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Denmark as an End-of-Trip Schengen Loophole

Posted by (Washington DC) on

This has been posted on the forum previously, but I've only gotten around to finding the documentation today. It wasn't particularly easy to locate, so I'm posting the info here in case someone else finds it useful.

Citizens of a few countries (Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the US) can stay in Denmark for 3 months or 90 days (it varies by country) even if they have recently spent time elsewhere in the Schengen Zone. The details vary by country of origin; time spent in other Nordic countries is in some cases subtracted from the extra 3-month/90-day allowance. Citizens of the US and New Zealand have the best deal: Time they've spent in other Nordic countries doesn't reduce the extra time allowed in Denmark.

Anyone contemplating taking advantage of this policy should read the document to which I've linked very carefully. Also keep in mind that the additional Danish time counts as time in the Schengen Zone, so the traveler will be in violation of the Schengen limit if he/she subsequently travels to another Schengen country. He or she will need to find a way to return home at the end of the trip without entering another Schengen county. I have no clue what would happen with a change of planes in Paris/Frankfurt/Amsterdam/etc., but I don't intend to find out the hard way. If I decide to do this, I'll be flying home via a place like the UK, Ireland, Morocco or Turkey.

The following is a Danish-government website:

https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/You-want-to-apply/Short-stay-visa/Visa-free-visits?anchor=2461BA020DAA483D956486ED9E6B46F1

Posted by
7326 posts

That’s very interesting, and helpful - thank you! Denmark is clearly encouraging people to visit, and to stay a while.

Posted by
6328 posts

If I decide to do this, I'll be flying home via a place like the UK,
Ireland, Morocco or Turkey.

There are also (when there's no pandemic) direct flights from Copenhagen to several US cities, including daily flights to Washington DC.

Posted by
27057 posts

Thanks, Badger. For what I assume is an obvious reason, I haven't bothered to look at flights yet, but I wasn't aware of direct flights to my area from CPH. That would obviously be an excellent option.

Posted by
8421 posts

Are you looking at traveling there now? Isn't this a pre-pandemic policy, and not something likely to be in effect during the current situation? At the bottom of that link page, I see this note: "Last updated 13-02-2019 - Published by: The Danish Immigration Service"

Posted by
27057 posts

No, Stan, I won't be traveling soon. Unless something changes massively on the treatment front, my next trip will take place after a vaccine is available.

This policy has been in place for some time. I assume that when the COVID-19 situation settles down, it will still be in force. I don't think Denmark is going to be any more worried about my visit on Schengen Days 90 - 110 than on Schengen Day 1.

Posted by
5506 posts

acraven,

The daily SAS flight to Copenhagen is out of Dulles and it is usually one of the better options for points within the Nordic countries. They are a Star Alliance member, but for some reason the SAS flights are not typically shown when searching United’s website.

Posted by
27057 posts

Thanks, Laura. I start with Google Flights, so I should see that option. I've never needed to fly into or out of that part of Europe, so I didn't realize SAS had a presence at Dulles.

Posted by
564 posts

I've heard about this too Acraven, that would be awesome if someone on this board would like to do a test run of this to see how it goes. Also read that France has something like this as well, but don't know if there is as much documentation about that.

Posted by
6328 posts

The daily SAS flight to Copenhagen is out of Dulles and it is usually
one of the better options for points within the Nordic countries.

They are a great option even to other parts of Europe, connecting in Copenhagen is a breeze compared to Amsterdam, Heathrow and other mega hubs and if you have a longer layover it's a short and cheap trip to central Copenhagen.

They are a Star Alliance member, but for some reason the SAS flights
are not typically shown when searching United’s website.

For some reason SAS and United don't code share across the Atlantic. Which can lead to strange suggestions, like if you try to book a flight from New York to Oslo with United they will probably suggest routes via Frankfurt, London or Stockholm instead of the direct SAS flight.

I've never needed to fly into or out of that part of Europe, so I
didn't realize SAS had a presence at Dulles.

They are not a bad choice across the ocean.

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