Residence permit — Luxembourg: requirements, steps and timelines

Main Types of Residence Permit in Luxembourg

Luxembourg distinguishes between residence rights for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (who benefit from free movement) and third-country nationals (TCNs — all non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss citizens), who must obtain a formal authorisation to stay for any stay exceeding 90 days. The legal framework is the amended Act of 29 August 2008 on the free movement of persons and immigration.

For Third-Country Nationals (non-EU)

For EU / EEA / Swiss Citizens

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not require a visa or residence permit to enter Luxembourg. However, for stays exceeding 3 months, they must register with their local commune and obtain a registration certificate (attestation d'enregistrement). After 5 years of continuous legal residence, they may apply for a permanent residence permit for EU citizens from the General Department of Immigration.

Brexit Note

British citizens and their family members covered by the EU–UK Withdrawal Agreement may apply for a permanent residence permit free of charge after 5 continuous years of legal residence in Luxembourg, via a dedicated procedure at the General Department of Immigration.

Eligibility Conditions

General Conditions (all TCN applicants)

• Hold a valid passport (and, where required, a valid Schengen visa or temporary authorisation to stay before arrival).
• Not represent a threat to public order, public safety or public health.
• Meet the specific conditions tied to the purpose of residence (see below).
• Have adequate and stable resources to cover living expenses without resorting to Luxembourg's social assistance system.
• Have suitable accommodation in Luxembourg.
• Be covered by comprehensive health insurance for the entire period of stay.

Salaried Worker — Specific Conditions

• Hold a signed employment contract with a Luxembourg employer.
• The employer must first obtain a certificate from ADEM (Agence pour le développement de l'emploi) confirming that no suitable EU/EEA/Swiss candidate is available for the post (labour market test).
• The employer hands the original ADEM certificate to the TCN, who attaches it to the residence permit application.

EU Blue Card — Specific Conditions

• Hold a higher education degree (minimum 3 years of studies) or, in certain cases, at least 5 years of proven professional experience in the relevant field.
• Gross annual salary of at least €63,408 (threshold effective from 18 March 2025; raised to €65,652 from 3 March 2026). Since June 2024 (Act of 4 June 2024 transposing EU Directive 2021/1883), a single threshold applies — the previous lower threshold for shortage occupations has been abolished.
• Signed work contract or binding job offer for at least 6 months.
• No ADEM labour market test required for EU Blue Card applicants.

Student — Specific Conditions

• Proof of acceptance at a recognised Luxembourg institution.
• Sufficient financial resources (approx. €1,000/month or proof of a scholarship).
• The application for a temporary authorisation to stay must be submitted from the country of origin to the Luxembourg diplomatic or consular representation before entering Luxembourg. Applications submitted from within Luxembourg are inadmissible.

Long-Term Resident — Specific Conditions

• 5 years of continuous and lawful residence in Luxembourg immediately prior to the application.
• Sufficient and stable resources.
• Health insurance coverage.
• No serious threat to public order or security.

Required Documents

The exact document list varies by permit type. The following are the core documents required for most residence permit applications. Always verify the precise list on guichet.public.lu for your specific category.

Documents Required for All Categories

• Completed and signed application form (available on MyGuichet.lu — online or downloadable PDF).
• Valid passport: photocopy of all pages, including blank pages. The passport must remain valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended stay.
• Recent passport-sized photograph (conforming to ICAO standards).
• Proof of accommodation in Luxembourg (rental contract, property deed, or host declaration).
• Proof of comprehensive health insurance covering Luxembourg.
• Proof of sufficient financial means (bank statements, payslips, or contract).
• Criminal record extract (less than 3 months old) from the country of origin and any country of previous residence.

Additional Documents by Category

• Salaried Worker: Signed employment contract + original ADEM certificate authorising the employer to hire a TCN.
• EU Blue Card: Signed employment contract (or binding job offer) showing the gross annual salary threshold is met + proof of higher education qualification (degree certificate + translation if not in FR/DE/LU/EN).
• Self-Employed: Business plan, proof of professional qualifications, evidence of sufficient start-up capital.
• Student: Letter of acceptance from the Luxembourg institution + proof of enrolment fee payment + proof of financial resources.
• Family Reunification: Proof of family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates) + proof of sponsor's legal residence status and resources + proof of accommodation.
• Long-Term Resident: Proof of 5 years' continuous legal residence (copies of all previous residence permits), tax returns, social security records.

Step-by-Step Procedure

Step 1 — Before Entering Luxembourg (for most TCNs)

1. Determine whether your nationality requires a Schengen visa. Consult the official lists of visa-exempt and visa-required countries published by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
2. If a visa is required, apply for a long-stay national visa (Type D) at the Luxembourg diplomatic or consular mission in your country of residence. For students and certain other categories, this step is mandatory before entering Luxembourg — applications submitted from within Luxembourg are inadmissible.
3. For EU Blue Card and salaried worker applicants: the employer starts the process by obtaining the ADEM certificate (where required) and signing the employment contract.

