Minimum self-support funds of DKK 153,240 (~EUR 20,500) for a single applicant, increasing with family members. No minimum business investment required — funding is based on self-support rather than capital investment.
⏱️ Duration
Initial permit up to 2 years. Extensions of up to 3 years at a time. Permanent residence possible after 4-8 years of continuous legal residence.
👪 Dependants
Yes
Spouse, registered partner, or cohabiting partner (1.5-2 years cohabitation required), and children under 18 living at home. Family members may work, run their own business, and study in Denmark. Processing fee DKK 3,080 per family member.
🛂 Citizenship Path
Yes — after 8 years
Permanent residence after 4-8 years of continuous legal residence (4 years if all supplementary requirements met, including Danish Language Test 2, full-time self-employment, and minimum income). Danish citizenship available through naturalization after permanent residence.
Start-up Denmark is an entrepreneur residence permit scheme that allows non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals to reside and work in Denmark to establish and run an innovative, scalable business or a Danish branch of an existing foreign company. The program is jointly administered by the Danish Business Authority, which evaluates business plans through an expert panel, and SIRI, which processes residence permits. A maximum of 75 foreign nationals may be granted permits annually.
Requirements
Must have a business plan approved by the Danish Business Authority's expert panel
Business must be innovative, scalable, and with high growth potential in key industries: tech, cleantech, life science, food, maritime, or design and innovation
Traditional businesses (restaurants, retail shops, small import/export) are generally rejected
Applicant must be full or partial owner, play an active part in running the business, and their presence must be necessary for operations
Sufficient self-support funds: DKK 153,240 for a single applicant; DKK 306,480 with spouse; DKK 356,904 with spouse and children; DKK 203,664 with children only
Up to 3 entrepreneurs may apply jointly with a shared business plan
Required Documents
Passport copies (all pages including covers)
Fee payment receipt (DKK 3,060)
Business plan approval letter from the Danish Business Authority's expert panel
Bank statement demonstrating financial self-support (dated within 30 days, showing account holder name, currency, and balance)
Company ownership documentation
Documents not in English, German, Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish must include certified translations
Duration & Renewal
Initial permit is granted for up to 2 years. Extensions of up to 3 years at a time are available, requiring reassessment by the expert panel. Extension applications must be submitted before the current permit expires — applicants may continue working while the decision is pending. Extensions may be submitted no earlier than 3 months before expiry, and processing takes approximately 4 months.
Family Members
Spouse (legally married), registered partner, or cohabiting partner (1.5-2 years documented cohabitation, both 18+) and children under 18 living at home may accompany the main applicant. Each family member submits a separate application (DKK 3,080 fee, ~2 months processing). Family members may work for any employer, run their own business, and study, but cannot work at the sponsor's company without a separate work permit. Family members must reside at the same address as the sponsor.
Tax Implications
Residents (including those staying 6+ consecutive months) are fully tax liable on worldwide income under Denmark's progressive income tax system. A labour market contribution of 8% is levied on gross income. Companies may benefit from a 22% cash reimbursement of R&D-related losses (up to DKK 25 million tax value).
Application Process
Submit a business plan to the Danish Business Authority for evaluation by the independent expert panel
If approved, apply to SIRI for a residence and work permit via nyidanmark.dk (form SD1)
Pay the DKK 3,060 processing fee
Provide biometric data (photograph and fingerprints) within 14 days at a Danish embassy or SIRI office
Receive decision by mail (approximately 2 months processing, up to 4 months if additional information is required)
After arrival, register for a CPR number at the local municipality to access public health insurance and other services. Holders are entitled to free Danish language lessons.
Employment Restrictions
The holder may only work in the specific business approved by the expert panel. Working for other employers or starting a new venture requires a fresh application and new expert panel approval. Unpaid voluntary work is permitted.
Important Considerations
Annual cap of 75 permits makes the program competitive
Absence from Denmark exceeding 6 consecutive months causes the permit to lapse
Since April 2023, foreign owners of existing companies may open Danish branches under the scheme, and entrepreneurs who established businesses under other residence grounds may transition to a Start-up Denmark permit
Receiving social welfare benefits results in revocation of the permit
Permanent residence requires Danish Language Test 2, minimum 30 hours/week self-employment, and average annual taxable income of DKK 346,156 for the 2 prior years