Visas for Luxembourg

Short-stay visas in Luxembourg

For a stay of less than three months, the formalities vary depending on the situation:

• European Union (EU) citizen

EU citizens enjoy the privilege of free movement within the EU, allowing them to reside and work in Luxembourg for up to 90 days, provided they have a valid identity card or passport.

Whether for tourism, family visits, business trips, or professional activities, no administrative procedure or work authorization is required.

Note: Nationals of other states party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and those from Switzerland are treated as EU citizens.

• Third-country national family member of an EU citizen

A third-country national who is a family member of an EU citizen can stay in Luxembourg for up to three months, provided they are recognized as a family member (spouse, registered partner, direct descendant under 21 years old or dependent, direct ascendant who is dependent, or another family member demonstrating a specific dependency) and fulfill certain formalities. Required documents include a valid passport and, if applicable, an entry visa that must be obtained prior to arrival. If the family member holds a residence card issued by Luxembourg or another EU Member State, they are exempt from the visa requirement. During this three-month period, the third-country national is allowed to work without needing prior authorization.

Note: Nationals of the countries party to the EEA Agreement (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland are treated as EU citizens.

• Third-country nationals

Any third-country national wishing to stay in Luxembourg for less than 90 days must:

Before entering the territory

• possess a valid passport with an expiration date at least three months beyond the start of travel;
• if subject to visa requirements, obtain a short-stay visa from the Luxembourg diplomatic or consular representation or from a Schengen State representing Luxembourg.

Entry and stay conditions

• In addition to the above documents, the third-country national must meet the following conditions:
• not be listed in the Schengen Information System (SIS);
• not be subject to an entry ban;
• not pose a threat to public order, national security, public health, or international relations of Luxembourg or other Schengen States;
• justify the purpose and conditions of the stay (e.g., invitation letter, hotel reservation, round-trip ticket, etc.);
• have sufficient financial resources for the duration of the stay and the return trip to the country of origin (or provide a sponsorship declaration);
• hold health insurance covering all risks on Luxembourgish territory.

After entering the territory

• make a declaration of arrival at the local municipal administration within three working days of arrival, unless staying at a hotel or other tourist accommodation, in which case the accommodation form completed by the host generally serves as proof.

Once these formalities are completed, the third-country national is allowed to stay in Luxembourg for a maximum of three months within a six-month period.

Engaging in professional activity

Third-country nationals wishing to work in Luxembourg during their stay must obtain a work authorization from the Directorate of Immigration before starting any paid activity.

Read also Setting up a business in Luxembourg

Long-stay visas in Luxembourg

For a stay of more than three months, formalities differ depending on whether you are:

• An EU citizen

All EU citizens benefit from free movement within the EU, granting them the right to work and reside in Luxembourg for more than 90 days, provided they meet certain conditions:

• engaging in salaried or self-employed work;
• having sufficient resources to avoid becoming a burden on the local social assistance system, as well as health insurance;
• being enrolled in a public or private educational institution in Luxembourg for studies or vocational training and, in this case, proving they have the necessary resources to support themselves and health insurance;
• being a family member of an EU citizen who meets one of the above conditions.

Note: Nationals of other states party to the EEA Agreement (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland are treated as EU citizens.

Upon arrival in Luxembourg, individuals in question should visit the local administration office in their place of residence to apply for a registration certificate. You can find detailed information about this document in the article covering entry formalities in Luxembourg. It's important to highlight that EU nationals and their family members, who also possess European nationality, are granted automatic permission to work in Luxembourg.

• A third-country national family member of a European Union citizen

Third-country nationals who are family members of EU citizens have the right to reside in Luxembourg for more than three months, provided they accompany or join an EU citizen who meets the conditions applicable to EU nationals.

To enter Luxembourg, they must hold a valid passport and, if applicable, a required visa or a residence card as a family member of an EU citizen issued by an EU Member State.

Within three months of their arrival, they must register with the municipal administration of their place of residence and apply for a residence card for family members. Once these formalities are completed, they are allowed to work in Luxembourg without needing prior authorization.

• Third-country national

Third-country nationals wishing to reside in Luxembourg for more than three months must follow the procedure for regular stay on the territory. This procedure consists of two steps: applying for a residence permit before entering Luxembourg and completing formalities after arrival to obtain a residence card.

The residence permit application must be submitted before entering the territory, to the Directorate of Immigration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the following address: BP 752, L-2017 Luxembourg.

This permit can be requested by:

• salaried workers, including those with a “European Blue Card”;
• researchers;
• transferred or posted workers;
• self-employed workers;
• family members of a third-country national;
• students and unpaid trainees;
• athletes or coaches;
• participants in voluntary programs;
• au pairs.

To obtain a residence card, third-country nationals holding a temporary residence permit must, within three days of their arrival in Luxembourg, register their arrival with the municipal administration of their place of residence. The receipt issued, together with the previously obtained residence permit, confirms the regularity of their stay until the residence card is issued.

A medical examination must then be carried out with a general practitioner, internal medicine specialist, or pediatrician practicing in Luxembourg, and include tuberculosis screening conducted by the Luxembourg Medical-Social League. The results are forwarded to the Ministry of Health, which informs the Directorate of Immigration if the medical requirements for long-term residence in Luxembourg are met.

The residence card must then be requested from the Directorate of Immigration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs using the dedicated application form. The application must include the following documents:

• a certified copy of the entire valid passport;
• a copy of the residence permit issued by the ministry;
• a copy of the arrival declaration issued by the municipal administration;
• proof of appropriate housing (rental agreement, property deed, etc.);
• proof of payment of the issuance fee to the account number indicated on the form.