Step 2 — Arrive in Luxembourg and Register with Your Commune

1. Within 3 days of arrival, declare your arrival at the administration of your commune of residence (administration communale). You will receive a declaration of arrival (déclaration d'arrivée) as a receipt.
2. Keep this declaration: it is required as a supporting document for your residence permit application.

Step 3 — Submit the Residence Permit Application

1. Submit the application within 90 days of arrival (3 months) to the General Department of Immigration (Direction générale de l'Immigration), which falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
2. Online (preferred): Via MyGuichet.lu — the application can also be tracked online. The MyGuichet.lu mobile app is also available for submission.
3. By post: Using the category-specific paper form downloadable from guichet.public.lu, sent to: Direction générale de l'Immigration, 26, route d'Arlon, L-1140 Luxembourg.

Step 4 — Medical Examination

1. After the application is received and reviewed, you will be convoked by the Health Inspection Service (Inspection sanitaire) for a mandatory medical check. This typically applies to salaried workers, EU Blue Card holders, and certain other categories.

Step 5 — Biometric Data Collection and Fee Payment

1. You will be invited to attend the General Department of Immigration in person to provide biometric data (fingerprints and photograph).
2. Pay the residence permit fee of €80 by bank transfer to: IBAN LU46 1111 2582 2814 0000 (reference: your name and application number).

Step 6 — Collection of the Residence Permit Card

1. The physical residence permit card (biometric card) is collected in person at the General Department of Immigration, approximately 7 days after biometric data has been recorded.

Timelines and Costs

Important: No express/fast-track fee is foreseen under Luxembourg national law for EU Blue Card applications. All applicants pay the flat €80 fee.

Renewal of a Residence Permit

When to Apply

The renewal application must be submitted to the General Department of Immigration at least 2 months (60 days) before the expiry of the current residence permit. For example, if your permit expires on 31 December, your application must be submitted no later than 31 October.

Where to Apply

• Online: Via MyGuichet.lu (recommended — application and tracking available online and via the mobile app). Updates to the renewal process were implemented in spring 2025.
• By post: Using the renewal form specific to your permit category, downloadable from guichet.public.lu.

Documents Required for Renewal

• Completed renewal application form.
• Copy of current (valid) residence permit card.
• Copy of all pages of your valid passport.
• Proof that the conditions for the original permit are still met (e.g., current employment contract and payslips for salaried workers; proof of enrolment for students).
• Updated proof of accommodation.
• Updated proof of health insurance.
• Payment of the €80 renewal fee (same IBAN as above).

Renewal Validity Periods (indicative)

• EU Blue Card: Renewable; the extension is generally granted for up to 3 years at a time.
• Salaried Worker: Renewable for up to 2 years.
• Student: Renewed annually, subject to proof of academic progression.
• Long-Term Resident: Card renewed every 5 years (the underlying right is permanent).

Change of Address During the Permit's Validity

If you move to a new address in Luxembourg while your permit is valid, you must make a declaration of arrival at the administration of your new commune. You must present your current residence permit card and your passport. You will receive a copy of the declaration as a receipt.

FAQ

Can I work in Luxembourg while my renewal application is being processed?

Yes. Provided you submitted the renewal application before the expiry of your current permit and within the prescribed 2-month notice period, you are generally authorised to continue residing and working in Luxembourg under the same conditions while the decision is pending. The General Department of Immigration may issue a bridging document confirming this status. Always keep proof of your submitted application.

Is the ADEM labour market test required for all work-related permits?

No. The labour market test (ADEM certificate confirming no suitable EU/EEA candidate is available) is required for the standard salaried worker permit. It is not required for the EU Blue Card, the Intra-Corporate Transferee permit, the posted worker permit, or for researchers. Since June 2024, the EU Blue Card in Luxembourg operates under a single salary threshold with no distinction for shortage occupations (Act of 4 June 2024 transposing EU Directive 2021/1883).

What happens if the General Department of Immigration does not respond within 3 months?

Under Luxembourg administrative law, silence from the administration beyond the statutory 3-month processing deadline is interpreted as an implicit rejection of the application. In that case, you have the right to appeal the implicit rejection before the Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal administratif). It is strongly advisable to seek legal advice promptly. You should also track your application status proactively via MyGuichet.lu.

Which official platform should I use, and where can I find the official forms?

All official forms, eligibility details, and the online application portal are available on guichet.public.lu (the official Luxembourg public services portal). Applications are submitted to and managed by the General Department of Immigration (Direction générale de l'Immigration), which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs (Ministère des Affaires intérieures). The ministry's immigration page is accessible at maint.gouvernement.lu/en/visa-immigration.html. For EU Blue Card specifics, the European Commission's official portal also provides a Luxembourg-specific fact sheet at home-affairs.ec.europa.eu.