Denmark seems to have turned it around according to chapgpt.
What has denmark done to reduce illegal immigration?
Denmark has adopted one of Europe’s toughest immigration and asylum systems over the past decade, especially after the 2015 migrant crisis. The policies mainly target irregular migration, rejected asylum seekers, and long-term integration problems.
Some of the main measures include:
Stricter asylum rules
Temporary rather than permanent refugee protection permits.
Frequent reviews of refugee status so protection can be withdrawn if a country is later judged “safe.”
Longer waits for family reunification in some cases.
Border controls and enforcement
Denmark reintroduced checks on its border with Germany despite the Schengen system.
Police gained broader powers to detain and identify undocumented arrivals.
Transport companies can be fined for carrying passengers without proper ID into Denmark.
Faster deportation and return policies
Rejected asylum seekers are often placed in “departure centres” while awaiting removal.
Denmark has pushed harder for deportations of foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes.
Authorities have sought agreements with third countries for asylum processing and returns, including discussions involving Rwanda, though a Rwanda system was never fully implemented.
Reducing incentives to claim asylum
Lower welfare payments for asylum seekers.
Rules allowing authorities to seize valuables from asylum seekers to help cover accommodation costs.
Restrictions on asylum seekers choosing their own housing.
“Parallel society” / “ghetto” laws
Areas with high unemployment, crime, poverty, and large non-Western immigrant populations can be designated “parallel societies.”
Local authorities can reduce social housing in those areas, relocate residents, or limit who can move in.
Supporters say this prevents segregation; critics argue it discriminates against ethnic minorities. Parts of the policy have faced legal challenges in EU courts.
Tougher integration and citizenship standards
Stronger Danish language requirements.
Cultural and employment requirements for permanent residency and citizenship.
Policies designed to encourage rapid integration into Danish society.
Supporters argue these policies sharply reduced asylum applications and helped maintain public support for immigration control. Critics say some measures may violate human rights norms or unfairly target minorities. Denmark’s approach has become influential in debates across Europe, including in the United Kingdom.
How much has immigration dropped?
Denmark has seen a very large drop in asylum migration since the peak of the European migrant crisis.
The clearest figures are for asylum applications:
Around 21,000 asylum applications in 2015
Around 2,000–2,300 applications in 2024–2025
That is roughly a 90% decline over a decade.
Some additional context:
Applications fell from more than 20,000 in 2015 to about 6,000 in 2016, a drop of roughly 70% in a single year after Denmark and other Nordic countries tightened controls.
Monthly asylum applications peaked at over 5,000 in November 2015, but were only about 100 per month in early 2026 according to Eurostat data.
Denmark approved asylum for only 864 people in 2024, one of the lowest totals in decades.
A few important caveats:
These numbers mostly refer to asylum seekers and irregular migration, not all immigration.
Denmark still has legal immigration through:
work visas,
EU free movement,
students,
and family reunification.
Denmark also accepted large numbers of displaced Ukrainians under a separate temporary protection system, which are often counted separately from asylum statistics.
Supporters of the Danish model argue the tougher policies directly reduced arrivals. Critics argue broader European trends also mattered, including:
the EU-Turkey migration deal,
tighter border controls across Europe,
and changing migration routes.