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With or without visa: grounds for legal stay in Luxembourg

Luxembourg's passport is one of the strongest in the world. With it, you can visit 191 countries without a visa. However, the Grand Duchy itself often requires foreigners to produce the document. In this article, let's find out who needs a visa and who can get along just fine without one.

Last time updated
03.12.24

Legal residence in the Grand Duchy is governed by these two categories:

  • Citizenship of the visitor — the EU or a third country. The special status of third-country nationals who are family members of an EU citizen.
  • Period of stay. How long do you aim to stay in the country — up to 3 months, or more than that — when you are a third-country national.

All non-EU countries, except for Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland are considered third-countries.

If you are an EU citizen

Regardless of the period of stay, all EU citizens have the right to travel within the EU, work and reside in any country of the Eurozone. The same applies to family members if they are EU citizens.

If your relatives are in the EU but have no EU citizenship

In this case, you can stay in the country absolutely legally and apply for family reunification in Luxembourg.

The following categories can be reunited legally in the Grand Duchy:

  • spouses and registered partners;
  • children and parents, when children are in the care of an EU citizen or their spouse/partner.

If a family member of the third-country citizen holds a valid residence permit issued by the authorities of Luxembourg or another EU Member State, no visa is required to enter Luxembourg.

Citizens of several non-EU countries can also enter Luxembourg without a visa. The full list of countries that do not require the visa is available on the website of the Luxembourg Government.

If the visa is required, you must apply for it and obtain it entering Luxembourg. The documents required to obtain the visa depend on the type of family member.

Thus, to stay in the Grand Duchy, third-country citizens who are considered family members must hold only a valid passport and, if necessary, an entry visa before arriving in Luxembourg. Once you have it, you need to obtain documents at the place of residence in one of the communes and apply for a residence permit.

If you are from a third country and have no relatives in the EU

In this case, besides a valid passport, you will need a visa to legally stay in the Grand Duchy.

The visa is issued based on the purpose of your entry to the country— to study, work, for family reunification, etc. — and the period of stay.

  • Visa C is given for a 90-day stay in Luxembourg;
  • Visa D is issued for those who will stay in the country for more than 90 days.

Visa A will not be suitable for a long-term stay in Luxembourg. It is granted for passing through cross-border areas at airports, that is, for transit only. Visa A does not grant travelers the right to enter countries of the Schengen Area and, therefore, is not valid for a stay in Luxembourg.

Short Stay: Visa C — less than 3 months

It is suitable for the following purposes of travel:

  • business trip (visiting partners, negotiating, concluding contracts, etc.);
  • attendance in conferences (for conference speakers and university teachers), exhibitions, or fairs;
  • attendance in board meetings and town hall meetings;
  • provision of services as part of one business group;
  • other activities related to study or work;
  • tourism, if you are a citizen of the country that is permitted to enter the Grand Duchy for such trips.

How can you obtain a Visa C?

The process of acquiring a short-term Visa C for a legal stay in the Grand Duchy is usually divided into these simple stages.

Determine if you need a visa
Gather the required documents
Schedule an appointment
Submit your application
Wait for processing
Collect your visa

It's important to note that these steps may vary slightly depending on the embassy or consulate in your country, so it's always best to check the website or contact them directly for specific instructions.

Long Stay: Visa D — more than 3 months

This type of Luxembourg visa can be obtained by:

How Can You Obtain a Visa D?

The process is broadly divided into four stages.

Get a temporary residence permit
Prepare the necessary documents
Apply for a visa and provide the documents
Meet the deadline for application

Thus, third-country nationals must obtain a visa C or D and hold a valid passport to stay in the Grand Duchy. Then you can apply for a residence permit.

Cost

Visa C costs 80 euros, visa D — 50 euros, and a visa for children aged 6-12 years old will you cost about 40 euros. However, there is a reduced fee for citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and a number of other countries. It comes to 35 euros.

There is no visa fee for children under the age of 6, school and university students, teachers, scientists traveling abroad for scientific research, family members who are EU/EEA nationals, and some other groups of citizens

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can I stay in Luxembourg legally without EU citezenship or relatives in EU

Who is concerned in the case of family reunification in Luxembourg

How much does visa to Luxembourg cost

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Authors: Maria
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