More than 1,100 internationals have had their visa applications rejected in 2025 after submitting false documents or incorrect information, a tenfold increase from the 107 cases recorded in 2020, according to figures from the Ministry of Immigration and Integration reported by TV 2.
The Ministry of Immigration and Integration said 1,147 applications had been denied as of September 4 for fraudulent or inaccurate submissions, compared to just 107 in 2020. The number has steadily climbed each year, with 263 rejections in 2021, 753 in 2022, and 1,210 in 2023.
Last year, 1,610 cases were recorded, the highest to date. Numbers in 2020 and 2021 were significantly lower, likely reflecting the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when international travel was sharply restricted.
The rise has sparked criticism from the anti-immigration Danish People’s Party, whose citizenship spokesperson, Mikkel Bjørn, described the trend as “explosive” and suggested some cases may involve fabricated employment contracts or falsified bank statements.
TV 2 requested an interview with Immigration and Integration Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek about whether additional measures are needed to address the increase. While he declined a live interview, Bek said in a written statement that “many internationals will cheat to come to Denmark,” and added that authorities remain focused on uncovering such cases.
The spike in visa rejections comes amid a broader political shift in Denmark, where immigration policy remains a contentious issue. Although the country continues to rely on international labor to address workforce shortages in sectors like health care and technology, many mainstream parties, including the Social Democrats, have moved toward stricter immigration controls in recent years.
Earlier this month, Bek posted on social media that while Denmark benefits from certain types of immigration, large inflows can strain schools, local governments, and public budgets. He cited recent scandals involving applicants posing as students while working illegally, as well as overcrowded reception classes, as examples of what he called unsustainable practices.
Bek said the government must be prepared to “say no” to some forms of immigration, signaling that visa fraud is increasingly viewed not only as a bureaucratic issue but also as a symbol of broader challenges in managing migration policy.
The debate reflects a wider discourse in Denmark, where political leaders across the spectrum have adopted more conservative positions on immigration in response to public concerns over integration, economic pressure on municipalities, and social cohesion.
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