Denmark — founder
Denmark — Start-up Denmark
Guide last reviewed: . Check the linked official guidance for current rules and application availability.
Requirements we check
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2 more requirements for Start-up Denmark
- ✓See every requirement this route actually checks
- ✓Find out which ones you already meet
- ✓Get your single highest-impact next action
The full guide
Start-up Denmark is a genuine residence permit for founders, not a company-formation product — don't confuse it with simply registering a Danish CVR company, which grants no right to live in Denmark. An independent panel appointed by the Danish Business Authority scores every business plan from 1 to 5 across four criteria (innovation, market potential, scalability, team competencies) and you need an overall average of at least 3.5 to be recommended for approval. Only around 70-75 people are granted a permit under the scheme each year, so competition is genuinely high — a solid but generic small-business plan (a shop, a café, a standard consultancy) is very unlikely to clear the bar, since the scheme exists specifically for businesses with a "particular Danish economic interest" (real innovation, job creation, or export potential).
Cost: DKK 3,060 (2026 residence permit fee) — expect an extra embassy handling fee (around DKK 1,875) if applying from outside Denmark
The full guide is locked
See exactly what Start-up Denmark requires
- ✓Every document you'll need, with what assessors actually look for
- ✓The real stage-by-stage process, with fees and processing times
- ✓Common pitfalls that actually cause refusals for this route
- ✓See if YOU qualify — your real fit score, not a generic checklist
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Pasage provides immigration pathway information and preparation help based on official public criteria. We are not immigration lawyers, regulated advisers, or agents, and we do not guarantee any visa outcome. Rules and thresholds change — always confirm against the official source linked above before you apply.