Asylum
In layman's terms,
asylum means protection.
In 2011 about
3,800 persons applied for asylum in Denmark.
The Immigration Service ruled in
3,400 asylum application cases in 2011, and approximately
33% were granted asylum.
Convention refugees and others in need of protection
In order to be granted asylum in Denmark, an applicant must meet the conditions listed in the United Nations Refugee Convention, or the conditions for Protected Status as defined in Section 7 of the Danish Aliens Act.
According to the United Nations Refugee Convention, a refugee is a person who is outside his or her country of origin, due to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.
In addition, Denmark grants protection in cases where, as a state, it is obliged to do so in order to comply with the international conventions it has ratified. For example, residence permits are granted to asylum seekers who risk the death penalty, torture, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, if they return to their country of origin.
Who are applying for asylum?
In 2011, the predominant groups of asylum seekers came from Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Serbia and Russia. In the first six months of 2012 the predominant groups have been: Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and Russia.