Luxembourg self-employed and freelancer visa

Many activities need a business permit (autorisation d'établissement) from the Ministry of the Economy: retail, liberal professions, industry, food, fashion, health and hygiene, engineering, construction, communications, multimedia, performing arts and crafts, among others. In that case the visa D file must include the ministry's agreement in principle. Activities that need other licences, accreditations or registrations require a copy of that authorisation or the competent body's agreement in principle.

You must prove the qualifications needed for the planned activity and, where applicable, registration with the professional body; meet the legal conditions for access to crafts, trade, industry and certain liberal professions; and show sufficient resources to carry out the activity. The authorities also assess whether it serves the country's interest: an economic need, integration into the national or local economy, viability and sustainability, job creation and investment, especially in research, innovation or specialisation.

The activity must be of a kind that requires your presence in Luxembourg to manage the company day to day. Official pages publish no fixed minimum investment for this permit.

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 "self-employed worker" 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.

Your file includes the self-employed form, CV, diplomas, criminal record extract, a business plan and financing plan, proof of economic resources such as bank statements or a detailed financial portfolio and, for a business takeover, the balance sheets and profit and loss accounts of the last three financial years. The response time is in principle three months at most.

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 the DGIM at least two months before expiry. Besides the passport and a Luxembourg criminal record extract you show that you still meet the access conditions (for example the business permit), social security affiliation certificates for yourself and any employees, last year's personal income tax return with proof of filing and, for companies, the last balance sheet filed with the Trade and Companies Register, the corporate tax return and the VAT return. The renewed card again costs EUR 80.