National sanction list
A public national sanction list has been established. The list includes names, nationalities and other information about foreign religious preachers who are banned from entering in consideration of the public order in Denmark.
The law is a result of a political agreement about initiatives relating to religious preachers, who seek to undermine Danish laws and values, and support a parallel conception of the law
See the national sanction list
See law no 1743 of 27 December 2016 about the establishment of a public sanction list (in Danish)
Who can be placed on the national sanction list?
A foreign religious preacher, or who in some other way works to spread a religion or faith, can be placed on the sanction list, if:
- the foreign national, in his/her capacity as a religious preacher, has displayed behaviour that gives reason to believe that the foreign national could pose a threat to the public order in Denmark, if he/she was permitted to enter and reside in the country and
- there is a reasonable likelihood that the individual will enter Denmark.
The behaviour can be statements or actions. The behaviour can have been showed abroad or in during previous stays in Denmark.
Foreign nationals who hold a Danish residence permit or who are subject to the EU regulations cannot be placed on the national sanction list.
The Danish Immigration Service decides whether a foreign religious preacher should be placed on the national sanction list.
What does being placed on the national sanction list entail?
A foreign national who is placed on the sanction list may not travel to or reside in Denmark or any other Schengen-area country. The entry ban is valid as long as the foreign national is placed on the list. Individuals are placed on the list for two years at a time.
If a foreign national on the sanction list enters Denmark anyhow, he/she can be punished by fine or imprisonment for a period of up to three years.
Aiding unlawful entry
Helping a foreign national who has been placed on the sanction list to enter or reside in Denmark illegally is punishable by fine or imprisonment for a period of up to two years.
Representatives of religious communities or others interested in inviting a religious preacher to Denmark must be aware whether the foreign national is placed on the national sanction list and therefore has an entry ban to Denmark.
Reopening of cases about placement on the national sanction list
A foreign national who has been placed on the national sanction list can request to get his/her case reopened by the Immigration Service. The foreign national will be able to comment on the placement on the national sanction list when the case is reopened. If the Immigration Service decides that the foreign national should remain on the list, he/she will be informed of the reason for the decision. The foreign national can appeal such a decision to the Immigration Appeals Board within 8 weeks from the Immigration Service’ decision.
Contact the Immigration Service regarding the national sanction list
The Immigration Service have a contact form that can be used if you want to contact us regarding the list.
It can for example be regarding information about foreign nationals placed on the list, or if you are placed on the list and you want the Immigration Service to reopen the case.
The awareness list
In addition to the sanction list an ‘awareness list’ that is not publicly available is also established. The awareness list includes named foreign religious preachers who are not placed on the sanction list, but who the authorities nonetheless must pay attention to in their case processing. The awareness list can – in contrast to the sanction list - include foreign nationals who are covered by the EU regulations about free movement and foreign nationals deemed unlikely to travel to Denmark. It can e.g. also be foreign nationals with statements that do not fully meet the requirements to be placed on the national sanction list.
Foreign nationals with residence permit in Denmark cannot be placed on the awareness list.