Iranian residents in Denmark face uncertain futures as war halts immigration processing. Families are separated, work permits frozen, and asylum applications suspended while their homeland becomes a combat zone. Lives that were once stable now hang in limbo.
Families Torn Apart by War and Bureaucracy
Masoomeh Nezhadi sits in her Brøndby apartment, surrounded by family photos. Her husband is now thousands of kilometers away in Tehran, a city under bombardment. She spoke with him for 30 seconds two days ago. She has not heard from him since.
A Life on Hold
Three years ago, Masoomeh and her husband arrived in Denmark as healthcare workers. Both worked as nurses in Iran for years and began working as social and healthcare assistants in Denmark. They built a life with colleagues, friends, and Danish schools for their children. That life ended abruptly in December 2025 when she received a rejection letter from the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, known as SIRI. Her work and residence permit was denied.
The family was ordered to leave Denmark by January 7, 2026. While she and her eldest son applied for asylum, her husband chose to return to Tehran. He hoped to reenter Denmark through the positive list, a roster of professions facing labor shortages. Now he sits in a war zone while his family waits in Denmark.
Communication Breakdown
Internet service in Iran is unreliable. Masoomeh cannot reach her husband consistently. Other Iranian residents in Denmark report similar struggles. Nasrin, who asks to be identified by first name only for security reasons, says families in Iran face constant fear. When reports mention fighter jets and missiles, people naturally become afraid.
Niaz Majnoon, living in Kolding, also faces disconnection. He applied for an extension of his residence permit months ago. While his application is processed, he cannot work. His visa remains valid for nearly another year, yet he sits idle, waiting for authorities to decide his fate.
Immigration System Freezes Amid Conflict
The escalating military conflict in Iran has paralyzed Denmark’s immigration system for Iranians. Asylum applications, visa requests, and residence permit applications are all suspended.
Official Suspension Announced
On January 23, 2026, the Danish Immigration Service and Refugee Appeals Board suspended processing of all Iranian asylum cases. The decision followed a January 12 meeting of the Coordination Committee, which cited the very uncertain situation in the country. This suspension predated the major military strikes that began in late February. Meanwhile, on a Monday in early March, authorities also suspended visa and residence permit applications. The Danish Immigration Service confirmed the freeze applies broadly.
Certain categories continue to be processed. Cases involving Dublin Regulation transfers, age assessments, and refusals under specific legal provisions proceed. However, the vast majority of Iranian applications are frozen. As a result, people like Masoomeh, Niaz, and Nasrin exist in legal limbo.
Work Permits Denied Despite Labor Shortages
Many Iranians came to Denmark specifically because of healthcare labor shortages. Denmark actively recruited Iranian nurses and healthcare workers. Yet administrative rejections now prevent them from working. Masoomeh’s rejection stems from a technical requirement involving employer contributions to the Apprenticeship Employer Contribution, known as AUB. Her employer and her lawyer, René Schack, both argue the rejection lacks justification.
SIRI states that employers must meet obligations to train apprentices and pay into the AUB fund. If an employer fails to meet these requirements, foreign workers cannot be hired through the skilled worker positive list. However, this leaves workers like Masoomeh unemployed despite their qualifications and Denmark’s ongoing need for healthcare staff.
War Turns Difficult Situations Into Crises
The conflict that erupted in late February transformed already challenging immigration cases into humanitarian crises. Coordinated Israeli and American airstrikes began on February 28, 2026, targeting over 500 locations across Iran.
Military Strikes and Leadership Losses
The operation, codenamed Roaring Lion and Epic Fury by Israeli and American forces respectively, deployed approximately 200 Israeli jets. Targets included military installations, air defense systems, government buildings, and naval vessels. Senior Iranian leaders were killed, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani. American President Donald Trump stated the objective was to dismantle Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities within one month and topple the current government.
The strikes followed months of escalating tensions. In June 2025, the United States struck Iranian nuclear facilities. American intelligence estimated the operation set back Iran’s nuclear program by two years. In January 2026, Iranian security forces killed thousands of protesters during anti-regime demonstrations. Over 18,000 people were arrested.
Iranian Retaliation and Regional Escalation
Iran responded on March 1 with missile attacks on 14 American military bases across the Middle East. Facilities in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia were hit. Three American service members were killed and five others injured. Houthi forces resumed attacks on Red Sea shipping. The Strait of Hormuz closed, disrupting global oil shipments. Israel expanded strikes to Lebanon after Hezbollah launched rockets.
