Denmark's Startup Denmark scheme offers the most structured, transparent startup-visa route in Europe — which is exactly why it also has the toughest review.
Who is eligible?
- Ability to financially support yourself during your residence
- An active, genuine role in running the business (not a passive investor)
- A business plan ready for expert-panel review
- Up to three co-founders can submit one joint plan
The assessment process
- Submit your business plan to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).
- Expert-panel review: three independent evaluators score your plan across four separate criteria; approval requires an average of at least 3.5 out of 5.
- File for residence once the panel approves, for a two-year renewable permit.
- Build in Copenhagen with access to the Scandinavian market and first-class digital infrastructure.
The ecosystem today
Copenhagen has 21 unicorns and, per the 2025 Global Tech Ecosystem Index, is Europe's third-largest AI hub. The city's startup ecosystem raised over $1 billion in 2025.
Who this suits
Denmark is strongest for B2B startups and teams whose business plan is genuinely documented and defensible — the expert panel has little patience for incomplete or unproven ideas. If your plan isn't ready for that level of scrutiny yet, investing in preparation before filing is what separates approval from rejection.