Foreign nationals without legal residence in Denmark will face stricter regulations.
New Daily Reporting Requirements for Undocumented Migrants in Denmark
The Danish government is set to tighten the rules for foreign nationals without residency rights, with a proposed change that will require them to report their presence daily instead of the current three times a week. This significant shift, known as "meldepligt," is aimed at ensuring authorities know the whereabouts of migrants until they depart Denmark and encouraging voluntary return.
The new rules, proposed by the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, will apply to rejected asylum seekers and foreign nationals ordered to leave Denmark. These include individuals subject to control orders under Denmark’s Return Act, such as certain criminal foreigners ordered to leave, those who do not cooperate with removal, and those housed at return centers.
Failure to comply with the new daily reporting requirements could result in fines or imprisonment, with penalties up to four years in aggravated cases. This stricter reporting obligation is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, pending parliamentary approval.
Immigration Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek expressed hope that the new rules would motivate more people to return home. He stated that no one should be allowed to live illegally in Denmark, and that foreign criminals with deportation orders and rejected asylum seekers must return home.
It's important to note that these new rules do not affect temporary visitors such as tourists. The adoption of the rule change by parliament is a necessary step for the implementation of the new rules.
These individuals often face indefinite stays in so-called departure centers or udrejsecentre. Refugees whose asylum applications have been rejected and convicted foreign nationals with deportation orders are among those affected by the new rules.
The new rules are part of the ongoing efforts to enforce the departure of rejected asylum seekers and foreign nationals ordered to leave Denmark. The Ministry aims to track individuals living illegally and incentivize their departure.
Articles concerning the enhanced reporting requirements for undocumented migrants in Denmark have began to circulate in general-news outlets. These updates on the new policies in politics, where the Danish government is tightening rules for foreign nationals without residency rights, have sparked debates about human rights in news forums.
