At least 23 individuals were unlawfully stripped of their Danish citizenship due to a misinterpretation of the law by authorities, according to documents accessed by the newspaper Politiken. The revelation follows a landmark decision in June 2023 by the Supreme Court of Denmark (Højesteret), which ruled that the government’s reinterpretation of the Danish Nationality Act had been incorrect.
The case that triggered the ruling concerned a woman who became a Danish citizen in 2005 at the age of nine. Born in Vietnam to a Danish father of Vietnamese origin and a French mother, the woman was deprived of her citizenship in 2021 following a reinterpretation of the law by the then government. Authorities claimed that because her father was not a Danish citizen at the time of her birth, she had acquired citizenship in error.
However, the Supreme Court concluded that the legal basis for revoking her citizenship was flawed, affirming her status as a Danish citizen. Following the court’s decision, she has since had her citizenship reinstated.
Government confirms more cases and potential denials
Danish Minister for Immigration and Integration Kaare Dybvad Bek (Socialdemocrats, Socialdemokratiet) confirmed to Politiken that the misinterpretation extended beyond this single case. At least 22 more individuals were similarly stripped of their citizenship, and others may have had their applications for Danish citizenship wrongly rejected on the same grounds.
“It is deeply regrettable that people have lost their citizenship or were never granted it because the law was not applied correctly,” the Minister told the newspaper.
Calls for compensation and accountability
The revelations have sparked criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates, who argue that the Danish Government must not only correct the errors but also offer redress to the affected individuals.
The Danish Institute for Human Rights (Institut for Menneskerettigheder) has called for a thorough investigation into the administrative practices that allowed such a misapplication of the law to persist. Political opposition parties have demanded transparency and accountability, urging the Ministry of Immigration to review all similar cases from recent years.
Wider implications for Denmark’s citizenship policy
This incident highlights growing concerns over Denmark’s increasingly restrictive citizenship policies in recent years. Critics argue that such policies, coupled with rigid administrative interpretations, disproportionately affect individuals from immigrant backgrounds and create legal uncertainties.
In light of the Supreme Court‘s decision and the newly revealed cases, the government is expected to initiate a comprehensive review of its procedures related to citizenship processing and revocation. The Ministry has yet to confirm whether those who were wrongly denied citizenship will be contacted proactively or have to reapply.
Citizenship in Denmark
Denmark has among the strictest naturalization requirements in Europe, including language tests, self-sufficiency conditions, and long residency periods. According to Statistics Denmark (Danmarks Statistik), approximately 4,000 people were granted Danish citizenship in 2023, a decline from previous years amid tightened rules.
The new findings are likely to fuel an ongoing national debate on integration, legal certainty, and the responsibilities of public institutions in upholding citizens’ rights.
