Work Permits and Visas in 2024: A Handbook for Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a small country that consistently ranks as one of the best countries to live in. It offers great job opportunities and job security. It also scores highly on quality of life factors, has an advanced approach to technology, and is multilingual.

Finance is the most important industry in Luxembourg, and approximately 30% of all jobs in the country are in the financial sector. Luxembourg is also home to companies such as Amazon, PayPal, and Skype, which makes it a great country for anyone looking for work in the tech industry.

Around 70% of Luxembourg’s workforce are expats, so locals have a welcoming and progressive view of newcomers. Paired with a high quality of life, all these opportunities make Luxembourg a great country for foreigners looking to live and work there.

However, you might need a visa to live and work in Luxembourg. Several visas are available to you, depending on the length of stay and your citizenship.

Let’s cover all there is to know about visas and work permits for Luxembourg.

Who needs a visa for Luxembourg?

Luxembourg belongs to the European Union, so there are different requirements for EU citizens and citizens from countries that are not members of the EU. Citizens from countries that are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Swiss Confederation follow the same rights as EU citizens.

1. EU citizens

EU citizens and the citizens of the EEA and the Swiss Confederation have the right to live and work in other EU countries. To do so, they must have an employee contract, be self-employed, or be unemployed but have sufficient financial means.

However, EU citizens must report their arrival within 8 days of their arrival if they plan on staying in Luxembourg for more than 90 days. They need to declare their arrival at the commune where they want to establish residence.

To establish residence, foreigners must have a valid passport or identity card. If they have family members accompanying them, they need to present a certificate of marriage or birth certificate.

Within the first three months, EU citizens arriving in Luxembourg must also fill in a registration certificate at the communal administration. This certificate requires proof of employment, self-employment, or proof of sufficient resources to avoid dependency on the social welfare system. It will also require a valid passport.

When you have been living in Luxembourg for five years, you may apply for permanent residence. You can do so by applying for a permanent residence permit.

2. Non-EU citizens

Non-EU citizens looking to live and work in Luxembourg will have to apply for a visa, depending on the country they are coming from. This also applies to immigrants from the UK, since the status of British citizens has changed following Brexit.

Types of Luxembourg visas for non-EU citizens

Some of the most common visas third-country nationals apply for to live and work in Luxembourg are EU blue card, type C, and type D visas.

EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is one of the most common type of visa foreign nationals obtain for living and working in any EU country. Luxembourg is one of the 25 countries that will accept third-country nationals with an EU Blue Card.

To obtain it, you need to prove to Luxembourg authorities that you are a highly skilled worker.

When applying for an EU blue card for Luxembourg, you need to prove you have a higher education qualification. You can also aim to prove that you have at least five years of professional experience in the field.

The EU Blue Card also requires you to have a work contract that meets your qualifications. There is also a salary requirement your contract has to meet. You must be paid €88,452 annually unless you have the skills for one of the professionals with a lower minimum salary requirement of €70,762.

The occupations that fall under lower-tier requirements include mathematicians, actuaries, and statisticians. The IT industry job opportunities also come with lower requirements for software developers, analysts, database designers and administrators, and computer network professionals.

You will also need to get a residence permit.

Visa for a short stay - Type C

Type C visa is intended for business people looking to stay short-term in Luxembourg. This visa is issued for up to 90 days. Business people traveling to Luxembourg for meetings, or short-term business trips typically rely on Type C visas.

Type D visa for long-term stays

Those who need to stay in Luxembourg for longer than 90 days opt for a type D visa. This visa is the most common one for self-employed workers, highly qualified employees who haven’t gotten the EU Blue Card, and salaried employees.

To get either a type C or type D permit, employees will have to obtain a work visa.

The Luxembourg visa application process for the employer

The employer starts the application process for their employees who wish to come to live and work in Luxembourg. To do this, the employer needs to contact the National Employment Agency (ADEM) and declare the vacant position.

Similarly to the process of obtaining a working visa for Germany, the employer has to prove there are no local citizens or citizens of another EU country interested in the role. The ADEM will then check whether there are Luxembourg citizens or citizens of another EU country that could fill the position.

If the ADEM cannot fill the position within 3 weeks, the employer can proceed with hiring a third-country citizen for the position. The first step for the employer is to submit an application and request a certificate from ADEM. This certificate gives the employer the right to hire anyone they choose, including a third-country national.

After they obtain the certificate, the employer can present the employee with a contract. The contract must be dated. However, since the work permit may take some time, the contract may state that the start date depends on the employee obtaining a work permit.

The employee then uses the ADEM certificate and the contract to apply for the work permit.

Once the worker obtains the permit, they have to submit it to the employer. The employer must keep a copy on record for the duration of the contract, and notify the Ministry of Home Affairs within three working days of the work start date.

