Since 1 October 2026, non-EU (European Union) nationals who want to live and work in Luxembourg for more than 90 days follow a new procedure. The former temporary authorisation to stay, requested from the Directorate General of Immigration in Luxembourg, is replaced by a long-stay visa (visa D), requested before arrival at a Luxembourg or Belgian embassy or consulate.

Here is what changes, who is concerned and how the new procedure works, based on the official sources listed at the end of this article.

What changes on 1 October 2026

Before: the first step was a temporary authorisation to stay (autorisation de séjour temporaire), requested from the Directorate General of Immigration (DGIM) in Luxembourg.
Now: the applicant lodges a long-stay visa (visa D) application in person at the embassy of Luxembourg or, where Luxembourg is not represented, at the competent Belgian embassy.
An application made from within Luxembourg is not admissible.
If approved, the visa D is valid for 6 months. It allows entry into Luxembourg and travel within the Schengen area until the residence permit is issued.

Who is concerned

All third-country nationals (outside the EU, the EEA (European Economic Area) and Switzerland) who wish to settle in Luxembourg for more than 90 days.

The new procedure does not apply to EU citizens and their family members, to certain British nationals covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, to renewals or changes of status made in Luxembourg, or to applicants for international protection.

The new procedure, step by step

The example below is for a salaried worker hired by an employer based in Luxembourg. The documents depend on the residence category: each category has its own official checklist.

1. The employer's step with ADEM (salaried workers only)

For a salaried worker, the employer declares the vacancy to ADEM (National Employment Agency). If ADEM proposes no suitable candidate within 3 weeks, the employer can ask for a certificate allowing it to recruit the person of its choice. This ADEM certificate concerns salaried workers only: it is not among the documents required for the EU Blue Card (highly qualified workers), which has its own conditions: an employment contract of at least 6 months for a highly qualified job, an annual salary at least equal to the amount set by Grand-Ducal regulation, and proof of the professional qualifications required for the job.

2. The documents

For a salaried worker, the official list includes:

a valid passport;
an extract from the criminal record of the country of residence, less than 3 months old;
a CV and proof of qualifications;
an employment contract signed with an employer based in Luxembourg, with a gross salary at least equal to the social minimum wage;
the ADEM certificate;
travel health insurance valid in the Schengen area for the whole period of the visa.

Documents not written in French, German or English need a sworn translation.

3. The application at the embassy or consulate

The applicant lodges the application in person at the competent Luxembourg or Belgian post, depending on their country of residence. In some countries, the post works with an external service provider. Receiving an application does not mean the file is complete.

4. The decision

The file is examined by the competent Luxembourg authorities, and the decision is mainly taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Directorate General of Immigration). The applicant is informed according to the procedure of the post. If the application is approved, the post explains how the visa D is affixed in the passport. If it is refused, a reasoned decision is notified, with the available means of appeal.

5. After arrival in Luxembourg

Within 3 days of arrival: a declaration of arrival at the commune of residence.
A medical check.
The residence permit application to the Directorate General of Immigration, before the visa D expires.

Applications lodged before 1 October 2026

Temporary authorisations to stay already issued remain valid under the conditions stated in them. Applications lodged up to and including 30 September 2026 continue under the former procedure. If such an application is approved, the applicant receives a notification letter allowing them to apply for the visa D at the competent consular post, where only that letter needs to be presented.

Why the procedure changed

The Government gives three reasons: Luxembourg was the last EU Member State to keep a separate national procedure; the visa D better meets the security standards of the European smart border systems; and the visa D, recognised across the EU, lets its holders travel within the Schengen area from their arrival.

What this means for HR teams

A few practical points to plan a hire from abroad:

Plan the employee's appointment at the embassy or consulate in their country of residence: the application can no longer be made from Luxembourg.
Check early which post is competent, Luxembourg or Belgian, for the employee's country of residence.
Prepare a complete file before the appointment, including, for a salaried worker, the ADEM certificate, and any sworn translations.
No processing time is published for the new procedure: keep some margin in the start date.

How LuxRelo can help

We prepare the file with you and your employee, tell you which post is competent and how to lodge the application, and follow it until the decision. After arrival, we support the declaration of arrival, the medical visits and the residence permit application. Decisions rest with the Luxembourg authorities: no one can guarantee the outcome of an application.

Read our page on the Non-EU work permit process

HR teams: request a proposal

Official sources

Sources checked on 14 October 2026. This article is general information about the procedure as published by the Luxembourg authorities. It is not legal advice.

Stéphane Compain, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and co-founder of LuxRelo

Luxembourg's New Immigration Procedure from 1 October 2026: What Changes for Non-EU Employees and Their Employers