Danish Consulate Chicago – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa

Denmark is a Schengen country made up of over 400 islands and there is plenty to do and see. You can learn of its colorful Viking history in the museums across the country or head to the island of Funen where there are fantastic hiking trails. The Archipelago Trail winds its way through Sydfynske Ohav – an island sea of 55 stunning islands and some of the most impressive scenery in the whole of Denmark! In this article learn more about how to apply for Denmark visa at the Danish embassy in Chicago, Illinois, Denmark visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Denmark visa application center, flight itinerary for Denmark visa, hotel bookings for Denmark visa, Schengen travel insurance for Denmark visa application, and Denmark Visa Application Process at the Chicago consulate.

Denmark Schengen Visa

In 2017, there were 152,467 Denmark Schengen visas received and 6.29% (9,585) were not issued. The Consulate General of Denmark in New York received 4,862 applications and rejected 0.2% (8).

Applying for a Schengen Visa from the United States         

If you are a US citizen and wish to go to Denmark, you do NOT need to apply for a visa. However, if you are a non-US citizen, but you permanently live in the US, you DO need a visa for Denmark. If you are unsure as to whether you need to apply for a visa, you can check the Embassy of Denmark’s website.

You have to make sure you apply at the right Danish embassy and consulate. The Consulate General of Denmark in Chicago provides services to residents of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. However, this office no longer deals with visa applications. Instead, you will submit your application through VFS Global in Chicago. Depending on your location, you are free to submit your application to any of the VFS Global offices in the US:

1. New York
2. Washington DC
3. Houston
4. Chicago
5. San Francisco

If you are applying through VFS Global in Chicago, it is the Consulate General of Denmark in New York that will make the decision about your visa application.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at VFS Global/the Consulate General of Denmark in New York

1. Schengen visa – for tourism, business, cultural or scientific events or visiting family and/or friends for a maximum of 90 days. Schengen visas are issued as single, double, or multiple entry which relates to the number of times you are permitted to enter Denmark during the dates of the visa
2. National visa – for work, study, religious reasons, permanent residence etc., for over 90 days. You will also require a residence and work permit. You can check the embassy’s website for further information regarding this. National visas are usually issued as single or multiple entry.

Schengen Visa Application Process at VFS Global in Chicago

The visa application process is fairly easy, but before you start, take a look at the embassy’s website. All the information you need to apply is there. 

Once your application has been received by the consulate in New York, it is processed within 15 days, although it could take longer depending on the type of visa you are applying for. In addition, processing times could be longer during the peak season months of May, June, July, August and December. You can apply up to 90 days ahead, so it’s recommended that you apply well in advance.

You should aim to submit your application no later than 20-30 days prior to departure. This is because it could take up to 2 weeks to obtain an appointment with VFS Global. Plus, the shipping of your documents to and from the consulate adds 2-4 days to the processing time.

If you submit your application less than 15 days before your trip, there may not be enough time for the consulate to process it, even though VFS can still accept it. So, bear that in mind when you apply.

To help you apply for your Denmark visa, here a few steps you can follow:

Step 1: Complete your application

You need to complete your visa application form and you can do this by going to the website of the Embassy of Denmark. Click on: “Travel and residence” and then “Visa”:

Next, click on: “Business, tourist, and private visitor visa”:

On this page, scroll down to “How to apply” and click on: “Visa self-service – Denmark”:

This is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark’s system for registering and completing your application. Click on: “How to apply online”:

You can read the instructions for applying online:

Register as a new user:

Then, login:

Once you’ve done that, you can complete your application and submit it electronically to the consulate in New York. Please note, you do NOT need to provide a paper copy of the application form to VFS Global, but you MUST provide the cover letter. This can be printed from the application system once you have completed and registered your application. If this letter is not handed into VFS Global within 14 days, the fee will still be taken from your bank account.

The application form for National visas can be found on the embassy’s website. Click on the link:

You will be directed to the SIRI application form guide. If you scroll through this, you’ll find the correct application form for your visa which you can download for completion:

For example, “Application for residence and work permit on the grounds of salaried work“:

Step 2: Make your appointment online

Making appointments with the embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following below steps:

1. Go to the embassy’s website and click on: “Where to apply”:
2. Scroll down to “Schedule an appointment” and click on the link for the office of VFS Global that you wish to use:
3. The next page is VFS Global’s booking system and you’ll need to register as a new user:
4. Then, log in:

Then, you can make an appointment on a day and at a time that is convenient for you. Remember this could take a while, especially during busy periods, so apply well in advance of your trip.

Step 3: Get your documents ready

You need to prepare all the required documents for your type of visa. Each visa has different requirements, so take a look at the checklists available of the embassy’s website before you start.

