The Ministry for Immigration and Integration of Denmark has proposed to change the rules applying to family reunification of spouses.
The proposal on the matter was put forward by the Ministry earlier in April and its main aim is to make it easier for couples to reunite, .
As the Danish authorities have explained, if the proposal by the Ministry for Immigration and Integration gets passed, spouses in Denmark will no longer be obliged to pass the Prøve i Dansk 3 or an equivalent Danish language test to prove integration.
Instead, it will be possible for spouses to meet the reunification requirements related to integration by proving to have five years of full employment that has involved significant communication in Danish.
In order for the couple collectively to meet the integration requirement, can also be met by the spouse in Denmark by documenting having been in ordinary full-time employment for five years, which has significantly involved communication in Danish.
Proposal Also Halves Financial Guarantee Requirement for Spouse Reunification
In addition, the Ministry has also proposed for the financial guarantee to be halved for foreigners in the country who want to bring their spouses.
In line with the proposal, the financial guarantee for family reunification of spouses will be lowered from around DKK 114,000 (€15,283) to DKK 57,000 (€7,641).
The proposal from the Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration is still under review, and if it gets passed, the new rules for family reunification of spouses explained above will enter into force on July 1, 2024.
However, the Danish authorities have explained that in case the proposal gets approved, applications that were submitted before July 1 may also be processed under the new rules
This will spouses in Denmark to bring their partners to the country while meeting a reduced financial guarantee and proving to be integrated through their work experience that involved communication in Danish for at least five years.
As for those whose application for spouse reunification was refused before the proposal was made on April 11, because they did not meet the requirements that still continue to apply, the Danish authorities emphasised that they will have the opportunity to submit a new application after the proposal has been approved.
It Is Crucial That Foreigners Get Integrated, Danish Minister for Immigration & Integration Said
The Minister for Immigration and Integration of Denmark, Kaare Dybvad Bek, who proposed the bill changes for spouse reunification, said that it is crucial that all foreigners in the country are integrated.
The Minister further stressed that the Danish government wants to maintain a firm immigration policy.
The government pledges to maintain a firm immigration policy that does not unnecessarily obstruct ordinary families.
In addition, the same stressed that the proposed changes will have a positive impact on those who are already residing and legally working in the country.