A third-country national who wishes to come to Luxembourg to work for a period of more than 3 months, must apply for an authorisation to stay and then for a residence permit for salaried workers.
A third-country national who wishes to come to Luxembourg to work for a period of more than 3 months, must follow a procedure in 2 consecutive steps:
- step 1 - before entering the country
- submit an application for a temporary authorisation to stay to the Immigration Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs;
- be in possession of a valid passport;
- for persons subject to visa requirements in order to enter Luxembourg: request a type D visa after having obtained the temporary authorisation to stay.
- step 2 - after entering the country
- make a declaration of arrival in the new commune of residence in Luxembourg;
- undergo a medical check;
- then submit an application for a residence permit for third-country national salaried workers.
An employer who has not been presented with a suitable candidate from the National Employment Agency (Agence pour le développement de l'emploi - ADEM) within 3 weeks following his declaration of a vacant position can request a certificate from the director of the ADEM which will allow him to recruit a third-country national.
The residence permit, which allows remunerated employment, is granted under the following conditions:
- The priority given to certain job-seekers in order to access to the labor market must not be restricted;
- The professional activity must be in line with the economic interests of the country;
- The applicant must have the necessary professional skills;
- The employment contract must be concluded for a vacant position that previously has been reported to the ADEM and for which the ADEM could not find a suitable candidate on the national labor market within three weeks.
By way of derogation, the Minister may grant a residence permit to a qualified third-country national who is ready to work in a sector or occupation characterized by recruitment difficulties.
A residence permit for highly qualified specialists may be granted under certain conditions to third-country nationals who have completed a degree or at least a five-year specialization in their profession.
For further information on the prerequisites to enter the Luxembourg labour market as a third-country national,
- please inform yourself on the Citizens portal about the steps to be taken for the exercise of an activity as a non-Luxembourger;
- find more information on the "immigration" page of Guichet.lu