Hiring an applicant for International Protection (DPI)

An applicant for international protection may take up salaried employment in Luxembourg four months after submitting their application for international protection, provided that the application is still being examined by the Directorate General for Immigration.

Since the entry into force of the law of 11 June 2026 on the reception of applicants for international protection and beneficiaries of temporary protection « sur l'accueil des demandeurs de protection internationale et des bénéficiaires de la protection temporaire », the temporary work permit (autorisation d'occupation temporaire – AOT) has been abolished. Hiring a DPI no longer requires any prior authorisation or specific steps with the Directorate General for Immigration or ADEM.

The certificate attesting the submission of an application for international protection (commonly known as the "pink paper") now indicates the date from which the applicant is authorised to take up salaried employment. Employers can therefore verify directly on this document whether the person has access to the labour market. Certificates issued before the entry into force of the law, which do not yet bear this indication, remain valid; in that case, access to the labour market is open upon expiry of a period of four months from the submission of the application for international protection.

Applicants for international protection holding a valid AOT, as well as those who submitted an AOT application before the entry into force of the law, are covered by the new legal framework: renewal of an AOT is no longer necessary and pending applications have become devoid of purpose.

The employer remains required to declare the vacant position to ADEM, in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Code.

Taking up salaried employment has no bearing on the international protection procedure and confers no entitlement to a residence permit, to registration with ADEM, or to any unemployment benefits.