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Luxembourg


 Departure

Passport, Visa & Permits


This section is intended for reference only. We strongly recommend that you contact the embassy directly for the most up-to-date information that pertains to your specific situation.

Passport

You must have a valid passport to travel abroad. A passport is an official government document that certifies one's identity and citizenship. The process and cost associated with getting a passport can be high, so start the process at least six months before you plan to leave. Your passport must be valid 6 months beyond your intended stay. Minors are allowed to travel on their parents' passports up until aged 15 years.

Visa

A visa is a stamp or endorsement placed by officials on a passport that allows the bearer to enter the country. Visas are obtained from the Embassy or consulates. Whether or not you need a visa to enter Luxembourg depends on a variety of factors: your nationality, the length of your intended stay, the reason for your visit or stay and what other documents you're applied for or received.

Who needs a visa?

Luxembourg is a member of the Schengen Agreement. There are no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. For EU and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) citizens, an officially approved ID card or passport is sufficient for entry.

There are many other visas for people who are not part of the EU or EFTA.

Short Stay Visa

A short stay visa is available for people who want to stay in Luxembourg for a maximum of three month stay in a six month period. It is available for business, Schengen visits, or family visits. It is not possible to work on a short stay visa. The visa is valid for other member states in the Schengen Agreement. Most visas cost 60 euro.

Schengen Visa

This is the most common type of visa and allows freedom of movement within the nations of the Schengen agreement. You must apply for the visa of the country that is your primary destination during your stay, or where you will stay the longest or where you'll enter the Schengen zone.

There are three types of Schengen Visa.
Type A: Visa de transit aeroportuaire (Airport transit visa)
Allows transit in the international zone of airport transit. The visa does not allow access to the Schengen territory.
Type B: Visa de transit (Transit visa)
Allows the holder to pass through one or more Schengen states in order to get to another state. The necessary duration for this transit cannot exceed 5 days.
Type C: Visa de court sejour (Short stay visa)
Allows entry into the Schengen territory for a maximum uninterrupted stay of 90 days over a period of six months. The visa can be issued for single or multiple entry. In the event of multiple entries, the total duration of the different stays spent in the Schengen area cannot exceed 90 days over a period of six months.

Processing the application can take about a month, so apply early.

Study Visa

Short stays for study are administered by the Ministry of Justice. In addition to the Schengen Type C visa, applicants must supply an academic certificate.

Business Visa

In addition to the other short stay visa, there are similar requirements with the exception of not needing to prove funds and the additional documents of confirmation of an employing company.

Long-stay

Long-stay visas cannot be obtained or changed once you're in Luxembourg. Apply in advance for authorization to stay (Autorisation de séjour). Applications must be made to the Immigration Office:
Direction de l'Immigration du ministère des Affaires étrangères
Address: 12-16,avenue Monterey, L-2163 Luxembourg
Telephone: 24 78 40 40
Website: http://www.gouvernement.lu/ministeres/mae.html

All documents not in French, German or English should be translated into one of these languages by a sworn translator. They must be authenticated with an apostille certificate or notarized from a competent authority in the applicant's place of residence.

Within 3 months, applicants should receive a letter confirming the authorization to stay. If a reply has not been received within this time, the applicant can consider the application refused.

Work Permit

Members of the EU, EEA and of Switzerland do not need a work permit to work in Luxembourg.

The Ministry of Labour administers work permits. In addition to the usual long-stay visa requirements, the requirements include:

It is the employer's responsibility to start the complicated process.

  1. The employer must send notification of the vacant job to the Employment Service. The service scans the database to see if there are any available people.
  2. If not, the employer must declare the hiring of the foreign worker
  3. The employment service acknowledges the receipt of the declaration, which is valid as a provisional work permit.
  4. The application is signed and submitted to the Special Commission on Work Permits, which will submit its opinion to the Minister of Foreign Affairs- Immigration Service, for the final decision.

The process usually takes between 4 and 8 weeks. The permit will be issued in duplicate and mailed to the employer.

Self-employed

A work permit is not needed for self-employed workers, but permission must be obtained from the Ministry of Small Businesses (Minstere des Classes Moyennes). To obtain permission, you must submit documentation relating to the business. This may include: resume of your professional qualifications and certificate of solvency.

Registration

Those holding a long-term stay permit must make a declaration of arrival within three working days of appearing in Luxembourg. Registration is made at the Municipal Office in the place of residence. A copy of the declaration will be issued as proof that the person has the right to stay in Luxembourg. Employees may not begin work until they have declared their arrival.

Bierger Center
Address: Centre Hamilius, 51 boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg
Telephone: 47 96 22 00
Open: Monday to Friday 08:00-18:00

Residency Permit

A residence permit (Titre de sejour) must be filed with the Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) within 90 days of arrival in Luxembourg..

If the application is accepted, the applicant receives a letter informing them to collect it from the Immigration Office. The Titre de sejour is placed in the holder's passport. It is valid for one year. Employed persons who have already received a long-term residence permit in another EU member state, and who have an Autorisation de sejour, will be granted a Titre de sejour for 5 years.

It is possible to apply for long-term residency (resident de longue duree) after five years of continuous residence. Applications are sent to the Immigration Office.

Identity Cards

For foreigners staying in Luxembourg for more than a year, a foreigners's identity card must be obtained. The application is usually offered when foreigners register with their commune.

Tax stamps - Obtained from the Administration des Enregistrements et Domaines. Free to EU nationals; 10 euro for Americans, Singaporeans and Hong Kong; 30 euro for all other countries.

Citizenship

The high number of foreigners living and working in Luxembourg make citizenship attractive to the many foreigners who stay long-term. Around 1,000 foreigners apply for citizenship a year. There are two ways in which to do this.
Option - For people between the ages of 18 and 25, they can "opt" for nationality if they were born in Luxembourg, completed most of their schooling there or are married to a Luxembourg citizen. Applicants must have resided in Luxembourg for the past five years and agree to renounce your former nationality.
Naturalization - Applicants must be over the age of 18, have lived in the Luxembourg for at least ten years and agree to renounce their previous nationality.

Further information about becoming a citizen of Luxembourg is available from the Ministry of Justice (+352 478 4545).


1/03/2011

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