Apply for prior approval of company

Companies, educational institutions, NGOs and other organisations can be given prior approval to host foreign visitors who require a visa.

Organisations that have been granted prior approval find it easier and more flexible to host foreign nationals who require a visa, since the application process is usually accommodated without the need to involve the Immigration Service.

A prior approval is especially beneficial for companies / organizations that host foreign visitors who require a visa several times a year.

Foreign nationals who apply for a visa to visit an organisation that has received prior approval benefit from some of the advantages associated with the Red Carpet Program which is managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This includes:

• Faster processing times
• A flexible application procedure
• Easier access to long-term, multiple-visit visas

More information about the local Red Carpet Programs is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

To get a visa, the applicant must still meet the general conditions of visa for business visits.

Prior approval can be granted if:

• The organisation is registered in Denmark, or registered abroad and has a department, branch office or the like in Denmark;
• The organisation needs to do business with or host visitors from abroad on a regular basis as part of its normal operations; and 
• The organisation appoints an individual that the Danish authorities can contact in order to confirm details about the visit and request more information about the reasons for the visit, etc

If the organisation does not have prior approval, it may still be possible to obtain a visa in accordance with the regular rules for issuing business and cultural visas.

Start online application VF1 

The online application form is available in Danish only.

You must have MitID Business in order to submit an online application for prior approval.

Steps in the online application

1. Log on to the online application form using your MitID Business
2. State information about your company/organisation
3. State name and phone number of the company's/organisation's contact person
4. State information about the company's/organisation's commerce/cooperative relations abroad
5. Submit the online application.

The Immigration Service will normally process applications for prior approval of your company/organisation etc. within 30 days of receiving a fully completed application.

Once the Immigration Service receives the application, it will check if your company/organisation etc. meets the requirements for prior approval.

The Immigration Service will then contact your company/organisation etc.  for a confirmation of the application.

If there must be collected further information, the maximum processing time is 3 months.

Prior approval can be granted for a period of 3 or 5 years, depending on how stable the organisation is and its experience with hosting foreign visitors who require a visa to stay in Denmark.

When an organisation has been given prior approval and wishes to host a foreign visitor who requires a visa, the organisation must submit an online invitation.

Read more about inviting a visa applicant as an organisation with prior approval

The applicant must still apply for visa to business or cultural visit.

If your company is waiting for an answer to an application for prior approval, your company may invite a foreign visitor who requires a visa by using invitation VU1.