Denmark Doubles Down on Citizenship Costs 🇩🇰
Danish legislature passes "unjust" increase in citizenship application fee
In a move that's set to make citizenship a pricier endeavor, Denmark's parliament has given the green light to a 50% hike in citizenship application fees. As of May 1st, it'll cost a hefty 6,000 kroner to apply, five times the price just over a decade ago.
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With a strong majority of 91 in favor, 13 against, and 4 abstentions, the bill essentially sailed through after garnering the support of seven out of 11 parliamentary parties. The three government parties found allies in the Denmark Democrats, the Social Left Party, the Liberal Alliance, and the Conservative party.
However, the far-right Danish People's Party voiced their dissent, primarily due to the fact that some applicants under a certain age would still pay a much lower fee of 4,000 kroner. One of the party's MPs, Mikkel Bjørn, argued in a heated speech that this amounts to a "discount," which ordinary Danish taxpayers end up footing.
"For every application for Danish citizenship, ordinary citizens will pay," grumbled Bjørn. "We find it fundamentally unsustainable that applications for Danish citizenship come with a discount, which is funded by hard-working Danes."
The party also squawked about changes favoring Nordic citizens with a checkered past, making it easier for them to secure Danish citizenship despite their criminal histories.
READ ALSO: Higher Citizenship Costs Poised as an "Unfair Fee for Participating in Democracy" 🗳️
The government has defended the increase, stating that it's necessary to cover the actual costs associated with handling citizenship applications. On the other hand, the Red-Green Alliance and the Alternative parties argued against the proposal, citing the hefty fees as unfair to prospective citizens.
Peder Hvelplund, immigration spokesperson for the Red-Green Alliance, previously told The Local that the 6,000 kroner fee would equate to a five-fold increase in just over a decade, making it "really unfair" for applicants. The four MPs for the Social Liberal Party, who were initially opposed to the fee increase, decided to abstain from the vote.
The new policy is expected to kick off on May 1st this year.
See Also
- Why the Far-Right Hates the New Citizenship Policy
- Unpacking Denmark's Immigration Policies
- Navigating Denmark's Tax Scheme: Burdens for All?
- Denmark's Fight Against Unemployment: Polarizing Reforms
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[1] Enrichment data: The Danish government justifies the increase in citizenship fees to better cover administrative and processing costs, as well as to discourage repeat applications. This policy has sparked debate about potential barriers for immigration and political participation, and represents a balancing act between managing government resources and promoting inclusive citizenship policies within the political landscape of Denmark.
- The policy increase in Danish citizenship application fees, now costing 6,000 kroner, has sparked a debate about fairness in participation.
- The Danish People's Party, despite supporting the bill, criticized the lower fee for some applicants, arguing it amounts to a "discount" for some applicants funded by taxpayers.
- In a recent statement, Peder Hvelplund, immigration spokesperson for the Red-Green Alliance, stated that the 6,000 kroner fee would be particularly harsh for applicants, equating to a five-fold increase in just over a decade.
- The new citizenship policy, set to take effect on May 1st, has been defended by the government for covering actual costs of handling applications, while critics argue that it's unfair to prospective citizens.
- The far-right Danish People's Party has expressed concerns about changes that may ease citizenship for certain Nordic citizens with criminal histories, while the government's stance maintains that the increase is necessary to handle the associated costs of applications.
