Denmark rolling out red carpet to Vietnamese firms

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Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Nilesen told VIR that the embassy has since late October adopted the Danish government’s Red Carpet programme aimed to make it more convenient for foreigners that travel regularly to Denmark for business.

“This programme will benefit Vietnamese businesses who will be able to get their customers and partners to Denmark,” he said. “With this programme, Vietnamese companies will be given the possibility of a faster and more flexible visa treatment. Red Carpet will also help further strengthen the bilateral trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark.”

Aimed to assist non Danish companies, organisations and non-governmental organisations that have business relations with a Danish company or organisation, the policy introduces simplified procedures for obtaining Danish Schengen visas for applicants that regularly travel to Denmark for business.

Applicants will be able to get their visas with a fast-track procedure without applying in person. Multiple-entry visas valid for a period of up to five years can be offered.

The Red Carpet has been rolled out to private and public companies or organisations abroad provided that they meet the requirements outlined on the Danish Embassy’s website.

Entities which can be offered accreditation include long-established local subsidiaries of Danish companies, local companies with a subsidiary in Denmark, companies that regularly sends employees to Denmark, and local companies with an exclusive partnership with a Danish company.

The entities also include local institutions like non-governmental organisations and travel agencies which cooperate closely with similar Danish institutions.

Each year sees about 2,000 visas granted by the embassy to Vietnamese nationals, two thirds of which are for businesspeople, according to the embassy’s statistics.

It is estimated that the time to obtain a Red Carpet-based visa is equal to 40 per cent of the time needed to obtain a normal visa.