New Visa D requirement impacts future Luxembourg residents

At a glance

Starting October 1, 2026, Luxembourg introduced a new process for non-EU nationals applying for their first residence permit for stays exceeding 90 days.

What is changing?

The current system, under which applicants apply from abroad directly to the Immigration Directorate (DGIM) for a temporary residence authorization (autorisation de séjour temporaire – AST), will be replaced by a mandatory long-stay visa (Visa D) application.

Non-EU nationals must obtain a Visa D before traveling to Luxembourg for any stay exceeding 90 days, whether for work, study, family reunification, or other long-term purposes. This Visa D is mandatory and must be secured before entry into Luxembourg.

Candidates apply either at a Luxembourg embassy or consulate, or, where Luxembourg has no representation, at the competent Belgian embassy.

Applicants must bring a valid passport and provide all documents listed on the official checklist for their category of stay (for example, an employed or highly qualified worker; a student; or a person applying for family reunification). They must schedule an appointment with the embassy, broadly following the same procedure as for a short-stay (Schengen) visa.

What does the Visa D allow?

The Visa D is valid for six months. During this period, it allows the holder to enter Luxembourg, start employment where applicable, and travel within the Schengen area in accordance with Schengen rules.

After arrival in Luxembourg, the holder must declare their arrival at the local commune (municipality) within three days. They must then submit their residence permit application to the DGIM within the legal timeframe applicable to their category of stay.

The holder acquires a long-term right of residence in Luxembourg only after the residence permit has been issued. The Visa D alone does not grant any long-term residence rights.

Who is affected?

The new rules apply to third-country nationals from countries that are neither members of the European Union (EU) nor considered equivalent to an EU Member State, including those coming to Luxembourg for:

• employment or self‑employment
• studies or research
• family reunification
• other long‑term stays requiring a residence permit

Employers and HR teams should account for longer lead times and mandatory consular appointments in workforce planning and mobility programs.

Upcoming updates: Bill No. 8586 introduces additional changes to immigration rules

If adopted, Bill No. 8586 would further align Luxembourg’s immigration framework with EU standards and streamline procedures for employed workers.

It would shorten processing times by requiring decisions on complete permit applications within 90 days rather than four months, with a possible 30-day extension for complex cases.

The bill also aims to facilitate job mobility by introducing a simplified procedure for changing employers and extending the validity of the first residence permit for a “salaried worker” from one year to two years.

In addition, the bill would abolish the residence permit for investors and introduce clearer, stricter rules on family reunification for beneficiaries of international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection).