Do I need a visa to move to Luxembourg as an EU citizen?

No. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens have the right to live and work in Luxembourg without any visa or work permit. Register at your local commune within 3 months of arrival with your passport, proof of address, and proof of employment or sufficient resources. You will receive a registration certificate and your national identification number (matricule).

What is the minimum salary to get a Luxembourg work permit?

For 2026, the minimum salary threshold for a standard salaried worker residence permit is €63,408/year gross — a 7.5% increase from the previous year due to Luxembourg's automatic wage indexation. The EU Blue Card has a higher threshold of approximately €75,000+/year. These thresholds are updated annually.

How long does it take to get Luxembourg permanent residency?

You can apply for permanent residency after 5 years of continuous legal residence in Luxembourg. You must not have been absent for more than 6 consecutive months, and your total absence cannot exceed 10 months over the 5-year period. The application is submitted to the Direction de l'Immigration.

Do I need to speak Luxembourgish to become a citizen?

Yes. Luxembourg citizenship requires passing a Luxembourgish language test: A2 level for speaking and B1 level for listening comprehension. You must also complete a civic integration course ('Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg'). Free Luxembourgish classes are available through the INL and commune programmes.

Does Luxembourg allow dual citizenship?

Yes. Since 2009, Luxembourg fully allows dual (and multiple) nationality. You do not need to renounce your original citizenship when acquiring Luxembourg nationality, and Luxembourg citizens who acquire a foreign nationality do not lose their Luxembourg citizenship. This is a significant advantage for long-term expats.

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🇱🇺 Luxembourg

Visa & Residency

No visa required

EU Freedom of Movement

€63,408/yr

Salaried Worker Salary Threshold

2026; up 7.5% from previous year

4–8 weeks

EU Blue Card Processing

Priority processing for highly skilled workers

8–12 weeks

Standard Work Permit Processing

Via Ministry of Foreign Affairs

After 5 years

Permanent Residency

Continuous legal residence + language test

5 years residency

Citizenship

Luxembourgish A2 speaking + B1 listening required

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🏰Luxembourg City 🎓Esch-sur-Alzette

🛂Visa 🏥Healthcare 💰Finance 🏠Housing 💼Working 🌆Daily Life ✈️Moving 📚Education 🌅Lifestyle 📈Investing

Overview

EU citizens enjoy full freedom of movement to Luxembourg — no visa or work permit needed, just register with the commune within 3 months. For non-EU nationals, Luxembourg offers a Salaried Worker residence permit, the EU Blue Card for highly skilled professionals, and an ICT permit for intra-company transfers. The 2026 minimum salary requirement for non-EU salaried workers is €63,408/year. With nearly 48% of residents being foreign nationals, Luxembourg's immigration system is well-practised at processing international arrivals, though demand for permits often exceeds processing capacity.

Key Takeaways

Register at your commune within 3 months of arrival — bring passport, proof of address (rental contract), and proof of employment or sufficient resources
Employer registers vacancy with ADEM and proves no suitable EU/EEA candidate available (labour market test)
Requires: recognised higher education degree (minimum 3 years) and employment contract above the Blue Card salary threshold
ICT permit: for managers, specialists, and trainees transferred within a multinational; valid up to 3 years (1 year for trainees)
Permanent residency: after 5 years of continuous legal residence; maximum absence of 6 consecutive months and 10 months total

EU and EEA Citizens — Free Movement

EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens have the unrestricted right to live and work in Luxembourg without any visa or work permit. You must register your arrival with the commune (municipality) within 3 months. The commune issues a certificate of registration and assigns you a national identification number, which is essential for banking, healthcare, and tax. Luxembourg's system is efficient given the high proportion of EU nationals in the workforce.

