Entering Denmark for a short-stay
When it comes to living abroad as an expat, each country has its own set of rules and regulations regarding visas and permits. Visa requirements for travelling to Denmark will depend mostly on your nationality. Find out whether you need a visa to travel to Denmark and what are conditions to be met.
EU and Non-EU nationals in Denmark
Passport holders from the European Union and Schengen Area countries do not need a visa to enter Denmark.
For citizens outside of these areas, there are different visa requirements. The easiest way to find out about your specific visa requirements is by doing an online search along the lines of: ‘Denmark visa requirements for [insert nationality] citizens'. This will hopefully direct you to relevant websites with further information.
Important:
Although online research is a great way to find more information, only the information provided by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Danish authorities should be regarded as truthful and correct since this is provided by the Danish authorities themselves.
Here are some useful official websites:
New to Denmark official portal
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Denmark Travel and Residence page
Danish visa types and validity
Most tourist and short-stay visa types for the EU are valid for a maximum of 90 consecutive days. EU/EEA passport holders with visa-free travel privileges are generally allowed to stay in another country for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Long-term work and study visas have different validity, although these will require a different application and usually include requirements such as proof of employment or enrolment in a university. These types of visa will usually lead to obtaining a temporary residence permit.
Other types of permits in Denmark
Aside from work and study permits, there are also other types of residence and temporary permits available. Depending on your reason for moving to Denmark, you might need to apply for a specific work or residence permit. Here are some of them:
Read more about the visa types in our guide Visas for Denmark.
Keep in mind that each of these permits has differing requirements and case processing times, as well as associated fees! Also, it's important to remember that having a visa to enter Denmark does not mean you can enter the Danish territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands – each of these places again has specific visa requirements, whether you intend to visit, work, or study there.
Important things to remember in Denmark
- Always keep identification documents handy when travelling around and especially if you are going to be crossing borders. Although Denmark is part of the EU's visa-free region, Danish border patrol authorities may still require you to show valid travel documents.
- There are different transportation options for entering Denmark (by plane, boat, train, etc.) Border controls are present at all entry points, and you may be asked to show valid travel identification at any of these points.
- A driver's license is not considered a valid travel document.
- Make sure that you have armed yourself with enough information about Denmark before initiating the often costly visa application process: from accommodation to wages, finding work, and paying taxes, you need to know what you are getting yourself into as an expat in Denmark.
