Significant legal modifications introduced in Denmark during 2025, crucial for your awareness:
Denmark's New Legal Landscape in 2025
As the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve 2024, Denmark will welcome a host of legal updates and rule changes, kicking off on January 1st. Let's take a closer look at some of the key shifts that await residents and visitors alike.
Work for the Unemployed
In a bid to boost employment and provide a more streamlined welfare system, a new law will require certain foreign residents with a history of long-term unemployment to participate in obligatory work in order to receive benefits. The work requirement applies to those who've lived in Denmark for less than 9 of the past 10 years and haven't held full-time employment for at least 2.5 years during that period. Individuals will be required to engage in employment-focused activities for up to 37 hours per week, which may include internships, community service work, or skills development programs.
Citizenship Application Fee Hike
The Finnish government has announced plans to boost the application fee for Danish citizenship by 50%, raising it from 4,000 kroner to 6,000 kroner. The date of implementation is yet to be confirmed, with the proposed change currently being reviewed by parliament.
Home Improvement Tax Deduction Returns
Good news for homeowners looking to reduce their energy usage and improve the climate-resilience of their properties! The budget for 2025 includes a reinstated tax deduction for green home improvements—a deduction that was scrapped in 2022 by the minority Social Democratic government. The new deduction focuses on renovations that meet certain environmental criteria and offers limits of 8,600 kroner for eco-friendly upgrades and 17,500 kroner for general maintenance work.
No More Interpreters at Driving Tests
Starting from January 1st, interpreters will no longer be allowed at driving tests. Those who prefer languages other than Danish, English, Faroese, Greenlandic, or German can still take their tests in one of these languages.
Stricter Alcohol Sales to Minors
In an effort to curb underage drinking, sales of alcoholic beverages with over 6% alcohol content will be restricted to individuals aged 18 and older, starting on April 1st. Additionally, police will be granted the power to establish "nightlife zones" in which bars will be prohibited from selling alcohol to those under 18 after 10:00 PM.
Tighter Rules for Asbestos Removal
From January 1st, asbestos demolition can only be carried out by companies authorized by the Danish Safety Technology Authority. This regulation aims to protect individuals from asbestos-related health risks, especially from self-demolition.
Air Travel Taxes
A series of new air travel taxes, agreed upon in 2023, will commence phasing in from January 1st. By 2030, the average cost of these taxes per passenger per flight is expected to reach 100 kroner. The taxes will be divided into three categories based on the distance of flights: "within Europe", "medium", and "long distance".
Active Approach to Organ Donation
Starting from June 1st, 2025, everyone over the age of 18 in Denmark will be required to register as a potential organ donor. Although the default option will be opt-out, families will still have the final say if the deceased has not explicitly stated their wishes. Danish residents must confirm their registration status via the public sundhed.dk platform.
No Foreign Flags
A new law will prohibit most foreign flags from being flown in Denmark, effective from January 1st. The exception to this rule includes flags from Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, as well as international and regional community flags such as the United Nations and the European Union. The ban does not apply to flags displayed at demonstrations or sports events.
Rental Contracts in English
Starting early next year, an official English version of the authorized rental housing contract will be made available, making it simpler for foreign tenants to comprehend their contracts without requiring a Danish-speaking intermediary.
Sources- [1] "Foreign students face job ban under new Danish law" - Denmark.dk- [2] "Danish student restrictions will come into effect May 2" - Denmark.dk- [3] "Denmark Joins EU's New Rules to Tackle Crypto Evasion" - BloombergQuint- [4] "Budget 2025: guaranteed funding for innovative companies" - bwk.dk- [5] "Klima-renovationer: Håndværkerfradragget kommer tilbage" - RSO
- In 2025, Denmark will introduce a policy-and-legislation change approving a new law that requires certain foreign residents with a history of long-term unemployment to participate in work to receive benefits.
- The citizen application fee for Danish citizenship will increase by 50% in 2025, raising it from 4,000 kroner to 6,000 kroner, as announced in the news.
- NEWS: Starting from 2025, a reinstated tax deduction for green home improvements will be available for homeowners seeking to reduce their energy usage and improve the climate-resilience of their properties.
- From January 1st, 2025, interpreters will no longer be allowed at driving tests, with the exception of Danish, English, Faroese, Greenlandic, or German languages.
- Stricter alcohol sales to minors will be enforced in Denmark starting from April 1st, 2025, with sales of alcoholic beverages with over 6% alcohol content restricted to individuals aged 18 and older, and bars in "nightlife zones" prohibited from selling alcohol to those under 18 after 10:00 PM.
- Tighter rules for asbestos removal will take effect from January 1st, 2025, with demolition restricted to companies authorized by the Danish Safety Technology Authority.
- In the field of energy, Danish politics has planned a series of new air travel taxes to be implemented from January 1st, 2025, aiming to generate revenue for climate initiatives such as renewable energy projects and emission reduction programs. Space, travel, and technology also remain important sectors in Denmark's policy-and-legislation agenda for 2025 and beyond.
