Self-employment / Freelance in Denmark
One documented route of this kind in Denmark, with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Start-up Denmark (self-employment / entrepreneurship)
Residence permit for third-country entrepreneurs to establish and run an innovative growth company in Denmark.
- Processing time
- About 1 month (after expert-panel approval)
- Validity
- Up to 2 years, renewable up to 3 years per extension
- Language requirement
- None
- Permanent residence
- Eligible for permanent residence after 8 years (reduced to 4 with supplementary requirements)
- Citizenship
- Generally 9 years continuous residence
Requirements
- Innovative growth-company business plan approved by the expert panel under the Danish Business Authority
- Individual or team of up to 3 entrepreneurs
- Proof of self-support (solo approx. DKK 153,240; 2025 level, reconfirm 2026)
- Company-ownership documentation
Required Documents
- Fee payment receipt required
- Copy of all passport pages required
- Expert-panel approval required
- Financial documentation required
- Company-ownership documentation required
Official fees
- Application fee (2026) 3,060 DKK
Process Steps
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1
Obtain expert-panel approval
Submit the business plan and obtain approval from the expert panel under the Danish Business Authority.
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2
Create case order ID and pay fee
Create a case order ID and pay DKK 3,060.
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3
Complete online form
Complete the online application (about 30 minutes).
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4
Submit and biometrics
Submit; record biometrics within 14 days.
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5
Decision
Await the decision (about 1 month after expert-panel approval).