Anyone who has ever struggled with visa forms and deadlines will understand what a huge task it is to make sure that the many COP15 delegates who need a Danish visa receive one in time.
To make the process easier for delegates and to make sure that all applications are processed in time, Denmark has set up special visa facilitation arrangements.
Unique international collaborations let delegates apply for Schengen-visas which are valid for longer periods than normally granted. This saves the trouble of getting sepearate visas for the run-up UN climate change talks in various European locations and COP15 itself.
A stellar example of this is an agreement with Germany and Spain, which let delegates attending the climate change talks in Bonn and Barcelona apply for Schengen-visas to cover both those talks and COP15.
France has also agreed to receive applications for Danish visas at their embassies in countries belonging to the group of Small Island Developing States, such as Fiji and the Comoros, where Denmark has no visa issuing missions. Climate questions are especially important to these low-lying coastal countries, because they are very vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters.
Danish embassies around the world also take part in the special arrangements. Delegates attending the UN summit in New York City on September 22 will as a special measure be able to apply for a Danish visa directly at the Danish General Consulate in the city.
And for the first time ever, visa applications will be received outside an official mission. At the UN climate change talks in Bangkok later this month, a stand functioning like a Danish 'mini embassy' will be set up, allowing delegates to apply for visas on the spot.
Representatives from COP15 logistic unit and the Consular Service will be at the stand ready to help, and with a hotline to the Danish Immigration Service.
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