Processing time
The overwhelming majority of visa applications are processed and decided on by Danish diplomatic missions abroad. These cases will usually be decided within a few days. Some cases, however, may take 10-12 days.
Starting on 5 April 2010, new rules for all Schengen-area countries will go into effect. The new rules require that decisions about visa applications be made within 15 days, where possible. In some cases applications will require further enquiry. Other applications will take longer time to process because they have been submitted at a third country’s embassy or consulate. In these situations, the maximum processing time is 30 days. Immigration authorities are quite exceptionally permitted to take up to 60 days to issue a decision in particularly complicated cases that require further documentation.
Application processing time counts from the time the application is submitted at an embassy or consulate.
In connection with the new regulations taking effect on 5 April 2010, Danish hosts can now complete an invitation form. The invitation forms can be downloaded from newtodenmark.dk. The forms are intended as a way to reduce the amount of time it takes to process most visa applications by ensuring that immigration authorities have all the necessary information at the time the application is submitted, eliminating the need to obtain further information from the Danish host.
If the invitation form is not submitted together with the application, the Immigration Service will need to obtain the information from the Danish host, extending the amount of time it will take to issue a decision.
It may take some time to get an appointment to submit an application. You are recommended to contact the diplomatic mission where you are to submit your application, so you can make an appointment well in advance of your scheduled entry into Denmark.
If the diplomatic mission cannot immediately issue a visa, your application will be forwarded to the Immigration Service in Denmark through an electronic case processing system. The Immigration Service will then process your application.
If you submit your application in a country where Denmark is represented by another Schengen country, and if that country's diplomatic mission cannot immediately issue a visa, your application will be forwarded to the Immigration Service in Denmark through diplomatic mail or similar. The other Nordic countries do not have access to Denmark's electronic case processing system, and as a result, this procedure will take longer than the electronic forwarding.
If an application is forwarded to the Immigration Service, processing times will depend on the steps the Immigration Service deems necessary in order to issue a decision, and in some cases can take longer than normal.
One example of how your visa can be delayed would if the host is required to post collateral. In such cases, a visa cannot be issued until the bank processes the request for the required demand guarantee.
Once the new rules are implemented on 5 April 2010, immigration authorities will be required to issue a decision within the time limits, and all decisions will be made based only on the information submitted by the applicant, the host or involved third parties before the deadline, even if the information is incomplete. If relevant information is received after the deadline for issuing a decision has passed, the case can be re-opened. In other cases, the applicant must re-apply.
The average processing time for extension of visa permits is currently 1-2 weeks.