Immigration agency pauses residence cases after criminal register error

Some pending applications for permanent residence and family reunification have been put on hold following errors in Denmark’s Central Criminal Register, DR reported, citing the Danish Immigration Service.

The pause applies to cases in which criminal offences committed in Denmark may affect whether an applicant meets the conditions for a residence permit. The Immigration Service has not said how many cases are affected.

The error became public last week, when National Police Commissioner Lasse Boje briefed politicians at Christiansborg. Some records had been deleted incorrectly from the Central Criminal Register, which is used in handling offences and criminal cases in Denmark.

The error was discovered in June. Police have been investigating its cause, scope and consequences for different types of cases.

“It is very serious that there are errors in the Criminal Register because the Criminal Register is central to the handling of offences and criminal cases in Denmark,” Boje said in a press release.

The error has also led to the suspension of issuing child criminal record certificates and weapons permits. On Monday, some citizenship cases were put on hold as well.

The Ministry of Immigration and Integration said it had asked the immigration authorities to suspend processing cases where the error could be relevant.

The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration and the Return Agency do not need to put cases on hold, according to the Immigration Service.