Danish legislature passes contentious increase in citizenship application fee
Danish Citizenship Fee Hiked: A Steep Climb to 6,000 KronerRichard Orange Save
Denmark's legislators have approved a significant leap in the cost of citizenship, raising the application fee to 6,000 kroner, nearly six times higher than a decade ago. The new fee takes effect from May 1st.
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The proposal passed with a robust majority of 91 yes votes, 13 no's, and 4 abstentions, after securing the approval of seven out of 11 parliamentary parties.
The government parties, together with the Denmark Democrats, Social Left Party, Liberal Alliance, and Conservative party, backed the bill. On the other hand, the far-right Danish People's Party protested the bill, mainly due to the fact that some younger applicants would still only have to pay 4,000 kroner, which one of their MPs refers to as a "discount," footed by taxpayers.
"Every Danish citizenship application means ordinary residents will cough up," said Mikkel Bjørn, a Danish People's Party MP, voicing his discontent. "We believe it's utterly unsustainable for there to be a discount on Danish citizenship applications for which ordinary Danes must pay, as foreigners apply and potentially get turned down."
The party also expressed concerns about reforms that would ease the path for Nordic nationals who have committed serious offences to become Danish citizens.
READ MORE: 'It's an unfair fee for participating in democracy' - Danish citizenship cost hike
The government justifies the increase by explaining it's necessary to cover the true cost of processing citizenship applications.
The Red-Green Alliance and the Alternative parties, though, rejected the proposal, arguing that it's unfair to ask potential citizens to pay such a substantial amount.
Peder Hvelplund, immigration spokesperson for the Red-Green Alliance, expressed his concern in an interview with The Local in February, stating that the 6,000 kroner fee would mean a five-fold increase in a little over a decade, making it "quite unfair" for applicants.
The four MPs for the Social Liberal Party, who previously opposed the fee increase, abstained in the vote.
What's Next?
The enacted law is slated to come into effect on May 1st this year.
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See Also
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- The new Danish citizenship fee of 6,000 kroner, a significant increase from a decade ago, has been approved by the legislators and will take effect from May 1st.
- The government, along with several parliamentary parties, have backed this bill, while the Danish People's Party has protested it due to a perceived discount for some applicants.
- The Danish People's Party argues that taxpayers are footing the cost for lower fees for some applicants, and they find it unsustainable.
- The Red-Green Alliance and the Alternative parties have rejected the proposal, arguing that asking potential citizens to pay such a substantial amount is unfair.
- The 6,000 kroner fee represents a five-fold increase in a little over a decade, according to immigration spokesperson for the Red-Green Alliance, Peder Hvelplund.
- The Danish People's Party has also expressed concerns about reforms that may ease the path for Nordic nationals who have committed serious offenses to become Danish citizens.
