Danish immigration laws criticised by human rights institute

The Danish Institute for Human Rights has blasted proposed changes to residency requirement laws, saying it is now near to impossible for foreigners to get a permit.

The planned government points system for immigrants seeking residency has faced heavy criticism from the human rights group, which has called the possibility of obtaining a residency permit “almost illusory”.

In a report issued last week, the association lashed out at the new immigration laws in an assessment of the Danish People’s Party and Liberal-Conservative government’s immigration package, reports Berlingske Tidende.

The new system, which was agreed to in principle by the parties on 15 March, will take effect this summer. It features a number of criteria that are to be fulfilled by non-nationals, including a minimum of two-and-a-half years’ employment and a Danish language test. Immigrants can also forego public benefits in exchange for points. A total of 100 points will be required for all new applicants to secure legal residency.

“Large groups of immigrants simply do not have the possibility of fulfilling these requirements,” said the institute’s head Jonas Christoffersen. “The employment requirement is especially strict. If you lose your job you have to start from scratch to earn the necessary two-and-a-half years’ full-time employment requirement,” he added.

Christoffersen claimed that the government’s new system is designed to exclude foreigners from Danish society and would keep away much-needed, highly-skilled labour. Christoffersen also said that the legislation would inevitably result in human rights violations, reports the Copenhagen Post.

Under the agreement, residency will be granted if the applicant can show that they have made an active effort to incorporate themselves into Danish society after a period of four years. The institute argued that the new laws will create “a disintegrating and exclusionary effect” on those who are not already part of Danish society or have not fully understood the conditions of the requirements.