Copenhagen has become a regular summer and Christmas-market trip from the UAE, and Denmark also handles visas for Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands here. But it is one of the stricter consulates. In 2025 the Danish Consulate General in Dubai received 17,288 applications and did not issue a visa in 32% of cases — well above the UAE average of 23.9%. The Consulate has also publicly warned about a rise in falsified insurance and hotel bookings. This guide shows how to apply and how to avoid the problems that cause refusals.
Checked on 20 October 2026 against the Royal Danish Consulate General in Dubai and the European Commission’s 2025 visa statistics. Sources at the end.
On this page
- Denmark at a glance
- What a Danish application covers
- Step by step
- The warning about fake bookings
- Documents
- What the 2025 figures say
- Questions people ask
Denmark at a glance
| Who decides | Royal Danish Consulate General, Dubai |
| Where you submit | VFS Global — Dubai or Abu Dhabi |
| Application form | ApplyVisa online form (applyvisa.um.dk) |
| Visa fee | €90 adults, €45 children 6–11, free under 6 — paid online in ApplyVisa |
| VFS service fee | Paid separately to VFS |
| Decision time | About 15 days; up to 45 if more checks are needed |
| Apply | Book at least 15 days before travel; no walk-ins |
| 2025 not-issued rate | 32% (UAE average 23.9%) |
| Multiple-entry share | 59% of issued visas |
What a Danish application covers
Through the Danish Consulate and VFS in the UAE you can apply for:
- Denmark — Schengen.
- Iceland — Schengen, represented by Denmark in the UAE.
- Greenland and the Faroe Islands — part of the Danish realm but outside Schengen. A normal Schengen visa does not cover them; your visa must be specifically valid for them.
As always, apply here only if one of these is your main destination — the most nights, or the main purpose. A trip with three nights in Copenhagen and five in Sweden belongs to Sweden. The Consulate specifically advises checking this to avoid refusal or denied entry. See which Schengen country to apply to.
Step by step
- Complete the online application at applyvisa.um.dk.
- Pay the visa fee online in ApplyVisa.
- Print the cover letter it produces (pages 3 and 4) and sign it. For children, both parents sign.
- Use the VFS step-by-step guide to identify your visa type, then download its checklist.
- Book a VFS appointment in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, at least 15 days before travel. VFS does not accept walk-ins.
- Attend for document submission and fingerprints, and pay the VFS service fee.
- Wait about 15 days. Neither VFS nor the Consulate notifies you when a decision is ready — track it yourself.
The Danish Consulate advises not buying flight tickets until your visa is approved. Use a flight reservation instead.
The warning about fake bookings
The Danish Consulate in the UAE says it has seen a rise in falsified travel medical insurance and hotel bookings. Any false or forged document leads to refusal under Article 32(1)(b) of the EU Visa Code, and the refusal stays on your record in the Schengen Visa Information System.
Many of these documents come from agents selling “dummy” bookings. Protect yourself:
- Buy insurance directly from a licensed UAE insurer or a known international provider, and check the policy can be verified. See our insurance guide.
- Book hotels yourself on a known platform with free cancellation. Keep the confirmation email.
- Never submit a document you have not seen being issued. You are legally responsible for everything in your file.
Documents
- Passport issued in the last 10 years, valid 3 months beyond your return.
- UAE residence visa and Emirates ID.
- Signed ApplyVisa cover letter and photo.
- Employer letter or NOC and recent payslips.
- Bank statements, stamped, showing regular income and enough for the trip.
- Genuine flight reservation and accommodation for every night.
- Genuine travel insurance: €30,000 minimum, valid in all Schengen states.
- If visiting family or friends: an invitation, following the Danish Immigration Service’s rules.
The Consulate’s UAE page does not publish a fixed daily funds amount. Show enough to cover the whole trip comfortably, backed by regular salary credits. See bank balance for a Schengen visa.
What the 2025 figures say
| Royal Danish Consulate General, Dubai (2025) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Applications | 17,288 |
| Visas issued | 11,374 |
| Not-issued rate | 32% |
| Multiple-entry share of issued visas | 59% |
Almost one Danish application in three from the UAE did not end in a visa in 2025. Combined with the Consulate’s warning about forged documents, the message is clear: a genuine, complete, consistent file matters more here than almost anywhere. Compare every consulate in our Schengen statistics for the UAE.
If you are refused
Your refusal letter explains the reasons and how to appeal, including the deadline. If the reason is something you can fix — weak funds, missing documents — a new application is often quicker. See our refusal and appeal guide.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying insurance or hotel “confirmations” from an agent.
- Assuming a Schengen visa covers Greenland or the Faroe Islands.
- Buying non-refundable flights before approval.
- Waiting for an email that never comes — track your application yourself.
Questions people ask
Where do I apply for an Iceland visa in the UAE?
Through the Danish system: ApplyVisa online, then VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Denmark represents Iceland for visas in the UAE.
How long does a Denmark visa take from Dubai?
About 15 days, and up to 45 if the file is incomplete or needs further checks.
Why are Danish refusals high?
The statistics don’t give reasons, but the Consulate has flagged forged insurance and hotel bookings as a growing problem. Use only genuine documents bought or booked yourself.
Related guides
- Norway Schengen visa from the UAE
- Netherlands Schengen visa from the UAE
- Schengen appointment scams in the UAE
- Schengen visa from Dubai and the UAE
Sources
- Royal Danish Consulate General, Dubai — Schengen visa: um.dk/fae
- Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs — ApplyVisa: applyvisa.um.dk
- European Commission — Visa statistics for consulates, 2025 (published 28 May 2026)
- EU Visa Code, Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 — Article 32 (refusal)
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 20 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.