Like any other country, Denmark has numerous requirements that must be satisfied before applying for a visa.
The list of prerequisites to apply for a Danish visa can become fairly extensive and detailed, so applicants should be aware of this. Fortunately, the expedited application process compensates for the typical difficulty of applying for a visa.
There are various visa types that allow Danish businesses to hire foreign workers within weeks due to the quickness of their visa application process. Some need personal applications at a diplomatic office and require details, such as in the case of a visa for independent contractors.
Visa Policy for Denmark
To apply for a Denmark visa, an applicant must be lawfully residing in the nation from where he/she files for the application.
Only candidates lawfully residing in the nation where the Danish embassy or consulate is located, as well as the visa application center, may submit a visa application there.
For instance, a citizen must be lawfully residing in Singapore or India, if he/she wants to apply for a visa through the Danish embassy there.
For Working, Studying, or Remaining More than 90 days
Applicants who want to work, study, or dwell for more than 90 days (during any six months) in Denmark, the Faroe Islands, another Schengen nation, or Greenland represented by Denmark must apply for a work or residency visa.
The Schengen Agreement includes Denmark as a party. However, the Schengen Agreement does not apply to Greenland or the Faroe Islands.
How to Apply for A Visa to Denmark?
Applicants need to follow simple steps to apply for a Danish visa.
1) Sign Up
It is best to register by signing up if the applicant doesn't already have an account. They can click "Register" to create one. They will receive an email containing a link for activation. To activate the new user profile, they must click the link that is sent to them.
2) Complete the Online Application Form
Once an applicant has logged in, select "Individual application" or "Group application" depending on whether they are traveling alone or with a group.
They can apply up to six months before the trip. Each step saves the information so they can log out and continue later.
3) Pay the Fee by using the Web Shop as a Payment Portal
The visa fee must be paid after the application. After the registration process for the application, they need to do this at the payment portal called “web shop”.
When an applicant will reach the payment stage in the web shop, the price will be displayed in Danish kroner. The typical fee is roughly DKK 598. The web shop accepts Visa, Dankort, Master Card, and JCB credit cards.
4) Prepare and Print A Signed Cover Letter
Travelers can print the prepared cover letter from the application's registration page after it has been generated. The 'My applications' section also has a link to the cover letter. The cover letter needs to be signed in two places.
5) Provide Biometric Information and Associated Documentation.
The embassy/consulate won't begin processing the application until they get the passport, the signed cover letter, all necessary paperwork, and the biometrics.
For details on how and where to submit a cover letter, a travel document, supporting papers, and biometrics, it is best to visit the embassy or consulate of Denmark.
Denmark Schengen Visa
If a traveler is a citizen of a nation that requires a visa and he/she wants to travel to Denmark for a brief stay, he/she must get a visa. Typically, a Schengen visa allows individuals to enter and remain inside the entire Schengen area for up to 90 days.
Applicants must apply for a residence permit if they intend to stay in Denmark for an extended period.
Travelers can apply for a short-stay visa or a Schengen visa for the following reasons:
- Private visits and tourist visits
- Short- Term visa for a business visit
- To participate in scientific events, cultural and sporting events
- To invite a visa applicant
- A firm, educational institution, NGO, or other organization might apply for advance clearance to host foreign visitors that need a visa
- Applying for a visa under EU regulations (for family members of an individual who is covered by European Union rules of free movement)
- Apply for a visa following Brexit: To enter Denmark, one needs a visa if they are a British national or a family member of a British national. The Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK regarding Brexit includes special provisions for British citizens and their family members, including visa requirements for Denmark and the Schengen area.
- To go on a visa-free trip to Denmark
- Those who wish to apply for a visa because they intend to visit Greenland or the Faroe Islands for a short visit (up to 90 days).
The processing time for Schengen visa applications submitted through one of Denmark's embassies or consulates is typically fifteen calendar days.
However, if an additional review of the application is required and/or when it is submitted to the Danish Immigration Service, this window may be extended up to forty-five calendar days.
Countries that Require Visas to Visit Denmark
Travelers need a visa to enter Denmark if they are a national of one of the nations listed below:
- Bangladesh
- Albania (Citizens who are visa exempt are those with biometric passports. Since May 2010, biometric passports have been available. Non-biometric passports are not considered valid for international travel after March 1, 2012.)
- Bahrain
- Algeria
- Belize
- Afghanistan
- Belarus
- Angola
- Cape Verde
- Bolivia
- Armenia
- Bhutan
- Azerbaijan
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Bosnia-Herzegovina (Citizens who are visa exempt are those with biometric passports. Since October 15, 2009, biometric passports have been available.)
- Botswana
- China
- Cameroon
- Burkina Faso
- Ethiopia
- Myanmar
- Egypt
- Chad
- Burundi
- Central African Republic
- Equatorial Guinea
- Comoros
- Ghana
- Congo
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Fiji
- Guinea
- Djibouti
- Eritrea
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Gabon
- Ecuador
- Gambia
- Eswatini
- Georgia (Citizens holding biometric passports are visa exempt. Since July 28, 2014, only biometric passports have been issued.)
