The UK government is actively exploring Denmark's stringent approach to immigration as a potential blueprint for its own strategy to combat illegal migration, Sky News understands.
Scandinavian Scrutiny: A Fact-Finding Mission
Last month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood dispatched officials to the Nordic nation on a fact-finding mission. Their goal was to study Denmark's border control and asylum policies, which are widely regarded as some of the most robust in Europe.
The delegation is understood to have paid particular attention to two key Danish policies: tighter rules on family reunion and the principle of granting most refugees only a temporary stay in the country. This fact-finding trip comes ahead of a major shake-up of the UK's immigration system, which Ms Mahmood is expected to announce later this month.
The Danish Blueprint: Temporary Stays and Tighter Rules
Denmark has systematically adopted increasingly restrictive migration rules over recent years. A cornerstone of its policy is that most asylum or refugee statuses are temporary. Residency permits can be revoked once a person's home country is deemed safe again.
To achieve permanent settlement, asylum seekers in Denmark are required to be in full-time employment, and the length of time required to acquire these rights has been extended. The family reunification rules are notably tougher:
- Both the sponsor and their partner must be at least 24 years old, a measure the Danish government says helps prevent forced marriages.
- The sponsor must not have claimed welfare benefits for three years and must provide a financial guarantee for their partner.
- Both individuals must also pass a Danish language test.
In a highly controversial move, Denmark also introduced a 'ghetto package' in 2018, a plan to radically alter some residential areas, including by demolishing social housing. Furthermore, in 2021, the left-of-centre government passed a law allowing refugees to be moved to asylum centres in a partner country, leading to an agreement with Rwanda to explore setting up a program, though this is currently on hold.
Political Rifts and Rising Crossings
The exploration of the Danish model has exposed a clear split within the Labour Party. Some MPs, particularly those holding so-called Red Wall seats seen as vulnerable to challenge from Reform UK, are urging ministers to go even further in the direction Denmark has taken.
This perspective was echoed by Gareth Snell, the Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, who told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that any change bringing "fairness" to an asylum system his constituents "don't trust" was "worth exploring".
However, the move is facing significant opposition from the party's progressive wing. Nadia Whittome, the Labour MP for Nottingham East and a member of the party's Socialist Campaign Group, stated unequivocally: "I think these are policies of the far right. I don't think anyone wants to see a Labour government flirting with them."
This internal debate is happening against a backdrop of continued challenges in controlling immigration. The government is struggling with rising numbers of small boat crossings in the Channel. According to Home Office figures, 648 people crossed to Britain in nine boats on Friday, 8th November 2025, bringing the total for the year to 38,223.
Adding to the complexity, a migrant who had been deported under the UK's returns deal with France has since re-entered the country. Ms Mahmood's stated aims are to establish effective deterrents to stop migrants using unauthorised routes and to streamline the removal of those with no right to remain in the UK.
Sources told the PA news agency that the Home Secretary is eager to meet her Danish counterpart, Rasmus Stoklund, the country's immigration minister, at the earliest opportunity. Mr Stoklund, speaking on BBC Radio 4, offered a unique perspective on Danish society, likening it to "the hobbits in The Lord Of The Rings," living peacefully and quietly. He emphasised, "We expect people who come here to participate and contribute positively, and if they don't they aren't welcome."
