At a recent constitution ceremony at Copenhagen City Hall, several new Danish citizens finally received the official recognition of their citizenship.

I participated in the ceremony as Group Leader for the Social Liberal Party (Radikale Venstre), and I witnessed how significant this moment was for every individual involved.

One attendee I meet had waited a full 21 years to reach this stage, yet she is only one among many who have painstakingly fulfilled every requirement: passing language and citizenship tests, maintaining a clean criminal record, avoiding public debt, being self-reliant, and having a lengthy legal residency in Denmark.

Nevertheless, the Danish government has decided to suspend constitution ceremonies for the remainder of 2025—citing that the upcoming EU Presidency will consume so many resources that the processing of citizenship applications could be rushed.

Long wait for handling citizen application

However, many argue that the real problem does not lie in the final ceremony itself, but in the broader application process, which too long has under-resourced and leaves applicants waiting in uncertainty for extended periods.

Individuals who have already demonstrated their commitment and eligibility to be part of Danish society find themselves caught in a system that numerous critics describe as undervalued.

This recent governmental decision is thus seen as further evidence of insufficient focus on creating a fair, transparent, and efficient application process!

When waiting times are already lengthy, attention must turn to where the real delays occur, rather than blaming the final step, which only takes place after every other condition has been met.

More than a passport

For many, Danish citizenship represents far more than a passport. It marks the culmination of years spent integrating into Danish life—learning the language, following the rules, and consistently showing a desire to contribute.

While the ceremony itself is rich in symbolism, the true challenge lies in the road leading up to it.

Protracted wait times and administrative backlogs underscore that the genuine issues often originate well before the ceremony, rooted in a system plagued by persistent underfunding and a lack of prioritization.

Recognizing this, I and the Social Liberal Party (Radikale Venstre) intend to address the matter both with the government and at Copenhagen City Hall.

We will fight to ensure that future Danish citizens—especially those living in Copenhagen—can achieve citizenship without being subjected to unjustifiable delays.

Instead of suspending the celebratory event, critics insist that resources should be directed toward expediting and streamlining the application process, ensuring errors are minimized long before the concluding ceremony.

Must fix administrative issues

For those who have met all of Denmark’s stringent requirements, a drawn-out process feels both morally questionable and profoundly frustrating.

Citizenship is a vital milestone in confirming one’s belonging to the Danish community.

Therefore, it is imperative to fix the underlying administrative issues so that the ceremony can remain a dignified finale—one that properly honors the significant journey made by those aspiring to become part of Denmark.

So, to those of you who have received your Danish citizenship this year, congratulations.

To those who were supposed to receive it later this year, I offer my apologies.