Denmark · Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Denmark applies Schengen short-stay rules: tourist or business visits are normally limited to 90 days in any 180-day period. Visa-required nationals apply for a short-stay visa through the Danish Immigration Service, which also publishes the official invitation forms used to support many applications. ETIAS is being introduced for visa-exempt travellers — verify the timing before travel.
Denmark is in Schengen for short-stay travel. Tourist or business visits are normally limited to 90 days in any 180-day period; visa-required nationals apply for a short-stay visa, while visa-exempt nationals must still meet entry conditions.
- Short-stay Schengen visas do not permit ordinary employment.
- The Danish Immigration Service explains visa requirements and invitation forms.
- ETIAS is being introduced for visa-exempt travellers; verify timing before travel.
- The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has operated at Schengen external borders since 10 April 2026: non-EU visitors are registered biometrically on entry and exit instead of having passports stamped.
- 1
Check your visa requirement
Check on New to Denmark whether your nationality needs a short-stay visa, and whether ETIAS has started applying to visa-exempt travellers.
- 2
Use the official invitation form if you have a host
The Danish Immigration Service publishes standard invitation forms. Using the official form avoids the delays that informal letters often cause.
- 3
Apply and give biometrics
Submit the application through the Danish mission or its authorised centre, with fingerprints and photograph where required.
- 4
Prepare the standard Schengen file
Typically: application form, passport, photos, itinerary, accommodation, proof of funds and Schengen-compliant travel medical insurance.
- 5
Count your 90/180 days correctly
The limit is a rolling calculation across all Schengen countries combined, not per country. Track entries and exits across the whole area.
- Visa requirement and ETIAS timing checked
- Official invitation form used if you have a host
- Application submitted and biometrics given
- Itinerary, accommodation and funds documented
- Schengen-compliant travel medical insurance held
- No ordinary employment planned
- 90/180 day count tracked across all Schengen states
- New to Denmark — short stay visa
Official Danish short-stay visa guide.
- ETIAS (official EU site)
Official EU travel-authorisation information.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Danish invitation form for?
It is the standard document a host in Denmark completes to support a visitor's application. Using the official form rather than an informal letter reduces the risk of the case being delayed for missing information.
Does the 90-day limit apply to Denmark alone?
No. It is a Schengen-wide rolling limit: days spent in any Schengen country count towards the same 90 days in any 180-day period.
Can I work on a Danish short-stay visa?
No. Short-stay Schengen visas do not permit ordinary employment. Working in Denmark requires a separate work and residence permit.
Government portals
- Life in Denmark — The state's English-language guide to moving to, living and working in Denmark.
- Skattestyrelsen — Danish Tax Agency — Tax card, preliminary and annual tax assessment, and deductions.
- New to Denmark (SIRI) — Residence and work permits, the Positive List, and family reunification.