A family member of an EU/EEA citizen or Swiss citizen has the right to have a visa application processed in accordance with EU regulations, if the family member is accompanying or joining the EU/EEA citizen or Swiss citizen, while the latter is exercising his/her right to free movement in Denmark.

Application and documentation

The visa application will be processed by the diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate general), there is no processing fee, and this type of visa application is processed according to a faster procedure which may only in exceptional cases take longer than 15 days.

There is no requirement for documentation of travel health insurance in connection with submitting a visa application under EU regulations, just as the applicant is not required to have documentation that he or she has the necessary funds for the stay in Denmark.

However, the applicant must prove that the EU / EEA citizen or the Swiss citizen has exercised or plans to exercise his right to free movement in connection with entry and residence in Denmark. The applicant must also prove that he is covered by one of the categories of family members listed below.

Thus, the same requirements are not provided for visas for EU rules as for other visa applications. More detailed information can be obtained at the diplomatic mission where the application is submitted.

A visa will normally be issued, unless the applicant is deemed to be a threat to public order, security or health.

Which family members are covered?

The following family members of an EU/EEA citizen or Swiss citizen, who is exercising his/her right to free movement in Denmark, have the right to have a visa application processed in accordance with EU regulations:

  • spouse
  • cohabiting partner aged 18 or over
  • direct descendants under the age of 21 (e.g. children, grandchildren etc.) of the EU/EEA citizen/the Swiss citizen/the Danish citizen or of the spouse/cohabiting partner
  • direct descendants over the age of 21 (e.g. children, grandchildren etc.) of the EU/EEA citizen/the Swiss citizen/the Danish citizen or of the spouse/cohabiting partner who are dependants of of the EU/EEA citizen/the Swiss citizen/the Danish citizen or of the spouse/cohabiting partner
  • older relatives (e.g. parents, grandparents etc.) of the EU/EEA citizen/the Swiss citizen/the Danish citizen or of the spouse/cohabiting partner who are dependants of the EU/EEA citizen/the Swiss citizen/the Danish citizen or of the spouse/cohabiting partner
  • other family members (e.g. siblings, cousins etc.) if, in the country they relocate from, they are dependants of the EU/EEA citizen/the Swiss citizen/the Danish citizen or are members of their household
  • other family members (e.g. parents, grandparents etc.) if serious health issues make it absolutely imperative that the EU/EEA citizen/ the Swiss citizen/the Danish citizen personally take care of the person in question.

A family member of a Danish citizen has the right to have his or her visa application to Denmark processed in accordance with EU regulations if the Danish citizen exercise or immediately before the visa application has exercised his right to free movement in another EU / EEA country or Switzerland and in this connection has established a genuine and effective residence in the country. Read more about which family members of a Danish citizen have the right to residence in Denmark under EU regulations

The fact that a family member of an EU/EEA citizen, a Swiss citizen or a Danish citizen is granted a visa under the EU regulations does not imply that the applicant meets the conditions for family reunification under EU regulations. Final decisions about whether applicants meet the specific requirements for family reunification under EU regulations will be based on the independent evaluations of the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

If the applicant has a residence card issued under EU rules on free movement, he does not need a visa to enter and stay in Denmark as long as the residence card is issued by an EU country, which is also a Schengen country. However, if the applicant has an EU residence card issued by an EU country that is not a part of Schengen cooperation, he is only exempted from visa if he accompanies or joins the EU citizen who the residence card is issued on the basis of. This applies to both residence cards issued pursuant to Directive 2004/38 / EC and residence cards issued before the directive came into force. The residence card is in the form of a credit card size card or a sticker inserted in the passport.