Denmark entrepreneur visa: Start-up Denmark

You must own all or part of the company and play an active part in running it, with your presence necessary for its establishment or operation. A purely financial or shareholder interest is not enough. Teams of up to 3 people can apply with one shared business plan; each member applies for their own permit.

The business must bring innovative ideas and development potential to the Danish business community, and there must be specific Danish business interests in favour of setting it up. Restaurants, shops, small trading and import-export firms are normally not approved, nor holding companies. The scheme also covers continuing a self-employed business started while you lived in Denmark on other grounds, and running a Danish branch of a foreign self-employed business.

You document funds for your first year in Denmark with a bank statement in your name showing currency, date and account holder: DKK 153,240 alone, DKK 306,480 with a spouse, DKK 356,904 with a spouse and children, or DKK 203,664 with children but no spouse (2025 level figures as published by SIRI). Start-up Denmark holders may not receive benefits under the Active Social Policy Act.

First submit the business plan electronically to the expert panel on the Start-up Denmark web portal. Only after approval do you create a case order ID, pay DKK 3,060 and file form SD1 with SIRI, attaching the approval, ownership documents and proof of funds. Biometrics are compulsory: after submitting online you have 14 days to give fingerprints and a facial photo, at a Danish mission or at the visa application centre that serves your country of residence. If no slot is available in time, tell SIRI the appointment date so the case is not rejected.

After arrival you register your Danish address in the Civil Registration System to get a CPR number, at the latest 5 days after moving in, at the municipality or an International Citizen Service centre. The residence card is posted to your CPR address, so put your name on the mailbox. You must not give up your Danish address or stay abroad for more than 6 consecutive months, or the permit lapses.

The first permit runs up to 2 years and can be extended for up to 3 years at a time; apply before expiry and you may continue running the business meanwhile. Tell SIRI about significant changes; a business that changes substantially from the plan, or a new business or salaried job, needs a new application, after which you may start immediately under the job change rule.

A SIRI refusal can be appealed to the Immigration Appeals Board within 8 weeks for DKK 1,040.