Denmark Lets 12 African Nations' Tourists Apply for Visa Without a Host

Denmark has named 12 African countries whose citizens may apply for tourist visas without needing a host in the country. The Danish government classified these nations under Group 1, a category that covers purely tourist-related visits and removes the requirement for a Danish resident sponsor or guarantor.

Key facts

• Group 1 allows eligible applicants to seek tourist visas independently
• No host, sponsor or guarantor in Denmark is required for purely tourist visits
• 12 African countries are on the list
• São Tomé and Príncipe is included
• African countries not on the list may still need a host in Denmark

Which African countries are on the list?

The 12 African countries currently appearing on Denmark's Group 1 list are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Gabon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea.

The list is dominated by southern African nations, though it also includes island states and central African countries.

What does Group 1 mean for applicants?

The Danish government set out the effect of the classification directly: "As a citizen of a country in Group 1, you are as a starting point eligible for visas for purely tourist-related visits even if the visits will not be hosted by anyone in Denmark."

In practical terms, applicants from these countries do not have to produce documentation of ties to a host or sponsor in Denmark when applying for a tourist visa.

Who is not covered?

Citizens of African countries that are not on the list do not automatically benefit from this provision. They would need to meet other visa requirements, which may include having a host in Denmark.

What this means for travellers

Travellers holding a passport from São Tomé and Príncipe or any of the other 11 listed countries can plan a tourist trip to Denmark without arranging a resident host to support the application. Check whether your nationality appears on the Group 1 list before beginning a tourist visa application, and note that the concession applies to purely tourist-related visits.

The source does not state when the Group 1 classification took effect, any visa fee, or the length of stay permitted under these tourist visas.

Separately, the source notes that Denmark has introduced a work permit pathway for citizens of 16 countries, scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027 under the Collective Agreement Scheme, with eligible foreign workers required to earn at least DKK 322,000 annually and Danish employers required to obtain approval from the country's immigration authority before recruiting through the programme.