The Danish government will restrict temporary residence for Ukrainians to those from the areas hardest hit by the war. Mayors in the Copenhagen suburbs say the change does not solve their housing problems.
Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bødskov of the Social Democrats presented the tightening on Saturday, August 22. DR reports that only Ukrainians from the regions worst affected by the war will be able to obtain temporary residence in Denmark.
According to DR, roughly one third of the 48,000 Ukrainians currently housed by Danish municipalities come from those regions. Bødskov told DR that municipalities have asked for help, pointing to difficulties in finding housing. He described the new rules as a helping hand to the local authorities.
TV 2 reports that a broad majority in the Folketing is ready to change the Ukraine Special Act, so that Ukrainians from 14 less war-affected regions can no longer qualify. As reported by BT, citing a press release from the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, the change will be presented in a bill amending the act.
Mayors call it a drop in the ocean
In Rødovre, one of the municipalities that has long asked for relief, Mayor Britt Jensen of the Social Democrats said the measure does not solve the real problems. She told DR that Ukrainian refugees are still allocated to the western Copenhagen suburbs, where there is no space. She called the step a move in the right direction, but also a drop in the ocean.
Jensen argued that the distribution of Ukrainian refugees between municipalities should take account of each municipality’s social and integration challenges. She said 30 percent of Rødovre’s residents have a non-Western background, and that the municipality has already taken a large share of responsibility. She would prefer that Rødovre be exempted from receiving more Ukrainian refugees.
Merete Amdisen, Social Democratic mayor of Ishøj, also called for a redistribution. She told DR that Ishøj cannot obtain permission to build refugee housing in its green areas. That, she said, risks leaving barrack camps on parking lots as the only option for people fleeing war.
Bødskov said he cannot promise the suburban municipalities that they will not receive more Ukrainians, because arrivals continue. He said there will be fewer in the future, and that the government will look at further measures. He added that the municipalities under the greatest pressure today will also receive fewer people going forward.
The Ministry of Immigration and Integration stated in June 2026 that men aged 23 to 60 who are not exempt from Ukrainian military service will no longer be able to obtain residence under the Special Act. The ministry has also stated that the changes do not apply retroactively to permits already granted. According to UA.News, only new applicants are affected, and the city of Kyiv is not on the list of safer regions.
