The Danish government presented a new bill offering some immigrants and refugees who have lost their residence permits a new option to stay. If they are enrolled in education which is set to lead to types of labour for which workers are in high demand (those jobs on the so-called 'Positive Lists'), these individuals will be granted permission to stay until the end of their studies and for a further 6 months after graduating, during which time they will be expected to find a job.

The proposal comes as a reaction to a series of personal cases - including those of a 48-year-old woman from Sri Lanka and a 25-year-old woman from Syria - presented in the media in recent years, wherein third country nationals (TCNs) have had their residence permits revoked despite being a valuable asset for Denmark in terms of (potential) contribution to society and the economy and of not having broken the law. In other EU countries, it is likely that these 2 women would have been granted permanent residence rather than having their permits revoked.
 
The presentation of this bill comes at a time when Denmark is facing a growing need for welfare workers. In the health and care sector, for example, there is an urgent and growing need for nurses at hospitals and health assistants at nursing homes.
 
The proposed law contains several limitations and technicalities, so may not be applicable to many people, but nevertheless represents an opening in the otherwise strict Danish rules on immigration.