How to move to Luxembourg with a Blue Card and a regular work visa

In Luxembourg it is possible to legalise under the Blue Card — a pathway for highly skilled professionals, and under the Luxembourg ordinary work visa — an option for all other workers. It is more advantageous to enter with the Blue Card, but it is important to make sure that you meet the requirements of this programme.

What you will need at this stage

Third-country nationality

For example, Turkey, USA, India, i.e. a non-EU member state, including Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland.

Working for a company in Luxembourg

The employer must request an ADEM certificate. It is important that the salary is between 150-160% of the average market salary for your profile.

Document confirming expertise

This may be a higher education diploma or employment contracts proving a minimum of 5 years of work experience in the profile.

For both regular work visas and Blue Card visas, you will need proof of employment status from your employer. Most of the documents will relate to your work contract. Be prepared for this.

What you'll need for your job searchWhat you'll need for your job search

There's something missing

It's the bare minimum you need to find a job

*The mandatory items are marked with red asterisks.

CV

It is best to write in the language of the job or English and be clearly structured. It is important to fit everything on 1 A4 sheet and include contacts, skills, experience, education and personal projects.

Cover letter

Always sent with your CV when you apply for a job. It should be written in the language of the job or in English. The text of the letter does not exceed 1 A4 sheet and is sent by e-mail.

Document confirming expertise

This can be a higher education diploma or employment contracts proving a minimum of 5 years of work experience in the profile.

There's something missing

It's the bare minimum you need to find a job

*The mandatory items are marked with red asterisks.

The employment process in the Grand Duchy can be divided into 5 stages

Job search

Response with CV and cover letter

Invitation to interview and several rounds of interviews

Waiting for a certificate from ADEM

Conclusion of a contract with the employer

Of course, it was a nervous and stressful process, but I had a lot of support from my mum and my wife, which helped me a lot. Now I just have to wait for the offer and relocate to Luxembourg

These papers should be prepared in advance and have them in hand to save time and nerves when applying for a visa and during the subsequent stages of the move. The rest of the documents can be collected later.

What's worth preparing

You haven't collected all the documents

The originals always remain in your possession, copies will be needed to obtain the necessary documents for entry

*The mandatory items are marked with red asterisks.

Certificate of absence of criminal record with apostille

Or any written confirmation from official authorities in the country of residence. It is issued upon personal application of a citizen, usually at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The certificate must be paper-based, with an apostille, which takes an average of one month to produce

Valid foreign passport

The passport must be valid for at least 6-8 months from the expected date of entry. It is important that at least two pages are left blank for visa applications

General Power of Attorney

A document that authorises a trusted person to dispose of your property, finances, business. It is necessary for a person to have the right to receive some document without your presence, pay bills, withdraw money from the bank, sell a flat that has become unnecessary, etc.

Diploma of higher education

You will need the original and a notarised copy translated into English. You need not only the first and last pages, but also an insert with a list of subjects studied. Sometimes, depending on the employing company, the diploma requires an apostille. This is usually done by the Ministry of Education. Apostilisation can take up to 45 days

Certificate from ADEM

Confirms the employer's right to employ a professional from a third country and allows you to obtain a temporary residence permit and a D visa

Labour contract with a Luxembourg company

The contract is the main document for those who are relocating for work. It is advisable to make several copies

CV and cover letter

It is desirable to prepare several printed versions (not only in electronic form)

Birth certificate

An original and notarised apostilled copy of the birth certificate will be required

Valid internal passport

Original and copy of all pages

You haven't collected all the documents

The originals always remain in your possession, copies will be needed to obtain the necessary documents for entry

*The mandatory items are marked with red asterisks.

When we signed the contract, an HR manager started working with me and accompanied me at every stage. He also gave me a list of all the necessary documents. A lot of time was taken up by the criminal record certificates. And it also took a lot of time for apostilisation. We were not sure whether it was necessary in Luxembourg, but we decided to be reinsured. It is better to pay a little more once, but to have all the documents in your hands at once, usable.

In addition to the obligatory and very necessary documents that must be prepared in advance, there are also those that are recommended to take with you. In Luxembourg, in order to get on with your daily life, you will need to confirm and complete a lot of paperwork. To make it easier to do this, it is a good idea to collect the documents from your place of residence.

In order to obtain a temporary residence permit, you must submit an application for a temporary residence permit with a complete set of documents to the Immigration Office of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs or to a diplomatic representative. It is important to fill in everything correctly at once and submit all documents once, otherwise they will be returned to the applicant.

