How to apply for a visa

Visa rules

Do I need a visa?

General information about visa rules can be found on newtodenmark.dk. Below you will find the most important information about the visa rules.

Denmark is part of the Schengen area. This means that you apply for a Schengen visa. You must apply for a visa to the country of your main destination, that is, the Schengen country where you will spend most days. If you spend an equal amount of time in two or more countries, you must apply for a visa to the country of your first entrance into the Schengen area. If you are travelling to the Schengen area several times within a period of two months, you have to apply to the country of your main destination. The main destination is either where you intend to spend the longest time or where the main purpose of the intended visit is carried out. You will find more information about the Schengen visa rules here.

You are only allowed to stay in the Schengen area on a visitor’s visa for up to 90 days over a period of 180 days. To calculate your stay in the Schengen area, you can use the Schengen Visa Calculator.

Please note that in Denmark you are not allowed to take up residence, work or study on a Schengen visa. If you plan to study, work or stay longer than 90 days in Denmark, you need to apply for a residence and/or work permit, this also applies if you come as an Aupair. Please visit this website for more information.

Family members of an EU/EEA or Swiss citizens who are exercising their right to free movement or a UK national who is a withdrawal agreement beneficiary have the right to have their visa application processed in accordance with EU regulations.

Some nationalities are subject to consultation during the examination of visa applications. Please read more in Annex 16 of the Visa Code Handbook on which nationalities are subject to consultation.

Representation Agreements

In some countries, Denmark is represented by other Schengen countries that process visa applications on behalf of Denmark. Go to Where to apply for visa  for further information

Before you apply 

We recommend that you apply for a visa well in advance of your intended entry into the Schengen area. That said, please note that an application for a Schengen visa can be handed in no earlier than six months prior to the intended entry into the Schengen area. For seafarers in the performance of their duties, a nine months rule apply.

As a rule, applications should at the latest be handed in 15 days prior to the intended entry into the Schengen area. Please note that late submission could lead to a decision on the application being taken after the intended date of departure.

Only applicants staying legally in the country, where the Visa Application Centre or in a few cases the Danish mission is situated, may apply for a visa via that particular Visa Application Centre or mission.

In some countries, Denmark does not have a mission or a Visa Application Centre and is instead represented by another Schengen Member State. 

The Schengen States are; Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Going to Greenland and/or the Faroe Islands?
If you are seeking to obtain a visa to enter Greenland and/or the Faroe Islands, as well as a Schengen visa, you only need to submit a single application. Please inform the staff receiving your application about your intention to travel to Greenland and/or the Faroe Islands, when handing in your application. Visa applications for Greenland and the Faroe Islands are issued by Danish missions. It is not possible to apply for a visa for Greenland and/or the Faroe Islands if you apply via a representation agreement. Read more about visa to Greenland and the Faroe Islands here.

Multiple or single entry?
A single entry visa means that you can visit the whole Schengen area in one single trip. On a single entry visa, you can visit several Schengen states as long as you do not exit the Schengen area. Single entry visas will always be issued for a specific amount of days.

A multiple entry visa allows you to travel in and out of the Schengen area. Multiple entry visas can be issued for a specific amount of days (for example if you are travelling in and out of the Schengen area), or they can be issued with a validity of 90 days over a 6 month period, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years or 5 years.

Apply and pay online

Go to the online visa application system ApplyVisa. Here you will have to:
1) register a user,
2) fill in the application,
3) pay the visa fee 
4) print and sign the cover letter

Please have your passport and credit card ready when applying and paying.

Travelling in a group?
If you are travelling in a group, e.g. as a family, you can apply for a group visa where you apply as a group and pay the visa fee for all applicants in one payment. A group can be up to 8 applicants. If you are travelling more than 8 people together, please register more groups.

If you apply for a visa to Denmark through another Schengen Member State, you cannot use the Danish online application platform, ApplyVisa.

Please refer to the page Where to Apply when determining where to apply from.

