What investment or business options are there to live in Denmark?

For people who want to build a business in Denmark, the headline route is Start-up Denmark. It is aimed at third-country entrepreneurs — applying alone or in a team of up to three on a shared business plan — with an innovative, scalable idea. The crucial first step is that the Danish Business Authority's expert panel must approve your business concept before you apply for the permit.

The scheme is built for genuine growth companies: routine retail, restaurant or trading ventures are excluded, and you must be an owner who actively runs the business rather than a passive investor. You also need documented funds to support yourself and any family during the stay. There is a national annual cap, processing is listed at about one month, and the indicative fee is DKK 3,060. Notably, the corpus describes Start-up Denmark as the business route — there is no passive investor or golden-visa scheme set out here.

The approval criteria, cap and fees can change, so confirm the current details on nyidanmark.dk before applying. If you are shaping a business concept for Denmark, ACME can help you understand what the expert panel looks for and prepare the application.