The Danish government plans to revise residency regulations for certain Ukrainian refugees, specifically targeting military-aged men and individuals from regions deemed safer. This change is part of a broader strategy to manage the influx of displaced persons from Ukraine.
According to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, approximately 45,000 Ukrainian refugees currently reside in Denmark. The proposed adjustments will limit the criteria under which these individuals can obtain residency permits, aligning with a special law designed for Ukrainian refugees.
A government press release stated, “The intention is to modify residency rules so that individuals from less war-affected areas of Ukraine and those subject to Ukrainian mobilization laws will not be eligible for residency permits in Denmark in the future.”
The proposed restrictions would specifically affect:
- Ukrainians from regions considered safer by Denmark, including Cherkasy, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Kyiv (excluding the city of Kyiv), Lviv, Poltava, Rivne, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zakarpattia, and Zhytomyr;
- Men aged 23 to 60, with exceptions for those officially exempted from military service;
- Men under 23, who may receive residency permits but will need to provide documentation of military exemption to extend their stay.
Additionally, the Danish government is considering changes to educational support for Ukrainian children. There is also a proposal that refugees receiving financial assistance would be required to engage in work.
In a related development, Norway is also looking to limit temporary collective protection for Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60. These changes will apply to new applicants and will not affect those already under protection.
Despite its specific residency regulations, Denmark remains a member of the European Union, which has granted temporary protection to Ukrainians fleeing the conflict.
Denmark is set to tighten residency rules for Ukrainian refugees, particularly affecting military-aged men and those from safer regions. This move aims to align local regulations with broader EU policies while addressing the challenges of managing a significant refugee population.