Gather your documents

Please gather the relevant documents provided in the document checklist (on the website of the Visa Application Centre) based on the purpose of your visit.

Besides the requirements in the relevant document checklist, please be aware of the basic admissibility requirements for a visa application. You have to as a minimum:

1) hand in your application no earlier than six months prior to the entry into the Schengen area

2) fill in the application form online (see above) and hand in the signed cover letter with the additional documents

3) hand in a valid passport, which is valid for a minimum of at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area; contains two blank pages and has been issued within the previous 10 years

4) have your biometric data (fingerprints and photo) captured at the Visa Application Centre, and

5) pay the visa fee

Please note that for some applications you will need an invitation from your host in Denmark. Visit this page to find different types of invitations. Note that the invitation forms referred to in the link are not mandatory for the host to use.

Note that your application is not completed until you have finalised your application in person.

If you have previously had your biometric data captured for a Schengen Visa within the last 59 months, you do not have to capture them again for a new application.

Finalise your application

When applying online, you will be asked to select a Visa Application Centre, where you will hand in your signed cover letter from ApplyVisa, supporting documents, passport and have your biometrics captured. Please note that the supporting documents and your passport will be kept with your application during the case processing time and only handed back, once a decision on your application has been made. You can find the Visa Application Centre nearest you here. Kindly check available appointment slots with the visa application centre before starting the application process. Due to fluctuating numbers of applications, you may sometimes have to wait several weeks for an appointment.

Your fingerprints will be collected, when applying for a visa. However, where fingerprints have been collected as part of an earlier application less than 59 months before the date of the new application, you do not have to provide your fingerprints again. You must attach a passport photo which is no older than 6 months prior to application.

For more information on how biometric data is stored, please click here.

Please be aware that some applicants are exempt from supplying biometrics i.e. children under the age of 12, persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible and Heads of State and members of national governments, as well as members of their official delegations, when they are invited by Member States' governments or by international organisations for an official purpose.

Note that besides the visa fee, there is a service fee when you hand in your application at the Visa Application Centre. See designated Visa Application Centre website for information on the service fee.

You may be asked to submit further documentation after you have handed in your application, documentation, and biometrics.

Handling time

Processing times in visa cases may vary depending on fluctuations in the number of applications received at a given location, staffing levels and other factors. Embassies display current processing times on their website. Please also be aware that the transportation time from VFS to and from the Embassy is NOT included in the Embassy’s processing time. We advise you to apply well in advance. You may apply up to 6 months in advance of your intended travel.

Once you have finalised your visa application in person, please note that your application is in process. Kindly be aware that the Danish mission is unable to reply to inquiries regarding visa applications via e-mail due to Danish National Law on the handling of personal data.

Please contact the location where you handed in your application for information on how to track your visa application.

Decision

After the mission has processed your visa application, you will be contacted by either the Visa Application Centre or the Danish mission. Your application is either:

Approved - in which case you will receive your passport with a visa sticker. Please note that the Danish mission will add a grace period of 15 days to the validity period of your visa. Therefore, the validity period and duration of stay on the visa sticker is not the same. It is your responsibility to check that the information on your visa sticker (e.g. name, validity dates, passport number etc.) is correct. Please see How to read the visa sticker. If the sticker contains inaccurate details, inform the Danish mission or the Visa Application Centre immediately in order to have it corrected.

Please be aware that possession of a visa does not confer an automatic right of entry in to the Schengen area. At the Schengen border, you will be asked to present your passport with the Schengen visa sticker and you may be asked to present documentation such as proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in the Schengen area, documentation of the purpose of your visit (invitation, hotel booking(s) etc.) or a return ticket departing the Schengen area.

Or refused - in which case you will receive a refusal letter with your passport, explaining the reason behind the refusal. The refusal letter contains a guidance on how to appeal the decision. If you wish to submit a complaint regarding the conduct of the staff at the Visa Application Centre, contact the Visa Application Centre where you handed in your application.

Please note that if your visa application is refused, the visa fee and service fee to the Visa Application Centre is not reimbursed.