Automatic citizenship at birth and after 10 years of residence
Last Week in Denmark (22.02-01.03) Episode 7 Year 6
What did we learn this week?
Parliamentary elections on March 24. Our chance to ask for automatic citizenship at birth and after 10 years of residence.
Mette Frederiksen turns left again with a proposed wealth tax of 0.5% on assets over 25 million DKK and a removal of property value tax for houses under 1 million DKK.
Banks are having a mortgage price war, which could mean cheaper housing loans for you.
Letter from the editor
Automatic citizenship at birth and after 10 years of residence.
The Prime Minister has called parliamentary elections for March 24. These are the only elections where only Danish citizens can vote (and therefore most internationals cannot). Around 10% of the population lives here, works here, pays taxes here, raises children here, but has no say in who forms the national government. That sounds disempowering. It is not.
Because here is the truth about politics: it is transactional. Candidates need volunteers. They need people knocking on doors, handing out flyers, and amplifying messages online. And they struggle to find enough help. That gives us leverage.
So here is my appeal. In the coming weeks, candidates will be looking left and right for support. Offer yours. But condition it on one clear request: publicly support automatic citizenship at birth for children born and raised here and automatic citizenship after ten years of legal residence. If one hundred of us make this ask, across parties and across the country, we create a group of future members of the Parliament who are already committed before they are elected.
Why citizenship at birth? Because children born here who go through school, who sing the same songs and learn the same history, should not grow up wondering whether they belong. No teenager should open a letter at 18 and feel their identity is conditional. Uncertainty creates anxiety. It creates exclusion. It creates bullying where classmates ask why you are not “really” from here. A society that invests in a child for 18 years should not hesitate to recognize that child as fully part of it.
Why citizenship after 10 years of residence? Because 10 years is not a short stay. It is a decade of taxes paid, friendships built, companies supported, and children raised. It is a decade of contributing to the welfare state and the economy. Long-term residents already carry the responsibilities of citizenship. They follow the laws, fund the schools, and finance the healthcare system. Giving them political rights strengthens democracy. It increases integration. It aligns responsibility with representation.
It is remarkable that after 15 years here, I still cannot vote in parliamentary elections. I can help build institutions. I can contribute to the economy. I can participate in local democracy. But not nationally.
That can change. Not by complaining. Not by waiting. But by organizing, by offering support strategically, and by asking for something concrete in return.
We are many. And mountains move when enough people push at the same time.
Let’s push.
Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!
Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID
Our long-form articles this week…
1. The international who took on her exploitative employer - and won. Daniel Sfita.
2. How to Photograph the Northern Lights. Laura Matheson.
3. A guide to Denmark’s political parties. Mark Søderberg.
Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.
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Image(s) of the Week
📸Blood rain and red skies. Warm air from the Sahara carried fine desert dust all the way to Denmark this week, creating the chance of so-called “blood rain” and unusually red sunrises.
Danish Politics HQ
Law proposals
🌊 Government proposes 14.9 billion DKK for coastal protection. The climate adaptation plan sets aside nearly 15 billion DKK from 2029 to 2040 to build dikes, flood walls, and other defenses against storm surges and rising sea levels. The state would cover 85% of construction costs, with municipalities paying the remaining 15%, though particularly exposed areas could receive additional support. Funding is expected to come from the broader 2035 economic plan and still requires political negotiations.
🇺🇦 A new proposal would exclude people from certain less war-affected regions of Ukraine and men covered by Ukrainian mobilization rules from receiving residence permits under the special law. The changes would not affect those who already hold permits but could impact future applicants, especially men aged 23 to 60. The bill is expected to be presented in April.
Take this quiz to see how well you know your Ukrainian neighbors.
Political scene
🗳️ Parliamentary election set for March 24. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called a parliamentary election after Parliament approved a tax-free food support payment of 1,000 to 5,000 DKK for more than two million people.
Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) regained momentum after the Greenland crisis, while the blue opposition bloc (right-wing) is divided and polling weaker than before.
Public disagreements inside the government coalition have also signaled that the government was reaching its limit, and most key policy initiatives have already been presented.