How to get a Luxembourg work permit as an employee?

Once the employer obtains the needed certificate and offers the employee the contract, the employee needs to follow a 2-step process to obtain a work permit.

The first step starts before entering Luxembourg. The employee has to apply for a temporary authorization to stay. This can be done at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

To apply for temporary authorization to stay, you must have a valid passport. Depending on the length of stay, the employee will have to submit:

1. A copy of a passport

2. A curriculum vitae

3. An extract from the criminal records,

4. A copy of a degree certificate or other qualifications

5. Present their employment contract, dated and signed by both the employee and the employer

6. Present the original ADEM certificate

7. Posses health insurance coverage for the duration of the stay

8. Show proof of finances,

9. Two recent photos,

10. A letter of invitation for the business trip (if applicable)

The Ministry of Home Affairs will notify you of their decision within four months. You can consider that your application was denied if you do not hear back from the ministry within four months.

The temporary authorization to stay is valid do 90 days. Within those 90 days, the third-country person must either apply for a type C or type D visa.

For work permits for over 90 days, you’ll have to request a type D visa when you obtain temporary authorization to stay.

Once you are in Luxembourg, you need to make a declaration of arrival, similar to the one EU citizens need to submit. You will also have to pass a medical check.

After completing this, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit.

What about self-employed workers?

Self-employed workers from third-country can also move to Luxembourg and continue their work there. To do this, they need authorization to stay, as well as a residence permit.

To get the authorization to stay, you must provide certain documentation:

1. Proof of Qualifications

This could be your diploma, proof of work experience, and any relevant licenses you may have.

2. Be compliant with local laws and regulations regarding the craft (if applicable)

You need to be compliant with all regulations if there are conditions set out by the law. This is typically the case for craftsmen, traders, and other professions.

3. Provide proof of resources

4. Prove the service benefits the country

Possibly the most complex part of moving to Luxembourg as self-employed is proving that your work will benefit the country. It should be of social or cultural interest or an economic benefit.

For example, your small business might be fulfilling an economic need. It could create jobs, or improve the local or national economy. It may also attract investments, particularly in the research and development area.

The most important thing to prove is that the activity requires your presence in Luxembourg.

You may also need to acquire a business permit from the Ministry of Economy. Some types of businesses will require other authorizations, accreditations, or registrations. Before applying for a visa, you must obtain these and submit them along with your application.

Does Luxembourg offer a digital nomad visa?

No, currently Luxembourg doesn’t offer a digital nomad visa. Digital nomads who would like to work and live in Luxembourg for a short time can apply for a Type C visa intended for a short stay.

Is there a Luxemburg visa for seasonal work?

Luxembourg also offers visas for specific sets of jobs that are classified as seasonal. These include jobs in agriculture, short-term hospitality roles, tour guides, and other holiday work.

The process for obtaining this visa is fairly similar to the one for the salaried worker. The employer starts the process by contacting ADEM, and ensuring there are no local or EU candidates willing to take up the job offer. The ADEM will then issue a certificate to the employer, who is then allowed to get into contact with the employee.

It is the employee who requests the visa. To do that, they have to apply with their contract, a certificate from the ADEM, and other relevant documents, including the passport.

How long does the application take and cost?

Typically, the Ministry of Immigration can take up to three months to process the application. The clock starts once the documentation is received.

Most visas in Luxembourg have a fee of €80, but there are certain exceptions for certain countries. The same price applies to visa renewals.

How long is a visa valid?

Most visas for Luxembourg are valid for a year. You have the option to renew your visa for a maximum of three years. You will need government permission to change jobs or sectors before you renew your visa for the first time.

The EU Blue Card is typically valid for four years. However, if your contract is valid for a shorter amount of time, then the EU Blue Card will expire three months after the end of your contract.

A seasonal visa is the shortest. This type of visa is valid for no more than five months in a year. Additionally, the seasonal employee cannot switch to another visa during their stay.

FAQ

How to get a work permit visa in Luxembourg?

To get a work permit visa, you need to apply for either a type C or type D visa, depending on the length of the stay. To do so, you will need to obtain a work permit first.

Is it easy for foreigners to get jobs in Luxembourg?

Whether it would be easy to find work in Luxembourg depends on the profession. But, Luxembourg has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe. Even though English is not one of the official languages in Luxembourg, it is one of the most commonly used languages in the country. It is therefore fairly easy to find work in Luxembourg.

What is a good salary in Luxembourg?

Luxembourg has some of the highest salaries in the world. The country, on the same note, has a high standard of living. The average salary in Luxembourg is €5,000 to €6,000 gross per month, according to the recent statistics.