yourmovemap

Moving to Luxembourg

2 routes for people from the US, Canada and the UK, each checked against official sources. Find the one that fits, then check it with the source before you apply.

Check which fits you
Freelance or your own business

Luxembourg self-employed permit

Residence permit for self-employed third-country workers

Founders or professionals who will run a business physically in Luxembourg that serves the country's economic, social or cultural interest.

What you need
  • Sufficient resources for the planned activity and for living costs. No fixed amount published.
  • The activity must serve Luxembourg's economic, social or cultural interest and require your physical presence to manage it day to day.
  • Meet access conditions for the profession; where a business permit is required, the ministry's outline consent must be lodged with the application.
  • Appropriate accommodation before the permit is issued (reported by a law firm).
Not for
  • Remote freelancers whose clients and work are outside Luxembourg (activity must need presence in Luxembourg)
  • Applying from inside Luxembourg
Where you apply
From home, at a consulate. Temporary authorisation to stay from abroad (Directorate of Immigration or a Luxembourg consulate), then declaration of arrival, medical check and residence permit application within 3 months of entry.
How long it takes
Not officially stated on the page read (other routes: up to 3 months).
First permit
Up to 3 years.
Renewal
Renewable for 3-year periods; apply within 2 months before expiry.
Longer term
Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 5 years.
Family
Family reunification possible; conditions not verified for this route.
Sources Guichet.lu: Conditions of residence for self-employed third-country workers (official)SST Law: Self-employment in Luxembourg for third-country nationals Checked 28 Oct 2026. General information, not immigration advice.
A job offer

Luxembourg EU Blue Card

Salaried work for highly qualified workers (EU Blue Card)

Graduates with a Luxembourg job offer paying at least the national average gross salary (EUR 65,652 a year), typically in finance, tech or EU institutions' suppliers. Luxembourg has no digital nomad visa.

What you need
  • Employment contract of at least 6 months with a gross annual salary at least equal to the average gross annual salary. No reduced threshold for shortage occupations since June 2024. (EUR 65,652 a year)
  • Higher professional qualification (higher education degree; under the recast Blue Card Directive, professional experience can substitute for some ICT roles - check the page).
  • Temporary authorisation to stay must be applied for and granted before entering Luxembourg; applications filed from inside Luxembourg are inadmissible. Medical check after arrival.
Not for
  • Remote workers for foreign employers (no nomad route)
  • Salaries below EUR 65,652
  • Applying after arriving as a visitor
Where you apply
From home, at a consulate. Step 1 from abroad: temporary authorisation to stay from the Directorate of Immigration (directly or via a Luxembourg consulate). US citizens do not need a visa D to enter; others get a visa D. Step 2 in Luxembourg: declare arrival at the commune within 3 working days, then apply for the Blue Card within 3 months via MyGuichet.lu or post.
How long it takes
Ministry responds within a maximum of 3 months; no answer in that time counts as refusal (official).
First permit
4 years, or contract length plus 3 months if shorter.
Renewal
Renewable while the conditions are met.
Longer term
Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 5 years.
Family
Family reunification for Blue Card holders is facilitated; spouse/partner and children can join. No extra income amount found.
Sources Guichet.lu: Salaried work for highly qualified workers (EU Blue Card), updated 3 March 2026 (official)Vialto Partners: increase of salary thresholdArendt: EU Blue Card threshold (2025) Checked 28 Oct 2026. General information, not immigration advice.