Visa rules for private and tourist visits to Denmark
- Will return home: You undoubtedly intend to return home before your visa expires.
- Will comply with visa conditions: You will comply with all the conditions of your visa, e.g., not working in Denmark.
The 5 main groups of visa-required countries
Visa-required countries are divided into 5 main groups based on a general assessment of the risk that people from those countries will not leave the Schengen Area before their visa expires.
Each application is assessed individually: The division into main groups is only a guideline. Your individual situation matters, such as whether you have previously had a visa and complied with the conditions. Extraordinary circumstances, such as visiting a seriously ill person, can also be relevant.
Visa refusal: The authorities can refuse a visa if they assess that there is a risk:
- That you will take up permanent or long-term residence in Denmark or other Schengen countries.
- That you will pose a security risk.
Main Group 1
Countries: Angola, Bahrain, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Cambodia, Comoros, Dominican Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Guyana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Cape Verde, China, Laos, Lesotho, Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sao Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, Suriname, South Africa, Tajikistan, Taiwan*, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, Equatorial Guinea.
Note: Holders of passports issued by Taiwan that include an identity card number are exempt from the visa requirement.
Rules: Citizens of these countries can generally obtain a visa for tourist visits without a host. However, a visa may be refused if there is a high risk that the applicant will take up permanent residence in Denmark or the Schengen countries.
Main Group 2
Countries: Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Burkina Faso, Congo (Brazzaville), Cuba, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Moldova*, Mongolia, Montenegro*, Nepal, Niger, North Macedonia*, Serbia*, Chad, Thailand, Togo, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Note: Holders of biometric passports issued by Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro and Serbia are exempt from the visa requirement.
Rules: Citizens of these countries can generally obtain a visa regardless of who they wish to visit. There must be a host for the visit, but there is no requirement for a specific connection to the host. A visa may be refused if the ties to the home country are weak, or there is a high risk that the applicant will take up permanent residence in Denmark or the Schengen countries.
Main Group 3
Countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Philippines, Georgia*, Ghana, Belarus, India, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Morocco, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine*, Vietnam.
Note: Holders of biometric passports issued by Georgia and Ukraine are exempt from the visa requirement.
Rules: Citizens of these countries must generally have a certain connection to the host in Denmark to obtain a visa. Visas are typically granted to spouses, cohabiting partners, children, parents and siblings. Visas may also be granted in other cases, e.g. to minor grandchildren, close acquaintances of former expatriate Danes, and minor sponsored children. A visa may be refused if the ties to the home country are weak, or there is a high risk that the applicant will take up permanent residence in Denmark or the Schengen countries.
Main Group 4
Countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Iran, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Stateless Palestinians, Senegal, Sudan, South Sudan, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Yemen.
Rules: Citizens of these countries can generally only obtain a visa if they are a spouse/cohabiting partner, child under 18, or parent of the host in Denmark. A visa may be refused if there is a reasonable suspicion that the applicant will take up permanent residence in Denmark or the Schengen countries.
Main Group 5
Countries: Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, Syria.
Rules: Citizens of these countries can generally only obtain a visa in extraordinary situations, e.g. if a family member in Denmark is suffering from a life-threatening illness or has passed away. A visa may also be granted to spouses/cohabiting partners who have previously been refused family reunification due to the visit requirement.
How long is a visa valid
You can get a visa to stay in the Schengen countries for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.
If you wish to stay in Denmark for longer than 90 days, e.g., because you are married to a person living in Denmark, you can apply for family reunification instead of a visa.
Visa for multiple entries and longer validity
If you need to travel to Denmark and other Schengen countries frequently or regularly, you can apply for a visa for multiple entries and with a longer validity.
Abuse of visa
If the duration of your stay exceeds the validity period of your visa, or you attempt to use your visa stay to obtain long-term or permanent residence in Denmark, you may be subject to a waiting period of 3 or 5 years. During the waiting period, you will not be able to obtain a visa to visit Denmark.
