Starting a business in Luxembourg as a foreigner

Luxembourg for entrepreneurs and international talent

Imagine a morning at Place d’Armes where your espresso comes with a trilingual hum of Luxembourgish, French, German, and English threads through it all like a common pulse. This isn’t just a banking haven, it’s a proving ground for global talent. In 2024, 60.7% of its workforce hailed from abroad, a stat that screams opportunity for outsiders with big ideas. For founders, Luxembourg offers more than a business address.

Its location, between France, Germany, and Belgium, is a handy perk for reaching Europe’s most influential markets. Then there’s the tech edge — Luxembourg sits in the EU’s top 10 for digital prowess, per the Digital Economy and Society Index, handing your startup first-rate tools from the jump. Integrate in local culture and language, and gain citizenship in five years flat, unlocking a passport that’s third globally for visa-free travel to 191 countries. Toss in a multilingual crew and a government hooked on fostering innovation, and you’re looking at a rare setup.

Startups here are a serious deal, as Luxembourg holds its place among the world’s 20 most competitive economies.

AI innovation and startups in Luxembourg

The Baromètre de l’Économie notes that 55.4% of businesses see AI as the leading emerging technology set to reshape their models within the next three years — and Luxembourg is well-positioned to meet that shift. Nearly 50% of newly created companies operate in knowledge-based services, creating ground for AI integration across industries.

The country’s infrastructure is keeping pace too. Luxembourg is home to Meluxina, one of Europe’s top-performing supercomputers, capable of 18 million billion operations per second, ranked among the world’s most energy-efficient high-performance systems. Add 23 data centres and you have a growing AI-ready ecosystem. So Luxembourg isn’t just preparing for the future, it’s building it.

Yet, the Chamber of Commerce highlights challenges: 59% of companies cite skilled labor shortages as a 2025 hurdle, a heads-up for both highly-qualified workers and entrepreneurs to keep touch with that foreign talent pool.

Can a foreigner start a business in Luxembourg

In the local government's eyes, a “foreigner” is anyone beyond the EU, EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), or Switzerland. If you’re from the U.S., India, or farther afield, that’s you. And the good news is starting a business here is entirely doable.

Non-EU founders lean on the independent worker visa (travailleur indépendant). You’ll need a sharp business plan, proof you can cover your costs (and your family’s, if they’re in tow), and solid health insurance. It starts with a temporary stay nod from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then a . Land the green light, and you’ve got 90 days post-arrival to lock in your residence permit. EU entrepreneurs in Luxembourg dodge the visa step but nonetheless need that permit.

Key steps for non-EU founders relocating to Luxembourg

Before relocation

Business permit. Show your strategy to the Ministry of Economy and gain support and approval.

Temporary stay. Pitch your plan and finances to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with formality to gain authorisation and then visa D for entry.

After relocation

Residence permit. Check in with your commune within three days of moving and proceed with settling

• Medical and social security
• ID-card
• Company’s legal and financial setup

Starting a business in Luxembourg remotely from abroad

You don’t need to be in Luxembourg to get started. Launching a business remotely is increasingly common for agile founders who want to gain presence before immediate relocation. You can go through the company registration in Luxembourg independently, digitally handling paperwork, coordinating with notaries and sworn translators, securing a registered office address, and waiting several weeks for final approval. Depending on how quickly documents are gathered and appointments scheduled, it typically takes at least six weeks to launch in solo.

Digital processes are shaping the way business gets done. Luxembourg’s business environment reflects that shift: nearly 50% of all companies created between 2013 and 2020 were in knowledge-based services, i.e. industries that lean toward digital tools and remote-ready structures​. In this landscape, pioneers like EasyBiz represent a newer generation of digital services, and built for efficiency — one among several emerging options.

Source: Easybiz

Companies like EasyBiz register your company in Luxembourg entirely online, completing the process within a work week. The service fee of €490 for simplified structure is modest considering the speed it offers, particularly useful when fast setup is critical for attracting funds or technical development. Sometimes, business services costs can be covered by government support for young companies, as such expenses may later be treated as business costs. If you're seeking split co-funding for your venture, governmental programs like Luxinnovation can be a hint.

Startup in Luxembourg: roadmap for relocation as founder

There is no such thing as a startup visa in the country, but the independent worker path cuts through the noise in its own way. The ecosystem’s your edge — work it. Networking here isn’t small talk; it’s your shot at capital and traction.

Luxembourg’s a place where outsiders can stake a claim and scale up. A passport that opens doors worldwide, a digital-first backbone, and a startup network primed to lift you up make it a standout. Remote launch or relocation to Luxembourg, the route awaits.