💰 New tax proposals target homeowners and high wealth. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has presented election proposals that would remove property value tax for around 200,000 homes valued under one million DKK and introduce a 0.5% wealth tax on assets above 25 million DKK. Eligible homeowners could save up to 4,000 DKK per year, while about 22,000 of the wealthiest people would be affected by the new tax. Business groups warn the wealth tax could hurt investment, while inequality advocates support it.
🔵 Venstre (Liberals) leader enters race for prime minister. Troels Lund Poulsen has announced he is running as a candidate for prime minister and wants to lead a blue government (right-wing) after the election on March 24. He warns that a red majority (left-wing) under Mette Frederiksen would bring higher taxes for households and businesses. His candidacy means three party leaders are now openly competing for the top job.
Liberal Alliance (Liberal Conservative) leader ready to become prime minister if blue bloc wins. Alex Vanopslagh has announced he is prepared to take the top job if his party becomes the largest in a blue majority and secures 90 seats.
🏠 Venstre (Liberals) wants more owner-occupied homes in big cities. Troels Lund Poulsen proposes that municipalities should be allowed to require 50% of new housing projects to be owner-occupied homes, up from 25% today. He also suggests converting attics, shops, and office spaces into housing to increase supply and lower prices. A housing economist says reaching 50% in Copenhagen is unrealistic.
Latest on Greenland
🚢 Trump suggests sending hospital ship to Greenland. Trump shared an AI-generated image saying the US would send a hospital ship to Greenland, though it is unclear whether any real deployment is planned. Local voices in Greenland reject the idea and say there is no health emergency requiring American assistance. The post is seen by critics as part of ongoing political pressure related to US interest in the territory.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
🌱 Early signs of spring are appearing across the country. After weeks of frost, milder weather is revealing flowers like snowdrops and winter aconites pushing through the soil, along with other subtle changes in nature. A nature guide points to woodpeckers drumming in treetops and fresh nettle shoots emerging as clear indicators that the seasons are shifting. If you need a mood boost, a short walk in the forest might already feel different.
🗿 Committee names 12 living women who deserve public statues. A report highlights 100 women who should be honored in public spaces, including 12 who are still alive, to address the imbalance between male and female monuments. The list includes former prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former monarch Margrethe II, musician Anne Linnet, and physicist Lene Vestergaard Hau, among others. The committee argues that waiting until people are deceased limits visibility and inspiration.
🥔 Potatoes are losing ground on dinner plates. A new national dietary survey shows potato consumption has dropped significantly over the past decade, especially among younger people, while rice and pasta are gaining popularity. Intake has fallen between 28 and 55% depending on age group. A nutrition expert says potatoes remain rich in fiber, vitamin C, and minerals and argues they deserve a comeback despite their old-fashioned image.
Test yourself to see if you follow the official dietary guidelines.
📱 Children get smartphones at age eight on average. A new report from Red Barnet shows children receive their first smartphone at eight years old, even though the organization recommends waiting until 13. Three out of four children have a smartphone by age ten, and many parents say screens are necessary for social belonging. At the same time, four in ten parents feel older children struggle to find activities without screens.
🚌 Volunteer minibuses aim to reduce loneliness among seniors. Guldborgsund Municipality has launched two electric minibuses to help older residents attend social activities beyond walking distance from home. The large rural municipality has limited public transport, leaving many without a car isolated. Eighteen volunteer drivers will operate the buses after training in first aid and driving skills. For elderly residents the service means access to markets and community gatherings that were previously out of reach.
📻 Radiobingo returns after rule change. Small non-commercial local radio stations can once again host money-based bingo games after a legal misunderstanding temporarily banned the format. The original gambling rules were not intended to target community stations, but they were caught in the update and forced to stop for more than a year. A new low-cost permit now allows limited-revenue bingo with clear caps on turnover and payout rates. For many older listeners, the return of radiobingo restores an important weekly social ritual.
Danish Economics HQ
Our money
💰 Government spends most of future fiscal room on defense and VAT cuts. The new 2035 economic plan allocates billions to reach 3.5% of GDP in defense spending and to fund a yet unspecified VAT reduction, leaving only 36 billion DKK in free funds (money that can be allocated to political proposals) by 2030. Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen says the “pot is nearly empty” once the priorities are funded, and Lars Løkke Rasmussen agrees there will be little room for additional initiatives. The message is clear: large new spending promises will be difficult in the coming years despite strong employment figures.
