Citizenship Grants to 'Menapt' Nations: Assessing the Quantity in Denmark
Unfiltered Insights on Denmark's Citizenship Policy
Denmark, known for its stiff immigration rules, has been making waves with a recent hike in citizenship application fees and tighter regulations. The question on everyone's mind is whether this has led to fewer naturalisations for nations categorized as 'Menapt,' a term that typically encompasses countries mainly in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey.
Let's dive into the nitty-gritty.
Since 2020, Denmark has classified immigrants and their descendants from these regions separately in its official statistics dealing with topics such as crime and employment. This categorization, dubbed the 'Menapt' group, has become commonplace in political debates, particularly in discussions related to immigration and citizenship.
The far-right party, Nye Borgerlige, proposed in 2021 that these nations should face stricter scrutiny during the citizenship application process. However, this idea didn't quite take off. Instead, changes to citizenship laws in the same year introduced "Danish values" questions to the citizenship test.
"If you don't want to embrace these values - such as the Danish Constitution taking precedence over religious texts, and women having the autonomy to choose their own partners - then Denmark isn't the place for you," stated Morten Dahlin, a Liberal party spokesperson for citizenship, in 2021.
Fast forward to 2025, and rumors are swirling about the government considering delving into screening prospective citizens' personal views as part of the application process.
Interestingly, there's been no drastic decline in the number of citizenships approved for individuals from English-speaking countries since 2021, the year the most recent law changes went into effect. In fact, there’s even been an increase in UK citizens becoming Danish. This increase is most likely attributable to Brexit, as Denmark's offer of EU citizenship may be enticing.
However, when it comes to 'Menapt' countries, the numbers are harder to interpret. The graph below presents the number of naturalisations year-by-year for each of the 24 countries covered under this label. While there has been a drop in numbers from 2020-2024 compared to the previous five years, it's challenging to determine if stricter rules or other factors are the cause.
For some countries, such as Pakistan and Syria, the trends deviate slightly. Pakistan, along with the UK, is a top contributor of new Danish citizens over the last five years. While 2020 saw a surge for Pakistan, numbers remain higher after this year. Syria exhibits a pattern where 2016 remains the peak year, but the highest number of Syrians naturalising as Danes occurred in 2024.
Despite the intricate patterns revealed, drawing definitive conclusions is tricky due to the various factors influencing the numbers each year. While it's challenging to argue that the stricter rules Introduced in 2021 have significantly reduced the number of citizenships granted, it seems that each country's unique circumstances play a crucial role in fluctuations between years.
Unfortunately, the available data does not yet support a definitive answer as to whether the recent changes have led to a reduction in naturalisations for people from 'Menapt' countries. Keep an eye out for updates on this topic as more data becomes available. 🌐📈
Sources:
- “Denmark’s New Citizenship Rules could see ‘massive drop’ in naturalisations for religious minorities and immigrants from ‘largely muslim countries’”
- “Denmark Introduces ‘Danish Values’ test for citizenship”
- “Denmark's Plan to Screen Personal Views of Prospective Citizens Raises Concerns”
- “Danish citizenship fees to rise”
**Join the conversation below. Share your thoughts on Denmark's citizenship policy, and if you have any ideas or inquiries for our team, don't hesitate to contact us. Remember to keep the discussion civil, constructive, and focused on the topic. 💬 💡
Further Reading:
- “Five Danish Words that make my eyes itch”
- “Copenhagen's struggle to keep its international workers”
- “Buses to replace trains on commuter route north of Copenhagen”
- “Danish government announces major reform of the unemployment system”
- The rise in Denmark's citizenship application fees and tighter regulations, coupled with the political debate surrounding the 'Menapt' group, have made international news headlines.
- As Denmark contemplates screening prospective citizens' views as part of the application process, the potential implications for the country's general business and political environment are a topic of keen interest in the finance and news sectors.
- The surge in the number of UK citizens becoming Danish, especially after Brexit, has caught the attention of business analysts, who are assessing its impact on Denmark's relations with English-speaking countries in the realm of trade and commerce.
