Startup Denmark

Who can apply?

Startup Denmark is for self-employed persons, and only non-EU (European Union) and non-EEA (European Economic Area) citizens can apply.

Up to three non-EU, non-EEA citizens can submit a business plan as a team. If the business plan is approved by the Startup Denmark expert panel the applicants must apply individually for a residence and work permit from the immigration authorities.

A non-EU, non-EEA citizen can submit a business plan together with EU/EEA citizens. However, EU/EEA citizens do not need residence and work permits for Denmark due to the EU rules on free movement of persons and services.

If you’re an EU/EEA citizen, you can find more information about setting up a business in Denmark here.

Do I need prior investment to apply?

No prior investment in your startup is required in order to apply.

However, if your business plan is approved by the Startup Denmark expert panel, and if you submit your application for a residence and work permit, you must provide documentary evidence that you can support yourself financially for at least one year in Denmark.

If your family is accompanying you to Denmark, you must also provide documentation of your ability to support them.

You can read more about the amounts required and necessary documentation here.

What happens to my application once I have applied?

Initially, all applications will be screened by the Startup Denmark Secretariat at the Danish Business Authority to make sure they meet the requirements for being evaluated by the expert panel.

Typical reasons for an application to be screened out include: The applicant is an EU citizen, the application is not submitted in English, the business model does not have potential for growth (as a general rule, businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, smaller trade, import and export businesses are screened out), or the information provided is not sufficiently clear and/or credible. Lastly, applications will also be screened out if the attached pitch deck is too comprehensive. For attached word files the maximum length is 10 pages, while the maximum length of PowerPoint and image files is 15 pages.

Applicants will be notified if their application is screened out. It is not possible to appeal if your application is screened out.

If the application is not screened out it will be forwarded to the expert panel for evaluation.

How long does the regular application process take?

Our goal is for your business plan to be evaluated by the Startup Denmark expert panel within six weeks of submission. However, longer processing times may occur especially during and after summer holidays and Christmas holiday, where the expert panel does not evaluate business plans.

You will be told the outcome of the panel’s evaluation by the Startup Denmark Secretariat.

If your evaluation is positive, you can apply for a residence and work permit under the Startup Denmark scheme at the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration. The agency usually considers applications within one month of submission.

You can read more about residence and work permits for entrepreneurs here.

When do I apply for a residence and work permit?

First you need to get your business plan approved. If the evaluation of your business plan by the Startup Denmark expert panel is positive, you can apply for a residence and work permit under the Startup Denmark scheme at the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration. The agency usually considers applications within one month of submission.

You can read more about the residence and work permit here.

Can I bring my family?

Yes. Please read more about bringing the family here