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Check if you need a visa or permit to work in Luxembourg and how to get one if you do.
This guide is for British citizens travelling for business or other work purposes. It explains what employers, employees, or the self-employed need to do if they need a visa, work permit or residence permit.
This information is provided as a guide only. You must always check the exact application process and document requirements with Luxembourg’s immigration authorities or embassy.
If you’re going to Luxembourg to work (or any other EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein) you must make sure you meet passport and other travel requirements.
If you’re travelling for business for up to 90 days in a 180-day period, you may be able to do some work-related things without needing a visa or work permit, such as attend business meetings. These are usually covered by the Schengen visa waiver.
If you’re going for other types of work you may need a visa, work permit or residence permit.
Luxembourg’s authorities are responsible for setting and enforcing entry rules. They decide which activities need a visa or permit, or which may be exempt.
You must always check with Luxembourg’s government before you travel, to make sure you meet their legal requirements
If you’re working in more than one country you’ll need to check the entry rules of each country.
If you need a passport, visa or permit, you should apply well in advance of travel.
This guide explains the general application process for some of the visa or permit types available in Luxembourg. It includes a checklist of documents that you’ll usually need to include when applying.
It may not cover all scenarios so you must always check the exact application process and document requirements with Luxembourg’s immigration authorities or embassy.
You must also check what format the documents should be presented in, including if they must be:
Countries often use the terms visa, work permit and residence permit differently. For example, some may refer to a work permit as a visa.
This guide uses the same terms used in Luxembourg, so you know which ones to use when speaking to Luxembourg’s authorities.
You do not need a visa or permit if you’re travelling to Luxembourg for up to 90 days in a calendar year for:
These activities are covered by the Schengen visa waiver.
Your employer must submit an online notification to the Inspection du Travail et des Mines (ITM) for work and business related travel.
At the border, you may be asked to show:
Certain types of work and activities do not require a visa or permit because they’re exempt.
All countries have their own exemptions. What may be exempt in one country may not be in another. You should always check with the country’s authorities.
These may not require a visa or permit in Luxembourg for up to 90 days in a calendar year:
If you have an EU intra-company transfer (EU ICT) permit from another country you can work in Luxembourg for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
Your employer needs to notify Luxembourg’s immigration authorities in writing before your assignment starts:
Ministère des Affaires Etrangères et Européennes
9, rue du Palais de Justice
L-1841 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Your employer must also submit an online notification to the Inspection du Travail et des Mines (ITM).
Exemptions are covered by the visa waiver.
You need to be able to show proof that you’re exempt to the authorities on request. This could be:
You must make a declaration of arrival to your local census office (Bureau de la population) within 3 business days of arriving in Luxembourg even if you don’t need a visa or permit.
If you’re not sure if you need a visa or permit to travel you can get advice from the Luxembourg immigration authorities or embassy.
This guide outlines the steps required for each visa or permit to help you prepare, but you’ll need to check the exact rules and processes with Luxembourg’s immigration authorities or embassy.
Your family won’t be able to get dependant visas if you have a short-term permit. They may be able to join you for up to 90 days under the visa waiver.
There may be different rules for taking families if you have a long-term permit.
Family members also have to declare their arrival to the authorities within 3 business days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You need a short-term work permit if you’re in Luxembourg for up to 90 days because you’re:
You need to apply for a long-term permit if you’re in Luxembourg for more than 90 days because you’re:
Long-term permits are valid for up to 4 years depending on which one you need.
To qualify for a short-term permit you must:
It takes 4 to 5 months to get. It’s valid for 90 days in a 180-day period and you can’t extend it.
You need to check with Luxembourg’s consulate or embassy on the exact process. This is a rough guide to help you prepare.
Your employer carries out a labour market test by posting the vacancy with the Agence pour le Developpement de l’Emploi (ADEM) for 3 weeks.
Your employer submits a work permit application to the Immigration Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
You submit a declaration of arrival within 3 business days of arriving in Luxembourg.
Your employer notifies the Immigration Directorate with your start date within 3 working days of you starting work.
