Brexit

Brexit: How does it affect British residents' right to vote and stand as a candidate in municipal and regional elections and European Parliament elections in Denmark?

The United Kingdom has exited from the EU on 31 January 2020. 

British citizens are no longer EU citizens but will by default be considered third-country nationals. Among other things, this has an impact on British citizens' right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal and regional elections and European Parliament elections in Denmark.

On 19 March 2019, the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) adopted a bill that establishes a temporary transitional arrangement regarding electoral rights for Britons living in Denmark.

The transitional arrangement will continue the current rules on EU citizens' right to vote and to stand for election in municipal and regional elections and European Parliament elections in Denmark for those Britons who on the date of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal and since then have been permanently residing in Denmark.

The bill has entered into force on 1 February 2020.

Municipal and regional elections in Denmark

The transitional arrangement means that Britons can continue to vote and stand for election in the municipal and regional elections in Denmark in 2021, if they on 31 January 2020 and since then have been permanently residing in Denmark.

Britons moving to Denmark after 31 January 2020, like other third-country nationals, will be able to vote and stand for elections in future municipal and regional elections in Denmark if they have been permanently residing in Denmark for the last 4 years prior to Election Day.

European Parliament elections in Denmark

The transitional arrangement means that Britons can continue to vote and stand for the European Parliament elections in Denmark if they on 31 January 2020 and since then have been permanently residing in Denmark. Britons must enroll in the electoral register for European Parliament elections ind the same way as other EU citizens. You can read more about the right of EU citizens to vote on the Ministry's website here.

Britons moving to Denmark after the 31 January 2020, like other third-country nationals, will not be able to vote and stand for European Parliament elections in Denmark.

If you want to know more about Brexit You can read more about what Brexit means to you as a British citizen residing in Denmark on the Brexit website of the Ministry of Immigration and Integration.

You can also read more about Brexit at Brexit website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.