Document #1237146
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Territories Subject to Danish Sovereignty
The Faeroe Islands and Greenland are
autonomous regions of the Kingdom of Denmark (UN 20 Apr. 1995; EU
n.d, 4; Information Please Database 2005; US 2 June 2005a; ibid. 2
June 2005b; Legislationline.org n.d.). Though both territories are
self-governing, the Kingdom of Denmark retains control over their
external relations, defence policy, monetary policy and the
administration of justice (UN 20 Apr. 1995; Country Reports
2004 28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 3).
The Right to Live and Work in Denmark
According to Country Reports on Human
Rights Practices for 2004, "Greenlanders and Faroese are
citizens with the same rights as those in the rest of the country"
(Country Reports 2004 28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 3). Additional
and corroborating information on whether citizens of Greenland and
the Faeroe Islands enjoy the right to live and work in Denmark
could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research
Directorate.
Other Relevant Information
The Faeroe Islands and Greenland are
communities within the Kingdom of Denmark and, as such, the Danish
Constitution also applies to these territories (UN 20 Apr. 1995;
Legislationline.org n.d.).
It is relevant to note that although Denmark is a member of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), Greenland and the Faeroe Islands are not (EU n.d, 4).
Information on the Website of the Danish Immigration Service indicates that citizens of Nordic countries (Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) are able to freely enter, reside and work in Denmark without a visa, residence or work permit (Denmark n.d.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices for 2004. 28 February 2005. "Denmark." United States
Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41678.htm
[Accessed 3 June 2005]
Denmark. n.d. Danish Immigration
Service. "Nordic Citizens." http://www.udlst.dk./english/EU+and+the+Nordic+Countries/nordic_citizens.htm
[Accessed 13 June 2005]
European Union (EU). n.d. European
Employment Series (EURES) - The European Job Mobility Portal
(EURES). "Living and Working in Denmark." http://www.eures.dk/archive/Louise/Landeinfo/DENMARK2.pdf
[Accessed 14 June 2005]
Information Please Database. 2005.
"Outlying Territories of Denmark." http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107465.html
[Accessed 3 June 2005]
Legislationline.org. n.d. "Denmark." http://www.legislationline.org/index.php?country=14&org=0&eu=0
[Accessed 14 June 2005]
United Nations (UN). 20 April 1995.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
(HRICORE/1/Add.58) Core Document forming Part of the Reports of
States Parties: Denmark.. http://www.hir.ca/fortherecord1997/documentation/coredocs/hri-core-1add58.htm
[Accessed 14 June 2005]
United States (US). 2 June 2005a.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The World Factbook.
"Faroe Islands." http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/fo.html
[Accessed 14 June 2005]
_____. 2 June 2005b. Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA). The World Factbook.
"Greenland." http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gl.html
[Accessed 14 June 2005]
Additional Sources Consulted
Royal Danish Embassy, in Ottawa.
Internet sites, including: The
Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; The Danish Ministry of Refugee,
Immigration and Integration Affairs; The Danish Ministry of
Science, Technology and Innovation; Greenland Homerule; The
Official Website of Denmark.