A parliamentary majority voted in favour of changing the Taxi Law (Taxiloven) to include a language requirement, the transport ministry confirmed in a statement.

Under new rules, documentation of Danish language skills will be required for entry onto the national taxi driver’s licensing course.

That could make it more expensive to acquire a taxi driver’s permit. According to the ministry, licensing is currently “underfunded”. “Price and fee levels must be adjusted,” the ministry wrote in the statement.

The law change was voted for by both left and right-wing parties. As well as the government, the Social Liberal, Socialist People’s, Conservative, Liberal and Danish People’s parties backed it.

“I am pleased that we are now in agreement over a number of minor adjustments based on the evaluation of the taxi law that came before Christmas,” transport minister Benny Engelbrecht said in the statement.

“It is a completely reasonable demand that you should be able to conduct a conversation in Danish when you are driving a taxi, and we will now get better documentation for that.

“Additionally, we also agree that in light if the coronavirus situation, it is not appropriate to make major adjustments to the taxi law at this time,” the minister continued.

In addition to the language requirement, the parties approved an analysis of taxi services in rural areas.

The law change will come into effect in 2022.