Startup Denmark Visa: Application, Validity, Documents

Can you apply for a Startup Denmark Visa? What are the requirements to get a Danish Startup Visa? What is the validity of a Denmark startup visa? Read on to know everything about getting an entrepreneur visa to Denmark

Denmark is a very entrepreneur-friendly country. For many years, it has held the highest index score for the Ease of Doing Business in Europe. Denmark encourages native entrepreneurs as well as people from around the world with innovative ideas.

Anyone wanting to set up a business in Denmark can apply for a startup Denmark visa. This program is designed for innovative companies with high growth potential. If you want to open a restaurant, cafe or retail store, this may not be the right visa for you.

Read: Types Of Visa To Denmark – All You Need To Know

Who Is Eligible For A Startup Denmark Visa?

The startup Denmark visa is designed for self-employed non-EU citizens.

An application may be submitted by an individual; or by a team of up to 3 people.

The eligibility criteria are:

Approved business plan
The applicant must be a non-EU citizen
The applicant must be financially stable
The applicant must play an active role in the business

Validity Of The Startup Denmark Visa

A residence and work permit under the startup Denmark visa program is valid for 2 years. It may be extended by an additional 3 years.

Read: 10 Places To Visit In Denmark

Getting Your Business Idea Approved

The application form for getting your business idea approved can be completed and submitted online by creating an account here. The key points that must be conveyed are:

Business pitch: The application must say what the product/service is and what stage of development it has reached.
Team competencies: The applicant must prove that he/she has the required skills and resources to bring the business plan to life.
Market analysis: The applicant must explain details about the target audience, existing competitors, distribution model, price bands and marketing strategy.
Why Denmark: The applicant must explain why he/she wants to establish the business in Denmark
Initially planned activities: The applicant must describe the first few steps planned as well as the budget set aside for it if the application is approved
Documentation: Any types of relevant patents, funding, etc. must be included in the application

This pitch deck must have no more than 15 ppt slides of 10 pdf pages and must be in English

In addition, a 5-minute video pitch is also required. This must talk about the innovativeness of the idea, the company’s market position, scaling potential and why the applicant is the right person to work on this idea.

Read: Everything You Should Know About The European Travel Information And Authorization System Or ETIAS

Judging Criteria For A Danish Entrepreneur Visa

Applications are judged by an independent panel on the basis of 4 evaluation criteria:

Level of innovation in the business model
The market value of the business idea
Scalability
The team’s resources and competencies.

The application is given a score of 1 to 5 for each criterion. A minimum score of 3.5 is required in each criterion for the application to be approved.

Financial Requirements For A Danish Entrepreneur Visa

The applicant must prove that he/she has sufficient funds to cover their first year in Denmark. The minimum amount required for this is:

A single applicant living in Denmark	DKK 1,40,592
Applicant and spouse living in Denmark	DKK 2,81,184
Applicant, spouse and one child living in Denmark	DKK 3,27,432
An applicant with one or more children living in Denmark	DKK 1,86,840

Processing Of The Application

Applications are usually processed within 6 weeks in chronological order. If the application is approved, the applicant can stage forward to applying for a residence and work permit.

If The Application Is Rejected

Once submitted, the applications are screened against the formal requirements.

If an application is screened out at this stage, an email and an explanation will be provided. The application can be resubmitted with the required additions. Common reasons for an application to be screened out are:

The applicant is an EU citizen
The application is not in English
The business model does not meet the program criteria
The information provided is not credible

After the screening, it is judged by an expert panel. If the application is rejected by the panel, an email with a statement on all 4 judging criteria will be provided. The applicant may reapply or appeal the evaluation to the Danish Business Authority.

Applying For A Denmark Startup Visa

Once the business plan is approved, the applicant can apply for a residence and work permit. The application must be submitted within one month of getting the business idea approved.

A case order ID must be created and an application fee of DKK 1,890 must be paid.
The SD1 application form must be completed and submitted online
Biometrics must be submitted within 14 days of submitting the application

Documents Required To Get A Startup Visa To Denmark

Apart from approval by the expert panel, you will also need to submit

Scanned copies of all pages of your current passport
Application fee receipt
Document proving financial standing
Proof of company ownership

The application is usually processed within one month and you will be notified of the result via email/SMS.

All You Need To Know About The Startup Denmark Visa