What documents you need to collect for filing

Application for temporary residence permit

Copies of all pages of a valid internal passport

Certificate of absence of criminal record with apostille

Biographical data of the applicant in free form

Copy of the employment contract signed by both parties

Copies of diplomas or certificates of professional qualifications

Original certificate from ADEM confirming the employment of the employee

CV, or CV, on a white A4 sheet of paper, typed in black regular font

The wait for consideration is from two months. But we were very lucky again. A little less than a month passed from the time of submission, and my manager had already received our temporary residence permits. In the end, the Ministry issued two permits: one for me, as a future Blue Card holder, and one for my wife, as a family member.

After obtaining a temporary permit, a D visa must be issued to enter the country.

What documents are required to apply for a D visa

There's something missing

You need to apply for a visa at once with the whole package of documents

*The mandatory items are marked with red asterisks.

Original copy of the temporary residence permit

Autorisation to stay will come in a regular letter to the post office

Two 3.5x4.5 sm colour photos

Schengen standard photo: on a light background - white, white-blue. The photo must be free of stains, creases, scuffs, glare, blurring and any other defects. You need a photo without corners and ovals on matte photo paper

Schengen visa application form (they are the same for C and D visas).

Must be filled out in English or French and signed.

A valid passport and a copy of all used passport pages

Issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least another 3 months after the expiry date of the requested visa. 2 blank pages are required.

Copy of all previous Schengen visas for 3 years

If they are not in a valid passport

Copy of the pages of the internal passport

Required for citizens of the Russian Federation. Pages with personal data of the applicant, information on issued passports, marital status and with a note on permanent registration

Consular fee

The amount of the fee varies and depends on the specific country

There's something missing

You need to apply for a visa at once with the whole package of documents

*The mandatory items are marked with red asterisks.

During your stay in Luxembourg, a registration and residence address will be required. You can start looking for a flat search remotely, but it is recommended to see your future accommodation in person. For the first time you can stay in a hotel or find a flat on AirBnB. Afterwards, you will need to rent a flat on a long-term basis.

What documents will be needed for the lease

Work contract

Contractor or service contracts for a period of 1 year or more are also suitable

Valid foreign passport

Or any other document giving the right of residence

The last three payrolls

Or a bank statement to prove financial status

Family Resume

A document stating that you are a reliable tenant and a pleasure to do business with

The package of documents is sent to the flat owner for evaluation. In case of a favourable decision, the apartment is inspected. Then both parties draw up an acceptance certificate and conclude a contract.

Rent

Flat

Luxembourg

How to rent an apartment in Luxembourg

You must come to the municipality where you intend to live with a package of documents.

What documents to bring with you to register in the municipality

Valid travel document

A passport with a visa and entry stamps will do

Confirmation of residential address

Long-term tenancy agreement

Residence permit

Original received prior to entry

In the administration you need to join the electronic queue and then approach an employee. After the application is processed, he or she will give you two important documents:

• Your Social Security number is your date of birth in the format of year-month-day and five more digits.
• Declaration of Arrival - it serves as an authorisation to work and stay in Luxembourg until an official residence permit is issued.

A list of the official websites of the communes can be found on the Guichet.lu website.

After you have received your declaration of arrival and social security number, all new arrivals are usually sent for a medical examination. The medical examination must be carried out as soon as possible after you have received your declaration of arrival from the municipality.

The physical examination consists of two parts:

Examination by a general practitioner

You need a general practitioner, so look for General Practitioner, or GP. The GP will do a check-up: measure your height, weight, blood pressure, check if you have any chronic illnesses, and then give you a referral for a quanterone test (a blood test for tuberculosis).

You can find a GP at Doctena.lu.

Find out about finding a general practitioner

Tuberculosis screening

This kind of test can be done in the morning and not on an empty stomach. You must make an appointment for TB tests separately for each person. If you have a family, you must book a separate appointment for each member of the family. You will not be able to come "just from the street", you will not be allowed further than the reception and will be sent home to make an appointment.

You can get screened either through the public service La Ligue or by making an appointment at a private laboratory (this is 75 euros more expensive).

Learn how to get a screening appointment for sure

After all the tests have been carried out, the medical department will send a certificate to the Immigration Department to confirm that the health requirements for a residence permit in Luxembourg are fulfilled.

This is the last step of your legalisation in Luxembourg. The hardest part is over, you just need to collect the documents, pay the state fee and get your residence permit.

What documents will you need

There's something missing

You need to apply for a residence permit with the whole package of documents at once

*The mandatory items are marked with red asterisks.

Copies of all pages of the valid foreign passport

A copy of the temporary residence permit issued by the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Declaration of arrival issued by the municipality

Long-term rental or purchase agreement

Receipt for payment of the state duty (80 €)

Application-questionnaire for a residence permit

There's something missing

You need to apply for a residence permit with the whole package of documents at once

*The mandatory items are marked with red asterisks.

You can pay the state duty in two ways

Applications for residence permits can be submitted online using MyGuichet.lu or by post using a special form.