Being Born an Alien in Denmark: Identification of Young People Born in Denmark without Danish Citizenship A Research Brief

Abstract

Denmark is home to thousands of young people who were born or raised in the country but do not possess Danish citizenship. Despite growing up in Danish society, attending local schools and speaking the language, many face a long and complex application process to obtain citizenship once they turn 18. The bureaucratic barriers and restrictions related to the naturalisation process affect their legal rights and political participation and, more profoundly, impinge on their identification process. While many of these individuals feel Danish, they remain uncertain about whether Danish society fully accepts them as so. For some, citizenship is merely a means to obtain equal rights, while others feel incomplete without legal recognition. This research brief examines how Danish citizenship regulations and the perception of what it means to be Danish shape young people’s self-identification. Through in-depth interviews with individuals born and/or raised in Denmark, the brief sheds light on the lived experiences of people navigating Danish naturalisation process, urging for a re-evaluation of the policies that impact their sense of belonging.