Once all documents are received, the applicant will be invited by mail to appear in person at the Directorate of Immigration's offices with a valid passport. During this appointment, a photo (or a photo meeting biometric passport standards) and fingerprints will be taken for the residence card. The card will be available a few days later. Once the residence card is obtained, the third-country national must make a final visit to the municipal administration of their place of residence to confirm their arrival declaration and, if necessary, obtain a residence certificate.

Read also Opening a bank account in Luxembourg

• British nationals and members of their family

Since January 1, 2021, British citizens no longer benefit from free movement within the European Union. For short stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period), they do not need a visa to enter Luxembourg but must hold a passport valid for the duration of their stay. Since 2025, British citizens are also required to obtain an ETIAS authorization to enter the Schengen Area, including Luxembourg, for stays of less than 90 days. This authorization can be requested online via the ETIAS system's dedicated website and is mandatory before departure. It aims to enhance border security, although it is not considered a visa.

For stays exceeding 90 days or to engage in paid activities, a prior residence permit is required and must be requested from the Directorate of Immigration in Luxembourg, as is the case for third-country nationals.

Types of visa available in Luxembourg

There are several types of visas for Luxembourg: the airport transit visa, the transit visa, the short-stay visa, and the long-stay visa.

• Airport Transit Visa (Visa A)

This visa allows travelers subject to this requirement to transit through the international zone of airports without entering the Schengen area. It only permits presence in the airport transit zone and does not allow the holder to leave it.

• Transit Visa (Visa B)

This visa is issued for transit through one or more Schengen States to reach a third country within a maximum of five days. It allows the holder to leave the airport or port of transit and travel within the Schengen area for the duration specified in the visa.

• Short-Stay Visa (Visa C)

This visa allows stays in the Schengen area, either continuous or not, for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. It is used for purposes such as:

• tourist or family visits;
• business trips;
• participation in events such as conferences, trade fairs, or exhibitions;
• attendance at board meetings and general assemblies;
• providing services within the same group of companies.

This visa can be issued for a single entry (for one trip) or multiple entries (for several trips).

• Long-Stay Visa (Visa D)

This visa is intended for individuals wishing to stay in Luxembourg for more than 90 days. It is required for:

• holders of a temporary residence permit;
• salaried or self-employed workers;
• trainees;
• students;
• family members of EU citizens

This visa allows the holder to stay in Luxembourg for an initial period usually limited to one year. After arriving in Luxembourg, visa holders must complete the necessary procedures to obtain a residence permit from the relevant Luxembourg authorities.

Note: Visas for Luxembourg have associated costs that vary depending on the type of visa. These fees are subject to change, so it is recommended to check the updated amounts with the relevant authorities before submitting an application.

Apply for a visa to Luxembourg

All visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant to a Luxembourg diplomatic or consular mission in their country of habitual residence. If Luxembourg is not represented in the applicant's country, the application can be submitted to a diplomatic or consular mission of a Schengen State representing Luxembourg (often Belgium).

While the required documents may vary depending on the purpose of the trip and the relationship with a sponsor in Luxembourg, the following list is common to all applications:

• a completed and signed visa application form;
• two recent passport-sized photos compliant with biometric passport standards;
• a valid passport or any other travel document recognized by Schengen countries, valid for at least three months beyond the visa's validity period and with at least two blank pages;
• travel insurance covering at least €30,000 for medical expenses, including repatriation for medical reasons;
• documents justifying the purpose of the trip (e.g., an official invitation letter for a business visit, proof of sponsorship, hotel booking, return flight ticket, etc.);
• proof of sufficient financial means to support oneself during the stay in Luxembourg and to cover the return to the country of origin or transit through a third country (e.g., recent bank statements, cash, credit card);
• proof of legal residence in the applicant's habitual country of residence (e.g., valid residence permit for foreign residents).

Additional Documents for Family Reunification

For family reunification cases, additional documents are required, including:

• an excerpt of the marriage certificate or a registered partnership certificate;
• an excerpt of the birth certificate for each family member involved;
• an excerpt of the criminal record issued within the last three months from the applicant's country of residence;
• for dependent children: specific evidence such as documents related to custody or financial dependency.

Important Note: if the documents are not written in French, German, or English, they must be accompanied by a certified translation from a sworn translator.

Commitment to care

The statement of financial support is a formality to be completed by the sponsor residing in Luxembourg. The sponsor must fill out a specific form, have it certified by their local municipality, and then send it by mail to the Passport Office.

The form must be accompanied by the following documents:

• the sponsor's three most recent payslips or any other document proving their monthly income;
• a standard copy of their identification document;
• if applicable, proof of legal residence in Luxembourg (only required for sponsors who are not citizens of the European Union).

Visa requirements, exemptions, and alternatives

Regardless of the duration of stay, a visa application may be mandatory for nationals of certain countries. The list of affected nationalities can be found on the website of Luxembourg's Ministry of Home Affairs.

For nationals exempt from the visa requirement, it is mandatory to register their arrival with the local municipality where they will reside for stays exceeding three months. For stays shorter than three months, this registration is not required if staying in a hotel or another tourist accommodation.

Useful links:

Ministry of Home Affairs - Immigration
List of countries subject to visa requirements
Information and online forms - Immigration
Information on ETIAS authorization