Luxembourg’s authorities may request different documents at different stages of the process. Usually, they need:
You need a short-term work permit to provide services if your UK employer has a contract or work order with a Luxembourg company.
To qualify you must:
It takes 4 to 5 months to get. It’s valid for up to 90 days and you can’t extend it.
You need to check with Luxembourg’s consulate or embassy on the exact process. This is a rough guide to help you prepare.
Your employer submits your work permit application to the Immigration Directorate in Luxembourg.
Your employer submits an online notification to the Inspection du Travail et des Mines (ITM).
You submit a declaration of arrival within 3 business days of arriving in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg’s authorities may request different documents at different stages of the process. Usually, they need:
You need a long-term intra-company transfer (ICT) permit if your UK-based employer moves you to a branch in Luxembourg for:
To qualify you must:
This ICT permit takes 4 to 5 months to get. You can’t extend it beyond 3 years, or 1 year if you’re a trainee.
If you have a family they can join you with this permit type.
You need to check with Luxembourg’s consulate or embassy on the exact process. This is a rough guide to help you prepare.
Your employer applies to Luxembourg’s Immigration Directorate for your temporary authorisation to stay in Luxembourg.
Once approved, you enter Luxembourg and submit a declaration of arrival within 3 business days of you arriving.
You have a medical exam, including a tuberculosis (TB) test.
You apply to the Immigration Directorate for your residence permit within 90 days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You attend a biometrics appointment.
Luxembourg’s authorities may request different documents at different stages of the process. Usually, they need:
You need a work and residence permit for posted workers if your UK employer has a contract or work order with a Luxembourg company to provide services for more than 90 days.
To qualify you must:
The UK company must:
The posted workers permit takes 4 to 5 months to get. It’s valid for the duration of the assignment and you can extend it.
If you have a family they can join you with this permit type.
You need to check with Luxembourg’s consulate or embassy on the exact process. This is a rough guide to help you prepare.
Your employer applies to Luxembourg’s Immigration Directorate for your temporary authorisation to stay in Luxembourg.
Your employer submits an online notification to the Inspection du Travail et des Mines (ITM).
You submit a declaration of arrival within 3 business days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You have a medical exam, including a tuberculosis (TB) test.
You apply to the Immigration Directorate for your residence permit within 90 days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You attend a biometrics appointment.
Luxembourg’s authorities may request different documents at different stages of the process. Usually, they need:
You can apply for one of the these permits if you’re highly skilled and have an offer of employment with a company in Luxembourg:
To qualify for an EU Blue Card you must:
The EU Blue Card takes 4 to 5 months to get. It’s valid for up to 4 years and you can extend it. It can lead to permanent residence if you meet the criteria.
If you have a family they can join you with this permit type.
You need to check with Luxembourg’s consulate or embassy on the exact process. This is a rough guide to help you prepare.
Your employer applies to Luxembourg’s Immigration Directorate for your temporary authorisation to stay in Luxembourg to the Immigration Directorate in Luxembourg.
You submit a declaration of arrival within 3 business days of you arriving in Luxembourg.
our employer notifies the Immigration Directorate with your employment start date within 3 working days of you starting work.
You have a medical exam, including a tuberculosis (TB) test.
You apply to the Immigration Directorate for your residence permit within 90 days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You attend a biometrics appointment.
Luxembourg’s authorities may request different documents at different stages of the process. Usually, they need:
To qualify for a work and residence permit for salaried workers you must:
The salaried workers permit takes 4 to 5 months to get. It’s valid for 1 year and you can extend it.
If you have a family they can join you with this permit type.
You need to check with Luxembourg’s consulate or embassy on the exact process. This is a rough guide to help you prepare.
Your employer carries out labour market testing by posting the vacancy with the Agence pour le Developpement de l’Emploi (ADEM) for 3 weeks.
Your employer applies to Luxembourg’s Immigration Directorate for your temporary authorisation to stay in Luxembourg to the Immigration Directorate in Luxembourg.
You submit a declaration of arrival within 3 business days of arriving in Luxembourg.
Your employer notifies the Immigration Directorate with your employment start date within 3 working days of you starting work.
You have a medical exam, including a tuberculosis (TB) test.
