How to move to Luxembourg with children
When moving with children to Luxembourg, it is usually a "family reunification" scenario. Let us take a closer look at how to move children to Luxembourg in this case
Children are travelling with their parents or accompanying persons. First of all, let us consider what documents should be prepared for children and how to transport them to Luxembourg
up to 2 monthsBefore entry
The reason may be family reunification, work, study, etc. The documents required for relocation to Luxembourg depend on the basis of the reason.
Regardless of the reason, both the adult and the child will prepare their own set of documents.
Entry requirements for third-country nationals may vary. One of two types of visas must be obtained depending on the purpose and duration of the intended stay.
Visa A (transit) is not suitable for entry into the country. Visa A is valid for travelling through the international zone at airports, but does not allow entry into the Schengen area.
In addition to a visa, a valid passport will be required. This is the mandatory minimum required to move from third countries.
There are several categories of people who do not need special documents or reasons to enter the Grand Duchy. You can cross the Luxembourg border without restrictions if you are a citizen of EU and Schengen countries.
Those who move to Luxembourg with children face a lot of paperwork at first. We recommend that you collect your documents in advance to make it easier to settle in and register when you move to a new country.
Conventionally, documents can be divided into 2 groups
These documents are required in order to obtain a temporary residence permit and subsequently a visa if you enter Luxembourg on reunification: as a spouse or spouse of a partner who has relocated on a work visa.
These papers can be useful if you need to get a job in Luxembourg, send your children to school, open a bank account, register a sole proprietorship, etc.
- Income certificate. It is usually used to confirm official income. You can get it from your employer or from the tax office.
- Internal passport and copies of its pages: the main spread and the spread with residence permits.
- Certificates with apostille (!) and their and notarised translations into French/German (including WORD format): birth certificates, divorce certificates, if divorced, change of surname, if changed.
- Diploma(s), attestation(s), certificate(s) and their notarised translation into French/German. Preferably with an apostille, but it is also possible without one. Please ask for the translation in Word format to be sent to the following e-mail address.
- A general power of attorney for the disposal of property, accounts, etc., left to a close relative, trusted person. It is necessary for a person to have the right to receive some document, solve household issues with property, withdraw money from the bank, etc. in case of need.
- Documents with a unique number can be useful as an indirect confirmation of the legitimacy of your financial resources and savings. For example, a taxpayer identification number allows you to track how exactly you pay taxes. This is also an indirect confirmation of the legitimacy of the financial resources you have received, as well as the unique number of the individual personal account of pension savings.
- Employment history and/or work contracts: confirm work experience in the profession and legal receipt of funds.
- If you are a motorist, you will need a local driving licence and an international driving licence (IDL). According to Luxembourg law, you can drive for a year with your local licence, but you must apply for a replacement immediately upon arrival. As for an ICE, it is easier to move around the territory of the Grand Duchy, rent a car and solve disputes that arise on the road.
Usually, travelling abroad with a child requires the same set of documents as for an adult, but with slight variations depending on the age of the children, marital status of the parents, etc.
Vera Steinhagen, Court-sworn translator in Luxembourg
If a child of any age is travelling with only one parent or chaperones
Notarised consent for the child to cross the border will be required from the parent who remains in the country
- Details of the chaperone. Must be contained in the parents' consent for the child's departure. The name of the accompanying person, his/her passport details and contact details should be indicated here.
- Notarised consent for the child to cross the border from the parent who remains in the country.
- If the child is travelling with a third party, consent and copies of passports are required from both parents.
It is worth exploring how the education system is organised in Luxembourg and where your child will be assigned to study upon arrival.
For entry
Obtaining a temporary residence permit for you and your child when moving to Luxembourg requires careful preparation and adherence to the necessary procedures. A clear understanding of the processes, having all the necessary documents ready and a fully completed form will ensure a smooth and successful process.
All documents must be originals or notarised copies (except passport, where a simple copy will suffice). If authenticity is in doubt, the authorities will require the document to be certified by the relevant local authority and legalised by the embassy or certified with an apostille.
How to obtain a permit
- Prepare the necessary documents and translate them
If the documents are not in French, English or German, a translation is required. If the documents are not in French, English or German, a translation is required. A notarised translation is sufficient for most documents
- Fill in the application for a temporary residence permit
Fill in the application form for a temporary residence permit for your child in French. Make sure that all information is accurate and up to date. In order for the application to be complete, you will need to attach previously collected documents translated into one of the official languages of the Grand Duchy or into English.
- Submit the documents to the ministry
Submit the completed application form and all required documents to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in person or by post. The submitted documents must be originals or certified copies. The application can be submitted by a third-country national or by a third person on his/her behalf. As a result, you will receive a letter with a temporary residence permit. This letter will be considered as the basis for obtaining a D visa and entering the country
- Obtain a temporary residence permit for the child
Once the application is approved, the child will be granted a temporary residence permit. You will receive an ordinary stamped and signed paper letter saying that you are ready to be granted a residence permit, come back within 90 days. It will be sent by regular mail, not electronically. The letter will have instructions on the other steps. In the end, you will have to come to the FCO to be photographed and biometrised, and together with your child you will receive a temporary residence permit
After obtaining a temporary permit, a D visa must be issued to enter the country.
How to obtain visa D?
- Obtain a temporary residence permit
It is issued by the Immigration Department of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To obtain a temporary residence permit, you need to submit an application. The procedure for submitting this application is determined by the specifics of the planned activity. The application must be submitted in the country of residence and before applying for a visa. The process is described in detail in the previous step
- Collect the visa application package
The documentation package for children listed above must be accompanied by the documentation package of the adults who are responsible for the child's departure: parents, guardians, accompanying persons
- Attach documents and apply for visa
This can be done in two ways: 1) go to the Luxembourg diplomatic mission or consulate in the country of residence; 2) go to the embassy or consulate of the country in the Schengen area that represents Luxembourg for issuing visas
- Meet the submission deadline
It is necessary to submit the application package in duplicate in person. It is important to do this within 90 days of receiving the Autorisation to stay (temporary residence permit)
Remember to consult the Immigration Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs for specific information relating to your individual circumstances.
After entry
Apply to the municipality where you intend to live. To be registered in the municipality, you must have a long-term lease. As soon as you have a long-term lease, you can register in the municipality.
Finding and renting a flat in the Grand Duchy is an important issue for every expat. The choice of municipality, city, neighbourhood, budgeting, contracting and many other important nuances, we have described in detail in a separate guide, which we suggest you study.
You must register within a limited period of time — within 3 days of your arrival.
It all starts, of course, with registration in the commune. My case will probably be very untypical.When we first came to the municipality, they refused to register us. The officer who was there that day said that since we were citizens of a third country, not the EU, we should first go to the migration service. I wrote to the migration service. The next working day I got a reply. It turns out that we did everything right and the commune really should have registered us. They sent me a list of all the documents they might ask for, but I also kept the letter itself.In the end, when I went to the municipality again, there was a different woman who looked at the papers and registered us in just a few minutes!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What documents does a child need other than a passport?
The list of documents may vary greatly depending on the age of the children, the purpose of the trip and the number of accompanying persons, as well as their status. The set of documents is individual for groups such as children under 6 years old; from 6 to 14 years old; over 14 years old, as well as children travelling with one parent or accompanying person and those flying alone.
Will the child be able to go to a local school or day care centre
How to obtain a temporary residence permit for a child when moving to Luxembourg
It is necessary to have a reason for entry, collect a package of documents, fill in the application for temporary residence permit and submit the documents to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in person or by post. After that you have to wait for the letter with Autorisation to stay.
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