Denmark’s citizenship freeze leaves family considering departure
Saturday 3rd October 2026 on 12:00 in
Denmark
A freeze on Danish citizenship applications has left Saeid Ashian and his family unsure whether they can stay in Denmark, DR reports. A human rights expert says the halt may conflict with international conventions and undermine trust in the legal system.
All citizenship cases are on hold while a committee examines whether applicants can be screened for anti-democratic views. The committee is expected to report by the end of the year.
Senior researcher Eva Ersbøll of the Danish Institute for Human Rights says Denmark has committed under the Convention on Nationality to maintain legislation on citizenship, and applicants should know which requirements apply. She says people who applied under the existing rules have suddenly been told their cases are suspended until new rules are introduced.
Parliament has not granted Danish citizenship since June 2025. First, applications were not processed while Denmark held the EU presidency. A later bill to grant citizenship to applicants fell after an election was called. In January, 2,055 people had been put forward to Parliament for citizenship, but their cases are now on hold.
Ashian was among those included in the January bill. He had waited more than three years and met all the requirements, but the bill was not passed. He works as a computer engineer at Saxo Bank; his wife, Mia, is a product manager at Lundbeck. Neither she nor their children are Danish citizens.
The couple moved from Iran more than 10 years ago, seeking democracy, stability and freedom for women. Ashian says they love living in Denmark and see it as a good place for their children’s future. But the uncertainty has left the family worried about their security, stability and future.
“The children see Denmark as their country,” Ashian said. “But if Denmark does not want to accept us as foreigners, then we have to consider living in another country.”
Ersbøll points to the Convention on Nationality, which says national law must allow people with lawful and settled residence to obtain citizenship and that applications must be handled within a reasonable time. She also cites the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects private and family life and the home, and says arbitrary refusal of citizenship can interfere with those rights.