Register at your commune within 3 months of arrival — bring passport, proof of address (rental contract), and proof of employment or sufficient resources
Receive a national identification number (matricule) — essential for CNS health insurance, banking, and tax
No salary threshold, no employer sponsorship needed — full right to work in any capacity from day one
Attestation de déclaration d'enregistrement: your registration certificate; carry it as proof of legal residence
Family members from non-EU countries can join under EU family reunification rules with simplified procedures
After 5 years of continuous residence, apply for permanent residency (carte de séjour de résident de longue durée)

Salaried Worker Residence Permit — The Standard Non-EU Route

Non-EU nationals employed in Luxembourg must obtain a salaried worker residence permit (autorisation de séjour — salarié). The employer must first register the vacancy with ADEM (Agence pour le Développement de l'Emploi) to demonstrate that no suitable EU candidate was found. The 2026 minimum salary threshold is €63,408/year — a 7.5% increase reflecting Luxembourg's wage indexation. Processing takes 8–12 weeks through the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

Employer registers vacancy with ADEM and proves no suitable EU/EEA candidate available (labour market test)
Minimum salary threshold: €63,408/year gross for 2026 — automatically indexed to inflation
Application submitted to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Direction de l'Immigration)
Processing time: 8–12 weeks; employee applies for D visa at Luxembourg embassy after permit approval
Initial permit valid for 1 year; renewable for up to 3 years; tied to the specific employer
Changing employers requires a new permit application — no automatic portability between employers

EU Blue Card — Highly Qualified Workers

The EU Blue Card is Luxembourg's fast-track route for highly qualified non-EU nationals with a recognised higher education degree and a job offer above a higher salary threshold. Blue Card holders benefit from priority processing (4–8 weeks), easier intra-EU mobility, and a more favourable path to permanent residence. Luxembourg is a major Blue Card issuer given the demand for qualified finance, legal, and tech professionals.

Requires: recognised higher education degree (minimum 3 years) and employment contract above the Blue Card salary threshold
Salary threshold for Blue Card in Luxembourg is higher than the standard salaried worker threshold — approximately €75,000+/year in 2026
Priority processing: 4–8 weeks vs. 8–12 weeks for standard permits
Initial validity: up to 4 years; renewable; after 5 years of cumulative EU Blue Card residence, eligible for long-term residence
Intra-EU mobility: after 12 months in Luxembourg, simplified procedures to move to another EU member state
Family reunification: immediate family members can apply for residence permits with right to work

ICT Permits and Self-Employment

Luxembourg offers an Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) permit for managers, specialists, and trainee employees of multinational companies with a Luxembourg office. Self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs can apply for a business establishment authorisation (autorisation d'établissement) through the Ministry of the Economy. Luxembourg actively encourages fintech, fund management, and space technology startups.

ICT permit: for managers, specialists, and trainees transferred within a multinational; valid up to 3 years (1 year for trainees)
Self-employment: requires a business establishment authorisation from the Ministry of the Economy
Business plan assessment: viability, economic benefit, qualifications, and financial resources are evaluated
Register with the Centre Commun de la Sécurité Sociale (CCSS) for social security as a self-employed worker
VAT registration mandatory: standard Luxembourg VAT rate is 17% (EU's lowest standard rate)
Startup support: Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT), Technoport incubator, and the Luxembourg-City Incubator (LCI) offer resources

Permanent Residency and Luxembourg Citizenship

Permanent residency in Luxembourg is available after 5 years of continuous legal residence. Luxembourg citizenship requires 5 years of residence plus passing a Luxembourgish language test (A2 speaking, B1 listening) and a civic integration course ('Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg'). Luxembourg allows dual nationality since 2009, making citizenship attractive for long-term expats who wish to retain their original passport.

Permanent residency: after 5 years of continuous legal residence; maximum absence of 6 consecutive months and 10 months total
Citizenship: 5 years of legal residence + Luxembourgish language test (A2 speaking, B1 listening) + civic integration course
Dual nationality: permitted since 2009 — no need to renounce your original citizenship
Luxembourgish language courses: free or subsidised through the INL (Institut National des Langues) and commune adult education
Citizenship ceremony: conducted at the commune; straightforward after approval by the Ministry of Justice
Luxembourg citizenship grants full EU citizenship rights — freedom to live and work anywhere in the EU/EEA

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