Background information

When the war in Ukraine began, millions of Ukrainians were forced to flee. Thus, the parliament agreed to an act that makes it easier to be allowed residence in Denmark. The act’s purpose is to secure quicker access to the Danish society, so Ukrainian citizens can be allowed to go to school, gain education and work.

The special law was extended on 3. November 2023 to last until 17. march 2025

Content of measure

The act refers to Ukrainian citizen who fled Ukraine on the 24 February 2022 or later, and for Ukrainian citizens who already had a place of residence in Denmark at the time in question. Citizens who obtain residence in Denmark under the special act are allowed to work and get education. If a citizen under the given act is not working nor receiving any social benefits, the person will be offered a program that will help them gain employment in the Danish workforce. Additionally, they will be offered Danish education. Moreover, spouses and people with familiar connection who shared residence with the refugee before leaving Ukraine can also apply for asylum in Denmark.

The special act was presented by the Ministry of Immigration and Integration and will be implemented by the municipalities.

Use of measure

As of the 16 May 2022, 26,512 accumulated applications have been sent by Ukrainian citizens. 15,148 Ukrainian citizens have been granted a temporary residence permit.

As of 5 June 2023, 40,572 applications had been submitted by Ukrainian citizens for temporary residence permits. 36,956 residence permits had been granted.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Public employment service	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

There has not been any involvement from social partners. The measure was presented by the Ministry of Immigration and Integration and will be implemented by the municipalities.

Views and reactions

There has not been any reactions to the measure by social partners. However, several NGO's have uttered their opinion on the measure. Red Cross Denmark is happy that the government greets Ukrainian refugees with easier access to the Danish Workforce and the Danish education system. However, they criticise that the special acts will partially be funded by the development aid fund (2 billion Danish crowns). NGO’s like Amnesty International, Action Aid Denmark and Refugee Welcome have criticised the special act for favouring Ukrainian refugees over other refugees who still have to wait for years for residence permits to be processed, and must pass through restrictive assessments procedures.

Sources

• 15 March 2022: Forslag til lov om midlertidig opholdstilladelse til personer, der er fordrevet fra Ukraine. / Folketinget (ft.dk) (www.ft.dk)
• 16 March 2022: Lov om midlertidig opholdstilladelse til personer, der er fordrevet fra Ukraine (retsinformation.dk) (www.retsinformation.dk)
• 10 May 2022: Høringssvar | Røde Kors (rodekors.dk) (www.rodekors.dk)
• 16 May 2022: Tal vedrørende fordrevne fra Ukraine (us.dk) (us.dk)
• 05 June 2023: Tal vedrørende personer, der er fordrevet fra Ukraine (us.dk)