Start-up Denmark — residence permit
Start-up Denmark is Denmark’s founder residence scheme for innovative, scalable business ideas. Critically, the business idea must be approved by an expert panel under the Danish Business Authority before you apply to SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) for the residence permit — reverse the order and you waste the filing. Official materials commonly note a limited number of permits (around 75 per year — verify live quota). Successful applicants may receive a residence permit for up to 2 years, with the possibility to extend for up to a further 3 years if conditions continue to be met. This is not a passive “buy capital, get visa” product: the panel decides on innovation and growth potential. Primary references: nyidanmark.dk and startupdenmark.info — always verify-on-official-site before remitting funds or booking travel.
Min. capital
No fixed national “startup capital cheque” published as the core test
Best for: Third-country founders with a high-growth innovative concept who can pass the Danish expert panel and then meet SIRI residence requirements.
Panel approval and SIRI financial/subsistence requirements matter more than a branded investment floor. Confirm current documentation of funds on nyidanmark.dk — do not invent a euro minimum from blogs.
Investment options
- Personal / company funds sufficient for residence and runway (SIRI amounts — verify)
- Equity or grants that support the approved business plan
- Team co-founders where scheme rules allow (verify how many can be included)
- Danish company formation after / alongside approval as scheme requires
Eligibility
- Business idea approved by the Danish Business Authority expert panel BEFORE SIRI application
- Innovative and scalable venture as assessed by the panel
- Fall within annual permit capacity (~75/year commonly cited — verify)
- Meet SIRI residence, passport, and financial requirements as published
- Active role in establishing and running the business in Denmark
Process timeline
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1
Prepare panel application
Pitch deck / business case per Start-up Denmark / Business Authority guidance.
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2
Obtain panel approval
Wait for positive expert-panel decision — required before SIRI.
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3
Lodge SIRI residence
Apply on nyidanmark.dk channels with panel approval evidence; biometrics as required.
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4
Enter, build, extend
Operate up to 2 years; apply to extend up to 3 further years if eligible.
Family
Accompanying family may be possible under SIRI rules when the principal qualifies — confirm spouse/children criteria, work rights for partners, and fees on nyidanmark.dk.
Work rights
Designed to run the approved start-up. Other employment may be limited — verify conditions on your SIRI grant.
Route to PR
Start-up Denmark is time-limited (2 years + possible extension). Permanent residence follows separate Danish rules after qualifying residence — verify nyidanmark.dk; do not assume PR is automatic after the start-up permit.
Route to citizenship
Danish citizenship requires meeting nationality criteria after long lawful residence — separate from Start-up Denmark. Dual nationality implications for Pakistan need advice.
Pros
- Clear two-step process: panel then SIRI
- Strong Nordic ecosystem once approved
- Published duration structure (up to 2 years, extend up to 3 — verify)
- Official portals in English (nyidanmark.dk / startupdenmark.info)
Watch-outs
- Quota ~75/year — selective; panel rejection ends the path
- Never apply to SIRI before panel approval
- Not an investment-residence cheque product
- High living costs in Copenhagen; plan subsistence carefully