Denmark Wants to Limit Protection for Ukrainian Men: Who Will Be Affected by the Changes
26 June 11:46
The Danish government has proposed changing the rules for granting temporary residence permits to Ukrainian men who are subject to mobilization regulations in Ukraine. According to the Danish ministry’s website, the relevant bill was introduced on June 25, 2026, by Denmark’s Minister of Immigration and Integration, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
The bill still needs to be reviewed and approved by the Danish Parliament.
If passed, men between the ages of 23 and 60 will be able to obtain a residence permit under a special law for displaced persons from Ukraine only if they can provide documented proof of exemption from military service.
What exactly does Denmark want to change?
The proposed changes concern a special law under which Ukrainians who left the country due to the Russian invasion can obtain a temporary residence permit in Denmark.
The bill stipulates that the general right to such a permit will no longer automatically apply to Ukrainian men subject to mobilization.
The new requirements are proposed for:
- men aged 23 to 60;
- young men who will turn 23 while residing in Denmark;
- applications submitted on or after June 25, 2026.
It is important to note that this is not yet a law, but a government legislative proposal.
Who May Be Denied a Residence Permit
If Parliament approves the bill, a Ukrainian man between the ages of 23 and 60 will be able to obtain a residence permit under this special law only after providing documentation confirming his exemption from military service.
Without such confirmation, the permit may be denied.
This refers specifically to official documents certifying that the person is not subject to military service or has been exempted in accordance with Ukrainian law.
The Danish Immigration Service will verify these documents when reviewing each application.
What will happen to Ukrainians under the age of 23
Young men who have not yet turned 23 will be able to obtain a temporary residence permit under a special law.
However, it will only be issued until the day they turn 23.
After that, the permit will not be automatically renewed. To extend his status, a man will need to provide documents confirming his exemption from military service.
Thus, the new rules may affect not only newly arrived men but also young Ukrainians who reach the specified age while already residing in Denmark.
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Effective Date of the Changes
The proposed rules are to apply to applications submitted on or after June 25, 2026.
The date of submission will be crucial.
If a person submitted an application before June 25, their case should not be subject to the new restrictions.
If an application is filed on June 25 or later, the immigration service may apply the new rules once the law takes effect.
What will happen to applications already under review?
A separate situation arises with applications filed after June 25, but for which a decision may be made before the law takes effect.
Under current rules, such applicants could theoretically still be eligible to receive a residence permit.
However, once the law is enacted, the Danish Immigration Service will assess whether to revoke permits issued to men aged 23 to 60 based on applications submitted on or after June 25.
If an individual’s permit is at risk of being revoked, the service will contact them directly.
Who Will Not Be Affected by the Changes
The new restrictions should not affect Ukrainians who:
- submitted an application by June 25, 2026;
- have already received a permit under a special law prior to that date;
- continue to maintain their previously granted status;
- do not fall into the specified age category;
- can provide documentary proof of exemption from military service.
According to the Danish authorities, permits that have already been issued and applications submitted by the established deadline will continue to be processed under the previous rules.
What documents can confirm exemption
Official information currently does not include an exhaustive list of documents that the Danish authorities will recognize as sufficient proof.
It is likely that during the application review process, officials may request official Ukrainian military registration or medical documents confirming a legal basis for exemption from service.
However, the exact requirements will be determined after the law is enacted and the immigration service publishes its guidelines.
Applicants should not rely on unofficial statements or explanations without documentary evidence.
Why Denmark Proposed New Restrictions
The Danish government explains that the initiative stems from the fact that special protection was originally established for people who were forced to leave Ukraine due to the war.
The authorities want to review separately the applications of men who, under Ukrainian rules, may be subject to mobilization.
At the same time, the final decision will depend on Parliament. During deliberations, lawmakers may support the bill, reject it, or propose amendments.
Until the law takes effect, current regulations will remain in force.
Can a permit that has already been issued be revoked?
There are no provisions for the automatic revocation of all permits.
The review may apply only to a specific group of men aged 23 to 60 who:
- submitted an application on June 25, 2026, or later;
- managed to obtain a permit before the new rules took effect;
- did not confirm their exemption from military service.
Each case must be assessed individually by the Danish Immigration Service.
People who submitted applications by June 25 are not at risk of having their permits revoked due to these changes.
What Applicants Should Do
Ukrainians who have already submitted documents or plan to apply for a permit should check the information directly on Denmark’s official portal.
It is also necessary to:
- keep a record of the date the application was submitted;
- check both email and regular mail;
- not ignore notifications from the immigration service;
- prepare official documents confirming discharge from military service, if applicable;
- report any changes to your address or contact information;
- do not use questionable services for obtaining certificates.
The legislative proposal may still change during parliamentary review.
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