Luxembourg Immigration Requirements

In this article Dashboardlogins.com tries to answer the question by publishing the Luxembourg Immigration Requirements.

Luxembourg visas and permits

Luxembourg is a member of the European Union (EU). As such, other citizens from the EU can enter the country freely for either the purpose of tourism or business. The same applies to people from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). This association includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

EU/EFTA citizens

EU/EFTA nationals can enter and stay for up to three months with a valid identity card or passport. In order to stay longer, they must either be:

employed by a company
self-employed
enrolled at a public or private educational institution
have sufficient resources to not be a burden on the social security system and have health insurance coverage

Although technically you don’t need a visa or permit, you will have to apply for a registration certificate at the local authority offices.

Nationals from new member states must still apply for a work permit from the employment office.

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens

For most non-EU nationals who wish to stay for up to three months, a visa is required. You can apply for a short-stay visa at a local Luxembourg embassy or consulate. Usually, you’ll have to submit:

an application
a valid passport
proof of the purpose of your visit
accommodation details
and a return ticket

You must also fill in an arrival certificate within three days at the administration communale (local authority offices).

If you plan to stay for more than three months, it is necessary to apply for a temporary residence permit. You can do so at the immigration ministry before you arrive in Luxembourg. Temporary residence permits are available for:

an employee or self-employed person
sportsperson
student
pupil
intern
researcher
family member

This permit serves both as a residence and a work permit, replacing the typical work permit. You can get one at the local consulate or embassy. If there is no Embassy of Luxembourg available, a Dutch or Belgian embassy can usually provide the same applications.

How to apply for a Luxembourg visa or permit

Certain documents must be provided in order to immigrate to Luxembourg, such as:

a passport that is valid until a certain date after arrival
birth certificates of all family members
marriage or divorce certificates
proof of financial means
proof of school admission for students

Most of the documents have to be translated. It usually takes three months for the permit to be issued.

According to the European Employment Services:

Residence permits will be granted to employees as long as: it does not detract from the recruitment priority to which some workers are entitled; the activity in question must serve the country’s economic interests; the employee has the required technical skills; the vacancy for which the work contract has been signed has been declared at the ADEM.Employment Administration

It is possible to get a waiver and a residence permit if you are a qualified third-country national. This is the case when you are applying for a job for which there is a shortage of qualified applications.

Remember that permits are easier to obtain if your profile is attractive to Luxembourg. In the case of a highly skilled profession, a third-country national may receive a highly-qualified worker residence permit.

Registering with your local authority

Anyone looking to immigrate to Luxembourg for more than a year, will have to apply for a foreigner’s identity card and register with the communal administration. The administration will supply the forms for the card and the list of required documents.

The required proof can vary by commune, but there are some common documents that appear on all communal lists. Typically you have to provide:

a passport that has your provisional residence permit in it
a work permit or proof of financial resources
three passport-size photos
medical certificate
a certificate of address change
a certificate of good conduct
a tax stamp

Tax stamps must be obtained from an office of the Administration des Enregistrements et Domaines. This is a department of the Ministry of Finance, generally referred to simply as l’Enregistrement. There isn’t an office in every town, but your town hall will advise you where the nearest office is.

EU nationals get a free tax stamp. It is around €10 for citizens of the Americas, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Nationals of all other countries pay around €30.

Once you submit your application for your identity card, you can expect it to take up to one year. Do not be surprised – if during the process – you get a call from the local police. They may call to ask you some routine questions or to verify information like your salary.

Luxembourg ID cards

Everyone over the age of 15 must carry an identity card or passport at all times to prove their legal status or residence in the country. If you move house within Luxembourg, you must apply to have your identity card updated. It is your responsibility to make sure you renew your card well in advance of its expiration date.

Citizenship in Luxembourg

Previously, those who planned to make Luxembourg their new home and wished to apply for citizenship were required to renounce their current citizenship. However, dual or multiple citizenships are permitted since 2009.

To become a Luxembourgish citizen, you must be at least 18 years old, have lived in Luxembourg for at least 10 years, and be fluent in all three national languages (French, German, and Luxembourgish). Alternatively, you can apply for citizenship after five years. You’ll have to have ties with the country through birth, adoption, or marriage.