- Haiti
- Iran
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- India
- Guyana
- Indonesia
- Korea
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Iraq
- Maldives
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Laos
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Kosovo
- Mali
- Lesotho
- Kyrgyzstan
- Mongolia
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Libya
- Namibia
- Malawi
- Saudi Arabia
- Mauritania
- Nigeria
- Moldova (Holders of biometric passports are visa-exempt. Since January 1, 2011, biometric passports have been issued.)
- Qatar
- Montenegro (Citizens having biometric passports are visa-exempt. Since May 2008, biometric passports have been available. Current passports are all biometric.)
- Niger
- Oman
- Morocco
- Nepal
- Mozambique
- Nauru
- Pakistan
- North Macedonia (Citizens having biometric passports are visa-exempt. Since April 2007, only biometric passports have been issued.)
- Papua New Guinea
- South Africa
- Rwanda
- Philippines
- Sao Tomé & Principe
- Zimbabwe
- Serbia (Citizens who are visa-exempt are those who have biometric passports. Koordinaciona uprava, the Serbian Coordination directorate's passport-issuing agency, is an exception to this regulation. Since July 2008, biometric passports have been available.)
- Palestinian authorities-issued passports
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Suriname
- Taiwan (Visas are not necessary for citizens of Taiwan whose passports include the identity card number. The same rules apply to individuals who have old Taiwanese passports. In this case, Taiwan is listed as the place of birth and the passport has an identity card number with “Republic of China” written on the front cover.)
- Russia
- Somalia
- Tajikistan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Sudan
- Thailand
- Sudan
- Tunisia
- Sri Lanka
- Turkey (Turkish nationals are free from the visa requirement if they are to perform a service in Denmark.)
- Uganda
- Senegal
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine (The requirement for a visa does not apply to citizens possessing biometric passports. Since January 12, 2015, biometric passports have been available.)
- Uzbekistan
- Zambia
- Vanuatu (Ordinary passport holders, those having passports issued before May 25, 2015, are visa exempt. There is a partial suspension related to the visa waiver agreement. Travelers should get in touch with the embassy of Denmark to learn more.)
- Yemen
- Vietnam
Getting a Work Permit Visa for Denmark
Various work visa classifications permit travelers to live in Denmark. The one they apply for will depend on their particular circumstances.
Separate visas are required for employment, including au pairs, working internships, and religious workers. Visas will also be required for the following reasons:
- residency in the Faroe Islands or Greenland
- reunion with the family
- studies, which includes a separate Ph.D. visa
- asylum, etc.
EU nationals can enter the country without a visa, but they must still register with SIRI. A SIRI branch in Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus, Aalbord, or Aabenraa is where they can complete this in person. Applicants must make sure to schedule an appointment ahead of time.
To apply for a work permit visa for Denmark, applicants will need the following:
- National ID card or passport
- passport photos
- evidence of an applicant’s right to live there as a worker
- completed application (OD1 form)
Other nationals must have a visa and a residence permit to work in Denmark. There are various work visa categories:
- Fast-Track Scheme
- Trainee
- Positive Lists
- Pay Limit Scheme
- Researcher and Guest Researcher
- Herdsmen and Farm Managers
- Start-Up Denmark
- Others (Special Individual qualifications, Establishment Card, Certification, ESS Scheme, etc.)
Denmark Citizenship by Investment Program
Another option for businesspeople who seek to obtain a residency visa through investment is the Denmark Golden Visa.
The minimum investment for this business visa is 100,000 Euro and there are several Danish industries from which to choose for the investment, including real estate and construction, cleantech, research, and technology, etc.
The processing duration for this business visa is one month. After five years, those who hold a Denmark Golden Visa can apply for permanent residency. After nine years of continuous residence, they can do the same for Danish citizenship.
ETIAS for Denmark & Next Steps
As a Schengen Area member, Denmark as an EU nation will need an ETIAS visa waiver for entry once it comes into effect in November 2023. If an individual is a citizen of a nation that qualifies for ETIAS, then they must have one to visit Denmark.
Conclusion
It is advised that travelers submit the visa application well in advance of the date travelers want to enter Denmark.
Keep in mind that visitors can only apply for a Danish Schengen visa six months prior to the intended entry date. A nine-month rule is applicable to seafarers. Please be aware that a late submission could result in a decision being made about the application after the scheduled departure date.
Many visitors find navigating Danish visas a taxing process whereas others find the processing aspect to be swift and simple. It is best to get in touch with the Danish embassy or consulate to understand which type of visa might be suitable for an individual.
All in all, the benefit of living and working in one of the world's happiest nations is that foreign investors and ex-pats will find the Danish people hospitable. Investors tend to thrive in the Nordic nation's innovative and creative atmosphere, as it inspires entrepreneurs to nurture their business ambitions.
