Country guide
How to Migrate to Luxembourg
Most people never get as far as looking at Luxembourg, so you are already ahead of the crowd. Luxembourg is one of the wealthiest, safest and most multilingual countries in the EU, and it runs almost entirely on foreign talent. Nearly half the resident population and the bulk of its cross-border workforce are non-nationals.
5 years
To permanent residence
Why Luxembourg?
- Main language
- Luxembourgish, French, German (English widely used)
- Avg. salary
- €65,000 to €90,000/year
- PR timeline
- 5 years (long-term residence)
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Luxembourg pairs some of the highest salaries in the EU with low crime, excellent public services and a compact, international lifestyle where English, French and German all work.
- As a hub for banking, investment funds, EU institutions and increasingly IT and space-tech, it has a permanent appetite for qualified staff and normal reliance on foreign hires.
- The minimum wage is among Europe's highest and social protection is strong.
- The trade-offs are a very tight, expensive housing market and heavy competition, but for the right skills, employer sponsorship and relocation support are common.
Visa routes
EU Blue Card
- Best for
- University-educated professionals with a well-paid job offer
- Timeline
- 2 to 3 months
Requires a work contract of at least 6 months and a gross salary above the national threshold (at least €65,652/year in 2026). Grants easier EU mobility and counts toward long-term residence.
Salaried Worker Authorisation (national work permit)
- Best for
- Non-EU workers with a Luxembourg job offer below Blue Card level
- Timeline
- 2 to 4 months
The standard route: the employer must first advertise the vacancy to ADEM (the labour agency), then you apply for a temporary authorisation to stay before entering.
Job-seeker residence permit
- Best for
- Non-EU graduates and researchers who completed studies or research in Luxembourg
- Timeline
- 1 to 3 months
Allows non-EU nationals who completed a master's-level degree or research in Luxembourg to stay and look for a job or start a business for up to 9 months. You must show sufficient funds.
Investor residence permit
- Best for
- Investors and entrepreneurs
- Timeline
- 3 to 6 months
Requires a qualifying investment (from around €500,000 into a new or existing Luxembourg company, or €20 million on deposit) plus a genuine economic contribution.
Self-employed / independent activity permit
- Best for
- Founders, freelancers and independent professionals
- Timeline
- 2 to 4 months
Requires a viable business plan, relevant qualifications or experience, and proof of adequate financial resources to sustain the activity.
Step by step
- 1
Secure a job offer or qualifying activity
Most routes hinge on a Luxembourg employer. Target the finance, fund administration, IT, legal and Big Four sectors via LinkedIn, Moovijob, Jobs.lu and company career pages; many roles openly welcome international candidates.
- 2
Employer completes the labour-market step
For national salaried permits the employer must declare the vacancy to ADEM and show no suitable local or EU candidate is available. Blue Card and shortage roles are lighter-touch here.
- 3
Apply for a temporary authorisation to stay
Before travelling, non-EU nationals file with the Immigration Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. This authorisation is the key gatekeeping document and takes roughly 2 to 3 months.
- 4
Obtain your entry (D) visa if required
With the authorisation approved, nationals of visa-required countries apply for a long-stay D visa at the Luxembourg embassy or consulate before entering the country.
- 5
Enter, declare your arrival and complete a medical check
Within days of arriving you declare your presence at the local commune and undergo the required medical examination arranged through immigration.
- 6
Apply for your residence permit card
Once settled and registered, apply for the biometric residence permit that lets you live and work legally. See our Luxembourg arrival guide for the full first-week checklist.
What you need
Requirements
- A valid passport and a clean criminal record
- For most routes, a job offer from a Luxembourg employer (or a viable business plan for self-employed/investor routes)
- Recognised qualifications or professional experience matching the role
- A salary meeting the relevant threshold (higher for the EU Blue Card)
- Proof of sufficient financial means and comprehensive health insurance
- A temporary authorisation to stay issued before you enter (for non-EU nationals)
Language and tests
There is no upfront language test to obtain a work permit. English alone is enough for many finance and IT roles. Luxembourg is genuinely trilingual, so French is the most useful working language, with German and Luxembourgish common in public services. The catch comes later: naturalisation requires a spoken Luxembourgish test (Sproochentest) plus a civic course, so learning the national language matters for citizenship rather than for entry.
Jobs in demand
- Fund Administrators
- Compliance and AML Officers
- Software Developers
- Cybersecurity Specialists
- Auditors and Accountants
- Data Engineers
- Nurses and Healthcare Staff
- Actuaries
What it costs
Government fees in Luxembourg are modest. The residence permit and registration charges are low compared with the cost of actually relocating. Your real upfront burden is housing: rents and rental deposits are among the highest in the EU, so budget generously for the move itself.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Residence permit issuance fee | €80 |
| Temporary authorisation to stay / D visa | €50 to €80 |
| Document legalisation and certified translations | €200 to €800 |
| Flight (one way) | €100 to €800 |
| Rental deposit (typically 2 to 3 months' rent) | €3,000 to €6,000 |
| First month living costs | €2,500 to €4,000 |
Path to PR and citizenship
- Long-term resident (permanent) status is available after 5 years of continuous legal residence with stable income and health insurance, removing the tie to any single employer.
- Citizenship by naturalisation is possible after 5 years of residence too, conditional on passing the spoken Luxembourgish language test (Sproochentest) and completing the 'Living Together' civic course.
- Luxembourg fully permits dual citizenship, so you generally do not have to renounce your original nationality, a major draw compared with many neighbouring countries.
FAQs
Do I need to speak Luxembourgish to move to Luxembourg?
No. For work permits there is no language requirement, and English is enough for many finance and IT jobs, with French the most useful working language. Luxembourgish only becomes essential if you later apply for citizenship, which requires a spoken Luxembourgish test.
How long until I can get permanent residency or citizenship?
Long-term resident status is available after 5 years of continuous legal residence. Citizenship by naturalisation is also possible after 5 years, provided you pass the Luxembourgish language test and complete the civic 'Living Together' course.
Does Luxembourg allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Luxembourg fully permits dual (and multiple) citizenship, so naturalising as a Luxembourger does not normally require you to give up your existing nationality.
Do I need a job offer to move to Luxembourg?
For most non-EU applicants, yes. The EU Blue Card and national salaried-worker routes both require a Luxembourg employer. Exceptions include the job-seeker permit for graduates of Luxembourg institutions, the self-employed route with a business plan, and the investor permit.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and rules change often. Always confirm the current requirements on the official government website for your destination. How we research & source our guides.
What is changing in Luxembourg, and when
- Tightened
EU temporary protection for Ukrainians ends (extended to 2028)
Temporary protection now runs until 4 March 2028, so use the time to move onto a national work or residence permit. Source (Council of the EU)
Could Luxembourg work for you?
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