UN Secretary General António Guterres called the situation a grave threat to international peace and security. Denmark’s representative to the United Nations emphasized that de-escalation is imperative and that further regional escalation would have devastating consequences. Denmark closed its embassy in Tehran on March 10, following the military strikes.
Political Debate Over Deportations
Around 135 Iranians in Denmark have received final rejections from both the Immigration Service and the Refugee Appeals Board. They are in deportation position. The military conflict has ignited political debate over what should happen next.
Left-Wing Calls for Indefinite Suspension
Left-wing parties, including the Unity List and Social Liberals, argue that deportations to an active war zone are impossible. Unity List spokesperson Pelle Dragsted stated that when bombs are falling across large parts of Iran, deportations must be paused. Social Liberal leader Martin Lidegaard said he cannot imagine the Refugee Appeals Board proceeding with deportations when Iran has become a war zone with an uncertain future. Both parties acknowledge uncertainty about how long the pause should last. Dragsted admitted he cannot predict the timeline given the chaotic situation.
Neither party argues that rejected asylum seekers should remain permanently. Rather, they contend that timing must be reassessed as conditions change. The emphasis is on immediate humanitarian concerns and legal obligations not to deport people into active conflict zones.
Right-Wing Insistence on Resuming Deportations
Right-wing parties, including the Danish People’s Party and Denmark Democrats, maintain that rejected asylum seekers should leave Denmark as quickly as possible. Danish People’s Party immigration spokesperson Mikkel Bjørn stated that ideally, deportees would leave tomorrow. However, Bjørn acknowledged that the Refugee Appeals Board makes final decisions and indicated his party would accept different assessments based on war conditions. Denmark Democrats leader Inger Støjberg insisted that work toward deportation should continue and that Iranians should return home as soon as travel becomes possible.
Both parties emphasize the principle that people without legal residence must not remain indefinitely. They acknowledge current practical constraints but argue for maintaining the goal of resuming deportations as soon as feasible. Støjberg expressed hope that the Iranian regime will soon fall, allowing Iranians to return home and help rebuild a free Iran.
Government Seeks Middle Ground
Immigration and Integration Minister Rasmus Stoklund opposes indefinite suspension while maintaining that deportations should resume as soon as it becomes safe. Stoklund noted that the Refugee Appeals Board already extended deadlines once in January 2025 following violent protests. He argues against indefinite suspension, pointing out that 80 million Iranians currently live in Iran despite challenges. However, he explicitly acknowledges that deportations cannot occur until safety conditions are met.
Stoklund’s position attempts to balance humanitarian concerns with policy principles. He suggests the current situation is temporary and conditions will stabilize relatively soon. This optimism about timeline is not shared across the political spectrum.
Iranians in Denmark Express Frustration
For Iranians caught in the suspended system, frustration mounts daily. Many came to Denmark to work and contribute, not to seek permanent asylum. The shift from worker to asylum seeker feels like a demotion.
Desire to Work, Not Depend on Aid
Masoomeh emphasizes that she wants to return to work and contribute to society. She misses her colleagues and the routine of daily professional life. Each day at home without work feels like wasted time. Nasrin, another Iranian woman in Denmark, stresses that they did not come to Denmark to be a burden on the state. They came to work.
Niaz Majnoon shares this sentiment. He wants to work and support himself financially. His visa remains valid for nearly a year, yet he sits idle while his application is processed. Authorities have not requested additional documents. They have not told him he may stay or that he must leave. The waiting is maddening.
Fear for Families in Iran
Beyond personal immigration struggles, Iranian residents worry constantly about families in the war zone. Internet outages prevent regular contact. Masoomeh describes the anxiety of not knowing whether her husband is safe. Nasrin reports that some Iranian families go days without hearing from relatives. When communication finally occurs, it is brief and often interrupted.
Niaz notes that all his countrymen are in danger. Reports of fighter jets and missiles create pervasive fear. Iranian diaspora communities in Denmark organized protests in January 2026 supporting anti-regime movements. Demonstrators in Copenhagen called for regime change by the people of Iran, rejecting both the historical monarchy and the current theocracy. This political activity reflects deep opposition to the Iranian government among some diaspora members.
Legal and Administrative Complexities
The suspension of immigration processing creates legal grey areas. People with expired permits cannot work but also cannot be deported. Families are separated across borders with no timeline for reunion.
The AUB Requirement Explained
One technical requirement affecting workers like Masoomeh is the Apprenticeship Employer Contribution rule. Employers in Denmark who are obligated to train apprentices must pay into a fund managed by Arbejdsgivernes Uddannelsesbidrag, known as AUB. If the employer does not meet these obligations, SIRI cannot approve applications to hire foreign workers through the positive list for skilled workers.
