks to ensure that they are “active” on their study programmes.
READ ALSO: What are the Danish government’s new restrictions on international students?
Stricter rules at expulsion centres
People accommodated at the Danish deportation facility Kærshovedgård will be banned from driving from next year after parliament adopted new restrictions in November.
The new rules, taking effect on January 1st, apply to all residents at Kærshovedgård as well as Sjælsmark, Denmark’s other udrejsecenter, which translates to deportation or expulsion facility.
They include a ban on driving for all persons at the centres, as well as an obligation to register daily at the centre where they live. This previously only applied to a limited number of residents.
Facilities of this type are used to accommodate persons who do not have legal residence in Denmark for reasons including criminal convictions and rejected asylum claims.
The new measures are designed to make life at the centres less tolerable for residents, with the overall objective of forcing them to agree to leave the country, the government has explicitly stated.