How to apply for a visa (2023)

Visa

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

Denmark is part of the Schengen area. This means that you are applying 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 the same amount of time in two or more countries, you must apply for a visa for the country of your first entry into the Schengen area.If you are going to travel to the Schengen area several times in a two-month period, you must apply in the country of your main destination. The main destination is the place where you intend to spend the most time or where the main purpose of the intended visit takes place. You will find more information about the rules of the Schengen visahere.

You are only allowed to stay in the Schengen area on a visitor visa for up to 90 days during a 180-day period. To calculate your stay in the Schengen area, you can use theSchengen visa calculator.

Please note that in Denmark you are not allowed to establish your residence or work with a Schengen visa. If you plan to work or stay more than 90 days in Denmark, you must apply for aresidence and/or work permit.

Family members of EU/EEA or Swiss citizens who are exercising their right to free movement have the right to have their visa application processed in accordance withEU regulations.

Some nationalities are subject to consultation during the examination of visa applications. Read more in Annex 16 of theVisa Code Manualinwhich nationalities are subject to inquiry.

Before applying

When you apply for a visa, you must choose the location where you want to apply.Be sure to check that the Visa Application Center (VFS) is openbefore going to the Visa Application Center. Visit theVFS Global websitefor more information.

We recommend that you apply for a visa well in advance of your intended entry into the Schengen area. That being said, keep in mind that a Schengen visa application can be submitted no sooner than six months before your intended entry into the Schengen area. For seafarers in the exercise of their duties, the nine-month rule applies.

As a general rule, applications must be submitted no later than 15 days before the planned entry into the Schengen area. Please note that late submission could result in a decision on the application being made after the scheduled departure date.

Only applicants who are legally in the country, where the Visa Application Center or, in some cases, the Danish mission is located, can apply for a visa through that particular Visa Application Center or mission.

In some countries, Denmark does not have a mission or a Visa Application Center and is instead represented by another Schengen Member State. If you are applying for a visa to Denmark through another Schengen Member State, you cannot use the Danish online application platform, ApplyVisa.

Are you going to Greenland and/or the Faroe Islands?
If you are looking to obtain a visa to enter Greenland 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 of your intention to travel to Greenland and/or the Faroe Islands when you submit your application. Visa applications for Greenland and the Faroe Islands are issued by Danish missions. Read more about the visa to Greenland and the Faroe Islandshere.

Single or multiple entry?
A single entry visa means that you can visit the entire Schengen area in one trip. With a single entry visa, you can visit multiple Schengen states as long as you don't leave the Schengen area. Single entry visas will always be issued for a specific number 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 specified number of days (for example, if you are traveling in and out of the Schengen area), or they can be issued with a validity of 90 days for a period of 6 months, 1 year, 2 years , 3 years or 5 years.

Traveling in a group?
If you are traveling 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 traveling with more than 8 people together, register more groups.

1)Apply and pay online
2)Gather your documents
3)Finalize your application in person

Apply and pay online

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

Please have your passport and credit card handy when you apply and pay.

Gather your documents

Gather the relevant documents provided in the document checklist (on the Visa Application Center website) based on the purpose of your visit.

In addition to the requirements in the relevant documents checklist, consider the basic admissibility requirements for a visa application. You have toAs minimum:

1. Submit your application no later than six months before entering the Schengen area.
2. Complete the online application form (see above) and submit the signed cover letter with the additional documents.
3. Submit 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 photograph) captured at the Visa Application Center.
5. pay thevisa cost.

Please note that for some applications you will need an invitation from your host in Denmark. Visitthis pageto find different types of invitations. Please note that the invitation forms referenced in the link are not mandatory for the host to use.

British travel document holders must present their letter of asylum from the Home Office.

Please note that your application is not complete until you have completed it in person.

