Luxembourg residence permit for private reasons

First route: you can live on your own resources, which must come from professional activity carried out in another EU or Schengen state, or from an old-age, invalidity or survivor's pension paid by a Luxembourg, EU or Schengen social security institution. They are measured against the monthly social minimum wage of an unskilled worker, EUR 2,771.33 since 1 June 2026. This is the route used by many pensioners.

Second route: you do not qualify for family reunification, but your personal or family ties to the person you want to join, judged by their intensity, length and stability, are such that a refusal would disproportionately harm your right to private and family life. Neither partner may be married or in a declared partnership with someone else. Resources must be stable, regular and sufficient, at least the REVIS amount, and can include a formal financial undertaking by a person who is Luxembourgish or allowed to live in Luxembourg for at least one year.

Own resources: full passport, criminal record extract under three months old, proof that the income comes from self-employed or salaried work in the EU, EEA or Schengen area or from a pension paid by such an institution, travel health insurance and, if you already live in another Schengen state, your residence permit there.

Personal ties: passport, criminal record extract, proof of suitable housing (lease or deed stating the surface area, landlord consent if needed) and a formal financial undertaking for a set period, legalised by the guarantor's commune and accompanied by the guarantor's last three payslips. Unmarried partners add a certificate of single status and proof of a stable, intense relationship that has existed verifiably for at least one year, such as testimonies, flight tickets showing regular visits, proof of recent cohabitation or dated photos. Parents or children add the family record book or birth certificates.

Since 1 October 2026 Luxembourg no longer asks first-time applicants to obtain a temporary authorisation to stay from Luxembourg before the visa. You file one visa D application for a residence permit "private reasons" with the Luxembourg (or, where Luxembourg has no post, Belgian) embassy responsible for your country of residence, or with its external service provider. Files lodged on or before 30 September 2026 continue under the old procedure.

The embassy only forwards complete files; the decision is taken by the General Department of Immigration (DGIM) of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Receipt of the file does not mean it is complete. The national visa form is completed in English or French, with one ICAO photo under three months old and a passport issued within the last ten years and valid at least six months beyond the planned stay. Documents in other languages than English, French or German need a sworn translation.

The response time is in principle four months at most. Without an answer in that time, you may consider the application refused.

The visa D is valid for six months and only opens the door; the residence permit is issued in Luxembourg. Within three days of arrival you declare your arrival at the commune where you live, showing your passport with the valid visa and, if you have it, your lease. The date of that declaration normally becomes the start date of the residence permit, and no permit is issued without a valid legal address.

As soon as possible you also complete the medical check for foreigners: an examination by a general practitioner, internist or paediatrician practising in Luxembourg plus a tuberculosis screening (at a laboratory on the doctor's prescription or at the Ligue médico-sociale; children between 2 months and 2 years have a tuberculin test at the Ligue). The Health Directorate sends the resulting certificate directly to the General Department of Immigration (DGIM).

The residence permit application must reach the DGIM, in the same category as your visa, no later than three months before the visa D expires. It can be filed on MyGuichet.lu (with or without LuxTrust or eID) or by post, with a full copy of the passport, the commune's arrival declaration and proof of suitable housing if it was not already in the visa file. When it is approved you pay the EUR 80 issuance fee, book an appointment for photo and fingerprints, and collect the biometric card about one week later.

Renew at least two months before expiry with the passport, a social security affiliation or co-insurance certificate, a recent Luxembourg criminal record extract and proof of sufficient resources: either your own means (pension certificate, employment contract) or a new formal financial undertaking from a guarantor living in Luxembourg. The card again costs EUR 80.

Holders may take up secondary salaried work after obtaining a work authorisation from the DGIM. The employer first declares the vacancy to ADEM. The application includes the passport, CV, diplomas, a contract compliant with Luxembourg labour law, proof of the ADEM declaration, a social security affiliation or co-insurance certificate and proof of payment of an EUR 80 fee. The answer comes in principle within three months.

The first work authorisation is valid for at most one year, never beyond the residence permit, for one profession with any employer in one sector, shown on the card as a three-digit ISCO code. It can be renewed if you show you actually worked. Changing sector or profession needs DGIM authorisation, and the work permit does not change the validity of the residence permit.