1. Checklist for business, private visitor, and tourist visas
2. Checklist for residence and work permit

In addition, you will need to provide colored photocopies as well as original documents, so don’t forget to do that.

Documents to get ready include:

1. Visa cover letter – signed and dated. Remember, you don’t need to provide the visa application form
   
2. 1 x color passport photo – issued no longer than 6 months ago. See the guidelines for acceptable photos
3. Receipt for visa fee from your online application
4. Original passport – must have 3 months remaining after your trip and issued within the last 10 years. It must also have 2 free pages
5. Schengen visas including entry/exit points issued over the past 5 years (if applicable)
   
6. US residence card or a US visa (valid for 3 months longer than trip) with I-94 OR I-20/DS-2019
7. Proof of financial means – the last 3 months bank/credit card statements ($90 per day for hotel accommodation or $60 for hostel or cruise)
8. Letter from employer stating your length of employment and if you can return to your job
9. Last tax return and business license (for self-employed applicants)
10. Proof of enrollment (if you are a student)
11. Proof of pension income (for retired applicants)
12. Unemployed benefits and/or financial support proof (if you are unemployed/financially dependent)
    
13. Return flight booking
14. Travel itineraries for all planned stays in the Schengen area
15. Hotel/hostel reservations for the duration of your trip
16. Schengen Travel insurance for a minimum of €30,000 for the entire duration of your trip
    
17. Notarized consent of parent (s)/birth certificate for minors (translated into English if applicable)
18. Letter of invitation from the host in Denmark stating the purpose and length of your stay
19. Proof of participation in any type of event or conference e.g. tickets and/or registration details
    

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2. Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: Submitting your file

On the day of your appointment, don’t be late!  If you miss your appointment, this could delay things for you. It’s very important that you don’t forget any paperwork. If you submit an incomplete file, the consulate cannot make a decision about your application. Lastly, don’t turn up in a t-shirt and shorts. Your aim should be to make a good impression, so dress smartly.

You only need to hand over your application and supporting documents to VFS Global. They will then send them to the consulate in New York for processing. If the consulate needs any further information from you, they may ask you to appear in person for an interview at their office. They need all the facts in order to be able to make a fair decision about your application, so they may ask you questions like:

1. What tours are you planning on going on in Denmark?
2. What did you say you do in the US?
3. Can you prove that you will return to the US after your trip?
4. How much do you earn?
5. Is anyone you know involved in any criminal activities?

If this happens, don’t panic! Simply comply with their request and answer any questions honestly. Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

The fee for your visa would have been paid already, but there are additional fees charged by VFS Global to cover service costs and courier fees. These fees are non-refundable, even if your application is rejected.

If you are applying for a Schengen visa for the first time, you will have to appear in person in order to provide biometric data. However, if you have previously applied for a Schengen visa which was approved and your data can be retrieved from the Visa Information Service (VIS), you may have the option of mailing your application to VFS Global. See the embassy’s website for further information if this applies to you.

Step 5: Receiving your visa

When the consulate has made a decision about your visa application, you can either collect your passport from VFS Global or have it returned by mail. There will be 1 of 2 outcomes:

1. Approved – you will find your visa attached to one of the blank pages inside your passport
2. Rejected – your visa application has been rejected for a specific reason

Commons rejection reasons include:

1. Your passport does not have 2 free pages – your passport must have 2 free pages for the visa to be attached. If it doesn’t, you must get a new one before applying for your visa
2. The invitation letter has not been included – if you are being invited to Denmark for work, family, or you are attending a conference etc., you must provide an invitation letter from your host
3. You have not provided sufficient proof of your reason for traveling to Denmark – your reason for traveling to Denmark must be clear and the documents you provide must prove this. For example, a travel itinerary
4. Proof of income is missing – regardless of your professional status, you must provide proof of your income. For example, payslips, pension income etc

Contact details for VFS Global in Chicago

Address: 142 E. Ontario Street, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60611

Email: denmark.usa@vfsglobal.com

Tel: 347-329-2738

Visa application call center hours: Monday to Friday, 10.00 am – 6.00 pm

Contact details of the Consulate General of Denmark in New York

Address: Chrysler Building East, 666 Third Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY, 10017

Email: nycgkl@um.dk

Tel: +1 (212) 223 4545

Fax: +1 (212) 754 1904

Conclusion

All you need to do to apply for your visa for Denmark is:

1. Complete your online application
2. Book an appointment at VFS Global
3. Get your documents ready
4. Submit your file
5. Receive your visa

Once you have reached the end of step 5, you can start to get excited about your adventure in Denmark!

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.

See Also

How To Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa at Danish Consulate in Washington, DC

How To Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa at Danish Consulate in Houston, Texas

How To Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa at Danish Consulate in NYC, New York

Worldwide Visa Requirements