💼 A new three-year agreement brings pay rises for municipal employees. Around 500,000 municipal workers will receive a total economic framework of 9.2% over three years, including wage increases of 6.27% and additional funds for specific groups. The deal also introduces a flexible benefits account where employees can choose between salary, pension, or extra leave and offers the option of paid leave on a child’s third sick day. Extra funds are allocated to recruitment-challenged areas and to managers. The agreement now goes to member voting before final approval.
Municipal employees are people hired by the local government, like educators, teachers, administrators, elderly care assistants, etc.
🛣️ Special asphalt can reduce motorway noise. A government trial shows that “drain asphalt” can lower traffic noise by around four decibels compared to standard road surfaces. The test took place on several stretches, including Motorring 3, west of Copenhagen, where about 29,000 homes are affected by high noise levels. Mayors across multiple municipalities are now urging the state to roll it out more widely. The transport minister says results are promising but notes the material is more expensive and may need replacing more often.
State of the markets
🏠 Mortgage price war lowers costs for some homeowners. Nordea has reduced its mortgage contribution rate for fixed-rate loans and interest-only loans, meaning some customers could save almost 200 DKK per month per million borrowed. The move comes as other major lenders have also cut prices in recent weeks, increasing competition in the housing loan market.
📈 Record number of people open stock savings accounts. 167,000 people opened an aktiesparekonto in 2025, bringing the total to 658,000, or just over one in ten people. The account offers a lower tax rate of 17% but uses annual taxation on gains, even if you have not sold your investments. Experts warn the system is more complex and losses cannot be deducted as broadly as with a regular share account.
🛩️ Ukrainian drone producer may establish production in Denmark. The government is in dialogue with Ukrainian defense company Skyfall about setting up manufacturing locally, which would make it the second Ukrainian arms firm to establish operations here.
🤖 AI replaces support jobs at an accounting firm. Martin Thorborg says AI now handles over 70% of customer inquiries at Dinero, leading the company to pause hiring and not replace several support roles. He warns that many office-based professions such as accountants and lawyers could face major disruption in the coming years, while manual and care jobs may be less affected initially. Although he believes AI will improve services, he also calls for a broader debate about income and work if large groups lose employment.
Entrepreneurship
🏢 Government promises major relief from business red tape. The next phase of Automatic Business Reporting could bring total potential administrative savings of up to 21.5 billion DKK for companies, while state inspections are set to be reduced so that firms’ time and costs fall by nearly 10%.
International Community HQ
🎓 Politician apologizes after questioning citizenship over student’s name. Mikkel Bjørn, chairman of the citizenship committee, initially asked whether an 18-year-old student’s Arabic surname was incompatible with becoming Danish, in a question to Integration Minister Rasmus Stoklund. He has since apologized on Facebook, saying the question was sent by mistake and that he distances himself from its tone and premise. The case has reignited discussion about identity and the citizenship process.
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Community Noticeboard
👪 Childcare in Denmark – Webinar 📍 Online | Tuesday March 3, 16:30–17:30 👉 Register here
🗓️ The Danish Tax System – Online Q&A📍 Online | Thursday, March 12, 16:30–18:00 👉 Register here
🖇️ Mastering CVs & LinkedIn Profiles 📍 Online | Thursday, March 5, 13:00–14:30 🔗 Register here
✉️ Mastering Compelling Cover Letters 📍 Online | Tuesday, March 10, 10:00–11:30 🔗 Register here
🏰 Welcome to Copenhagen 📍 International House Copenhagen, Nyropsgade 1 | Thursday, March 12, 17:00–19:00 🔗 Read more here
➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk
Denmark in Global Headlines
🚑 “Did Trump just dis Greenland’s healthcare after U.S. sailor is airlifted and treated by Denmark?” – Arctic Today
🚢 “Greenland does not need Trump’s ‘great hospital boat’, Denmark says” – France24
🛳️ “Trump reportedly isn’t sending a hospital ship to Greenland after all” – MS Now
💻 “Several Greenlandic websites hit by cyberattack, Danish authority confirms” – Anadolu
🏆 “Denmark ranked world’s least corrupt: now its embassy wants to help the Philippines” – ScandAsia
🗳️ “Danish PM calls snap election with Greenland issue centre-stage” – BBC