Skip to content

Red Carpet Programme - How to enroll

The Red Carpet Programme (RCP) is a visa facilitation scheme offering fast-track service for qualified business entities.

In short, RCP offers its business members:

  • No need for appointment at VFS (NB. we operate with walk-in for ALL applicants at all our VFS centres every day from 08-12).
  • No need to apply in person (if biometrics/fingerprints have been taken less than 5 years ago).
  • Reduced documentation requirements.
  • Decision within four working days (subject to submission of a complete application form).

For more details, please read the Danish MFA’s general definition of the Red Carpet Programme

Who is the Red Carpet Programme for?

  • Local subsidiaries of Danish companies.
  • Local companies with a subsidiary in Denmark.
  • Local companies with an exclusive partnership with a Danish company.
  • Local companies whose employees need to travel frequently to Denmark for business.
  • Local companies interested in investing in Denmark.
  • Local institutions which cooperate closely with similar Danish institutions and have needs to e.g., send experts to Denmark
  • NGOs, e.g. those participating in Danida projects.

A company or organisation can be considered for entering into an RCP agreement if it has:

  • a real and documented need for frequent business-related visits to a specific business partner in Denmark

These visits must not require a work permit, but must be acceptable within the rules for Schengen visas.

Please visit www.newtodenmark.dk to consult which activities require a work permit.

Denmark must be the main destination in the Schengen area.

  • a certain number of employees in need of frequent visits to Denmark

The requirement of the Danish Embassy in Nairobi is that your company/organisation has a history of at least seven or more visa applications lodged at the Embassy within the past year from employees in the local company.

The +seven applications should show the company’s need to send employees to Denmark frequently throughout the year.

Non-compliance with and / or misuse of the Schengen rules are grounds for immediate termination of a Red Carpet Agreement.


How to be considered for the Red Carpet Programme?

If your company or organisation fulfils the above-mentioned criteria, you are welcome to send a request to the Visa Section at the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi by e-mail [email protected]

Please state the name of the company or organisation you represent and the name of the Danish company or organisation you do business with.

Before applying for acceptance into the Red Carpet Programme, please read the terms and conditions of the Red Carpet Programme

The Embassy will aim at responding to your request within two weeks. A representative from your company or organisation may be called to the Embassy for further discussion, if deemed relevant.

If you are approved to be enrolled in RCP, the Embassy will ask both the local company and the Danish business partner to fill out contracts and further instructions regarding visa application under RCP will be given.

Please note that if the Embassy does not deem your company or organisation eligible for the Red Carpet Programme, it does not affect your eligibility for applying for and obtaining a Schengen business visa following standard procedures.

You can find more information about visa applications with business purpose here: Business visa (um.dk)

Special conditions/rules for affiliated companies

If the company in Denmark is affiliated with the local company in which the applicant is employed, the applicant can - under certain circumstances - perform certain types of work that are exempt from the requirement for a work permit during his visa stay in Denmark.

You can read more about the exemption rules on the page concerning visa (short term) and work permit. Read more about exemption from the requirement of a work permit

Above applies to both RCP and normal business applications.


General information on compliance with Visa Code and rules and regulations from Denmark.

It is important to be aware that an RCP agreement does not exempt applicants from the general regulations concerning Schengen business visas. RCP companies and their employees must follow the conditions of the Schengen Visa Code and the Danish Visa Guidelines like all other applicants.

You can find more information about the legal basis for visa case processing on the homepage of the Danish Immigration Service: New to Denmark (nyidanmark.dk)

An important legal aspect to consider when you apply for a business visa is the distinction between business purposes on a Schengen visa and business visit/purposes which require a work permit before you enter Denmark.

You can find more information about this distinction here: New to Denmark (nyidanmark.dk).