You apply to the Immigration Directorate for your residence permit within 90 days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You attend a biometrics appointment.
Luxembourg’s authorities may request different documents at different stages of the process. Usually, they need:
If you want to work in Luxembourg as a freelancer or carry out other self-employed work for more than 3 months, you need a self-employed residence permit.
To qualify you must:
The self-employed residence permit takes 4 to 5 months to get. It’s valid for 3 years and you can extend it. If you have a family they can join you with this permit type.
You need to check with Luxembourg’s consulate or embassy on the exact process. This is a rough guide to help you prepare.
You get consent from the Ministry of the Economy if a business permit is required.
You get registration accreditation, if required for your profession.
You apply to Luxembourg’s Immigration Directorate for temporary authorisation to stay in Luxembourg.
You submit a declaration of arrival within 3 business days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You have a medical exam, including a tuberculosis (TB) test.
You apply to the Immigration Directorate for your residence permit within 90 days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You attend a biometrics appointment.
Luxembourg’s authorities may request different documents at different stages of the process. Usually, they need:
You need a work permit for athletes or instructors if you want to work as an athlete or sport instructor in Luxembourg for more than 3 months.
To qualify you must:
This permit takes 4 to 5 months to get. It’s valid for 1 year and you can renew it. Your spouse and children under 18 can join you on this type of permit.
You need to check with Luxembourg’s consulate or embassy on the exact process. This is a rough guide to help you prepare.
Your employer applies to Luxembourg’s Immigration Directorate for your temporary authorisation to stay in Luxembourg.
You submit a declaration of arrival within 3 business days of arriving in Luxembourg.
Your employer notifies the Immigration Directorate with your employment start date within 3 working days of you starting work.
You complete a medical exam, including a tuberculosis (TB) test.
You apply to the Immigration Directorate for your residence permit within 90 days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You attend a biometrics appointment.
Your employer notifies the Immigration Directorate with your employment start date within 3 working days of you starting work.
Luxembourg’s authorities may request different documents at different stages of the process. Usually, they need:
You need an investor permit if you’re investing in an existing or future company in Luxembourg.
To qualify you must meet investment requirements.
The investor permit takes 4 to 5 months to get. It’s valid for up to 3 years and you can extend it.
Your family can join you with this permit type.
You need to check with Luxembourg’s consulate or embassy on the exact process. This is a rough guide to help you prepare.
You submit a project plan or proof of investment to the Minister of the Economy or the Minister of Finance.
You apply for your temporary authorisation to stay in Luxembourg to the Immigration Directorate in Luxembourg.
You submit a declaration of arrival within 3 business days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You have a medical exam, including a tuberculosis (TB) test.
You apply to the Immigration Directorate for your residence permit within 90 days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You attend a biometrics appointment.
Luxembourg’s authorities may request different documents at different stages of the process. Usually, they need:
You need a residence permit for research if you want to work as a researcher for an approved research institute in Luxembourg.
To qualify you must have:
The research permit takes 4 to 5 months to get. It’s valid for up to 1 year and you can extend it.
If you have a family they can join you with this type of permit.
You need to check with Luxembourg’s consulate or embassy on the exact process. This is a rough guide to help you prepare.
You apply for your temporary authorisation to stay in Luxembourg to the Immigration Directorate in Luxembourg.
You submit a declaration of arrival within 3 business days of arriving in Luxembourg.
Your employer notifies the Immigration Directorate with your employment start date within 3 working days of you starting work.
You have a medical exam, including a tuberculosis (TB) test.
You apply to the Immigration Directorate for your residence permit within 90 days of arriving in Luxembourg.
You attend a biometrics appointment.
Luxembourg’s authorities may request different documents at different stages of the process. Usually, they need:
Read official Luxembourg government information on visas, work permits, and residence permits.
European governments may update or change their rules without notice.
You should always check general travel advice for Luxembourg, for updates on issues such as safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings before travelling, or planning to travel.
Updated information on the minimum wage for full-time work to link to the latest figures. The information provided is up-to-date as of 30 November 2021.
Employees of fairs, circuses and other travelling establishments added to Luxembourg’s list of exemptions.
First published.
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