Financial threshold
—
no minimum listed
Stay
24
months, renewable
Application fee
$293
Tax
Worldwide
Progressive income tax up to ~56%
Path to staying
- Residence permit24 months
- Renew36 months at a time
- Permanent residencyafter 4 years
- Citizenshipafter 9 years
- Permanent residency 4 years
- Citizenship 9 years
- Dual citizenship allowed
- Language required for citizenship B2
Overview
- Country
- Denmark
- Program
- Startup Denmark
- Local name
- Start-up Denmark
- Type
- Startup
- Status
- Active
- Initial duration
- 24 months
- Renewable
- Yes (36 mo)
Residence and work permit for non-EU entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas approved by the Danish Business Authority. Focus on tech, cleantech, life science, food, maritime, and design.
Eligibility
- Minimum age 18+
- Criminal record check required
- Health check not required
- Health insurance not required
- Endorsement Committee
Work rights
- Employment not allowed
- Self-employment allowed
- Own a business allowed
- Work permit included no
Family and dependents
- Dependents allowed
- Yes
- Spouse included
- Yes
- Max child age
- 18
- Parents allowed
- No
Benefits and mobility
- Schengen access
- Bank account can open
- Property purchase allowed
- Public healthcare access granted
- Must be primary residence required
Tax
- Tax regime
- Worldwide
- Regime name
- Progressive income tax up to ~56%
- Foreign income taxed
- Yes
- Capital gains taxed
- Yes
How to apply
- Method
- online
- Processing time
- 42–98 days
- Apply from abroad
- Yes
Notes
Up to 3 founders per startup. Expert panel reviews within 6 weeks. Official self-support requirement is DKK 143,328 for a single applicant (2023 level), with higher amounts for accompanying family. Key industries: Tech, Cleantech, Life science, Food, Maritime, Design. Denmark allows dual citizenship since 2015.