An important part of building any business in Luxembourg is likely to be bringing in employees from abroad to help with the setup and running of the expansion operation. For foreign workers to work in Luxembourg, each of them will need valid work visas.
The application process for Luxembourg work visas can be difficult, with various administrative and regulatory barriers to navigate, as well as language requirements and more. If you don’t properly follow the regulations, you could end up with significant delays to your expansion.
At Horizons, our foreign expansion specialists provide an extensive range of Luxembourg work visa services, immigration support, and outsourcing, to give your company everything it needs to expand into Luxembourg with the assistance of a truly global talent pool.
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Basic requirements for Luxembourg work visas
Firstly, nationals of European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland do not need work visas for employment in Luxembourg. They do, however, need to register for stays of more than 90 days at a Municipal Office when they arrive in the country.
Nationals of countries outside these exemptions will need a Luxembourg work visa to live and work in the country. The basic requirements include:
- A valid passport and passport photos
- Visa fees
- Application forms
- Health check
Types of Luxembourg visas
As with other EU countries, Luxembourg has a range of visas for foreigners looking to spend time in the nation. The main options are short-term (C) visas for stays of up to 90 days, long-term (D) visas for stays of more than 90 days, and EU Blue Cards for the most flexibility.
Of these options, the D visa is generally the most suitable for foreign workers as the EU Blue Card carries much more stringent requirements.
Once in Luxembourg, your employees will need to apply for a work permit. These are categorized base on the type of work and other factors, so the exact type of permit will vary from person to person.
How to get Luxembourg work visas
Employees will generally need to apply for their Luxembourg work visa themselves, although it is also possible to grant power of attorney to an agent or their employer in Luxembourg. Applications for visas can be submitted online or through an embassy or consulate of Luxembourg.
Once in Luxembourg, your employee will need to handle the remainder of the process regionally. This means they will need to go to their local administration office and follow their instructions to apply for permission to stay and work. At this point, they may be required to have a health check, among other requests.
Further considerations
In order to hire foreigners, employers need to prove that they have advertised the job in Luxembourg and could not find a suitable local employee.
Generally, work permits issued in Luxembourg are valid for up to two years. Permits can be renewed beyond this and eventually it may be possible for the individual in question to apply for residency or citizenship in Luxembourg.
