legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

Political rights
Municipalities must set up integration councils when requested by more than 50 citizens. The
members of these councils are appointed by the municipality. Their functions are advisory. In
addition, the representatives of refugee and immigrant associations in the local councils elect a
national Council for Ethnic Minorities, which has an advisory function with the Minister of Interior.
Refugees and immigrants who have been resident for three years in Denmark have the right to
vote in local elections. Participation to general elections and referendums requires Danish
citizenship.
Citizenship
A refugee who has been resident in Denmark for six years may apply for Danish citizenship.
Citizenship is granted by law and is conditioned, among other things, on the applicant’s
knowledge of Danish or on any criminal record.
Repatriation
The legal basis for voluntary repatriation from Denmark is the Repatriation Act No. 353 of 2 June
1999, which entered into force on 1 January 2000. The law applies to recognised refugees and to
persons with residence permit on humanitarian grounds or for exceptional reasons. Under this
new repatriation scheme, allowances and assistance are granted by the municipality where the
refugee was settled. Municipalities are reimbursed by the state by up to 75% or 100% depending
on which allowance has been granted.
Refugees who wish to repatriate may be granted following assistance:
– one way ticket to the home country;
– freight costs for personal belongings (maximum two m² per person);
– freight costs up to DKK 10,000 [EUR 1,342] for transport of professional equipment;
– cash amount up to DKK 18,000 [EUR 2,415]. per adult and DKK 6,000 [EUR 805] per minor
child;
– purchase of professional equipment up to DKK 10,000 [EUR 1,342]. per adult;
– cost for a one-year health insurance, if no public health insurance is available in the home
country and payment of prescribed medicine brought from Denmark and limited to a 1-year
consumption period.
Under certain conditions (residence permit for at least five years, permanent residence permit,
low incomes) refugees over 65 years of age wishing to repatriate may be granted a reintegration
allowance for five years. Refugees aged 55-65 years considered as unable to provide for
themselves are also eligible, as well as those who have been granted a disability pension
regardless of their age. For 2000, the monthly amount of the reintegration allowance for
repatriation to a European country is DKK 1,900 [EUR 255].
In special cases, if one member of the family returns to the home country ahead of the others, the
family members remaining in Denmark can be granted a housing benefit until they repatriate
themselves. Such benefit is limited to a maximum period of 12 months.
Both Convention and de facto refuges who have repatriated are allowed to return to Denmark
within 12 months following repatriation. Upon application, this may be extended for another year.
Under certain conditions, thus may also apply to persons with residence permit on humanitarian
grounds or for exceptional reasons.
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Denmark