Finalize and submit your application and biometrics

When applying online, you will be asked to select a Visa Application Center, where you will submit your signed ApplyVisa cover letter, supporting documents, passport, and biometric data will be captured. Please note that supporting documents and your passport will remain with your application during the processing time of the case and will only be returned once a decision on your application has been made. You can find the nearest Visa Application Center to youhere.

Your fingerprints will be collected when applying for a visa. However, where fingerprints were collected as part of a prior application less than 59 months prior to the date of the new application, you do not have to provide your fingerprints again. You must attach a passport photo that is not older than 6 months prior to the application.

For more information on how biometric data is stored, clickhere.

Please note that some applicants are exempted from providing biometrics, i.e. children under 12 years of age, people for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible, and Heads of State and members of national governments, as well as as the members of their official delegations, when invited by the Member States. governments or by international organizations for an official purpose.

Please note that in addition to the visa fee, there is a service fee when you submit your application at the Visa Application Centre. Please refer to the designated Visa Application Center website for information on the service fee.

You may be required to submit additional documentation after you have submitted your application, documentation, and biometrics.

handling time

The Danish mission has 15 days to make a decision on your visa application from the date the mission receives your passport, application and biometric data. In some cases, the processing time can be extended to 45 days, when further processing of the case is needed. Please note that transportation time from VFS to and from the Embassy is NOT included in the 15 day processing time. We recommend that you submit your application well in advance. You can apply 6 months before your planned trip.

Once you have finalized your visa application in person, please note that your application is in process. Please note that the Danish mission cannot respond to visa application inquiries by email due to the Danish national law on the handling of personal data.

Contact the location where you submitted 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 the Visa Application Center or the Danish mission. Your request is:

Approved- in which case you will receive your passport with a visa sticker. Please note that the Danish mission will add a 15-day grace period to the validity period of your visa. Therefore, the validity period and the length of stay on the visa sticker are not the same. It is your responsibility to verify that the information on your visa label (eg name, validity dates, passport number, etc.) is correct. Please watchHow to read the visa label. If the label contains inaccurate details, please inform the Danish mission or Visa Application Center immediately to correct it.

Please note that possession of a visa does not confer an automatic right of entry to the Schengen area. At the Schengen border, you will be asked to present your passport with the Schengen visa sticker on it 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 reservation(s), etc.) or a return ticket departing from the Schengen area.

Orefused- in which case you will receive a rejection letter with your passport, explaining the reason for the rejection. The refusal letter indicates whether the refusal will be automatically appealed to the Danish Immigration Service or whether the applicant must appeal individually. More information on how to appeal a decision to the Danish Immigration Servicehere. The denial letter contains guidance on how to appeal the decision.If you wish to make a complaint about the conduct of the Visa Application Center staff, please contact the Visa Application Center where you submitted your application.

Please note that if your visa application is rejected, the visa fee and the Visa Application Center service fee are not refunded.

Visa FAQ

How much does a visa cost?

For general information and cost of a Schengen visa,please click here.

How long does it take to process a visa application?

15 dayscalculated from datewhenthe Embassyreceive your request. Please note that for applications delivered in Manchester or Edinburgh, this date is usually 3-4 working days after the application date. Applications delivered in London are generally received at the Embassy the next working day).

Do I need a visa for Denmark?

For information on visas for Denmark, please read the previous sections.

How do I apply for a visa to Denmark?

For information on visa application procedures,please read the previous sections.

Where can I find the visa application form and guidelines?

The visa application form can be downloaded from the embassy website where you will also find guidelines.

For information on the requirements for a Schengen visa or how to download the form,please read the previous sections.

UK passports and travel documents

UK passports

British passports are valid for travel to Denmark. Please see the followinglinkregarding validity and conditions (90 day rule).

UK travel documents

UK Travel Document under the 1951 UN Convention (dark blue) - valid for travel to Denmark. Visa required.

UK Travel Document under the 1954 UN Convention (red) - valid for travel to Denmark. Visa required.

UK Certificate of Travel (black): valid for travel to Denmark. Visa required.