Luxembourg entry visa for third-country nationals

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Nationals from certain non-EU countries who wish to visit, transit through or work in Luxembourg must, before their departure, have a valid travel document with a visa issued by a consular authority from one of the countries in the Schengen area.

The visa enables free movement in the Schengen area: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.

The nationality of the non-EU national determines whether or not they are obliged to have a visa. Different types of visa exist depending on the duration and nature of the visit.

The Schengen visa must be requested at the consulate of the country the applicant intends to visit, or, if they intend to visit more than one Schengen state, at the consulate of the country of their primary destination (i.e. main purpose of stay or longest stay). If the applicant intends to visit several Schengen states for a stay of equal duration, the visa application must be sent to the consulate of the country whose external borders the applicant will cross first when entering the Schengen area.

As a general rule, the visa application must be submitted in the country in which the applicant legally resides, at a Luxembourg consulate or a diplomatic mission representing Luxembourg. Should there be no Luxembourg consulate in that country and should Luxembourg not be represented there, the application must be submitted to the consulate with territorial competence for visa applications.

The visa application and attached documents must be translated by a sworn translator if they are not drawn up in German, French or English.

Who is concerned

Nationals from certain countries must have a visa to enter or pass through a country in the Schengen area.

Depending on the reason for the visit, they will need:

  • either an airport transit visa (visa A) to pass through the international zone in airports, but which does not allow travellers to enter Schengen countries;
  • or a short stay visa (visa C) to transit through or stay in the Schengen area for a continued or interrupted period of 90 days at the most during each period of 180 days for the purpose of:
    • tourist or family visits;
    • business trips (visiting professional partners, negotiating and concluding contracts, etc.);
    • participating in conferences (conference speakers and university lecturers) exhibitions, fairs or shows;
    • participating in board of directors' meetings and general meetings;
    • providing services within the same business group, etc.
  • or a long stay visa (visa D) for:

If the third country national has a residence permit for family members of an EU citizen or a valid residence permit issued by another EU Member State, a visa is not required.

Prerequisites

In any case, the third country national must, before applying for a visa, have a valid passport which is valid for at least another 3 months after the expiration date of the visa applied for.

Costs
Costs according to the type of visa
Type of visa Normal fee
Airport transit visa (A) EUR 90
Short stay visa (C) EUR 90
Long stay visa (D) EUR 50 (for all applicant categories)

Some exemptions apply to certain categories of short-stay visas (type C) :  

  • a reduced fee of EUR 35 is granted to nationals of Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Georgia, the Republic of North Macedonia, Armenia and Azerbaijan;
  • children between the age of 6 and 12 are subject to a reduced visa application fee of EUR 45.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 as amended, nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia (excluding holders of passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate) holding biometric passports are exempt from the visa obligation.

No visa fee will be charged for:

How to proceed

Applying for a short stay visa (visa C)

Third country nationals who are subject to a visa obligation and who wish to stay in Luxembourg for less than 90 days over a period of 180 days for the purpose of business, family or tourist visits, etc. must apply for a short stay visa (visa C).

Visa applications should in principle be lodged at least 15 calendar days before the intended visit and cannot be lodged earlier than 6 months before the start of the intended visit.

Holders of a multiple-entry visa may lodge the application before the expiry of the visa valid for a period of at least 6 months.

The applicant must submit a completed and signed Schengen visa application (see 'Online services and forms') in person at:

The application must be accompanied by the following documents:

  • 2 recent and identical identity photos;
  • a valid passport or a travel document accepted in the Schengen area, which is valid for at least another 3 months after the expiry date of the requested visa;
  • supporting documents associated with the purpose of the journey, such as:
    • legalised financial statement of support (French, Pdf, 328 Kb) from the reference person in Luxembourg;
      It should be noted that the financial statement of support is not mandatory. But it is strongly recommended to submit this document in order to prove that the applicant is financially supported by a Luxembourg resident.
    • official letter of invitation for a business visit;
    • a hotel reservation;
    • a return airline ticket;
  • proof of sufficient means of subsistence (bank account statements, cash, credit cards, etc.);
    In certain cases, this proof can be replaced by a financial statement of support from a reference person in Luxembourg;
  • proof of legal residence in the usual country of residence;
  • health insurance covering the travel period.

Before sending the financial statement of support to the third country national for whom they are acting as guarantor, the guarantor must:

  • have their signature officially authenticated on the form at their commune of residence;
  • send the form to the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office (stay of less than 90 days), together with:
    • the last 3 salary slips or a document stating their monthly income;
    • a copy of the passport or national identity card;
    • if they are a foreign national, proof of lawful residence in Luxembourg;
    • a copy of the valid passport of the non-EU national being cared for.

If the application is accepted, the guarantor receives an official stamped copy of the document. The foreign national then has 6 months to use this document to apply for a visa.

The issuance of the visa alone does not necessarily give the right of entry or stay in Luxembourg.

Other supporting documentation, in relation to the purpose of the visit, may be requested.

Applications will be decided on within 15 calendar days of the date of their lodging. In particular cases, namely when further scrutiny of the application is needed or if the application is submitted to a consulate of a State representing Luxembourg, this period may be extended up to a maximum of 30 calendar days. As an exception, when additional documentation is needed in specific cases, the period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days.

When the visa is granted, it is affixed in the passport in the form of a visa sticker.

The visa type C allows for stays for a duration not exceeding 90 days over any 180-day period. The visa can be issued for one or several entries, depending on the reasons of stay.

The Schengen calculator may help keep track of the number of days authorized in the Schengen area, based on the travel dates. A user guide for the calculator is also available.

The results shown by this tool are not legally binding.

It does not give the holder the right to carry out a paid activity in Luxembourg. In this case, the person must apply for a visa type D.

Possession of a visa does not confer an irrevocable right of entry. The holder of a visa is required to show evidence, at external borders, that they fulfill the conditions of entry in accordance with the Schengen Borders Code (article 6).

Note that the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office is competent for visa applications regarding stays not exceeding 90 days over any 180-day period.

Refusal to issue the visa C

This decision is notified to the applicant by the consulate.

Applicants may lodge an appeal against this decision with the administrative tribunal. The appeal must be filed by a court lawyer within 3 months from the notification of the decision.

The information on possibilities of recourse can be found on the refusal form.

Extension of the visa C

When applying for a visa extension, the applicant must show that for reasons of force majeure or for humanitarian reasons they cannot leave Luxembourg before the expiry of their visa or the authorised period of stay.

As a rule, the visa can only be extended if the applicant has stayed less than 90 days in the Schengen area, in the course of the past 180 days, and if their current visa is not expired.

The application has to be sent to the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office.

Applying for a long stay visa (visa D)

Staying for more than 3 months

Third country nationals subject to a visa obligation who wish to stay in Luxembourg for more than 3 months must apply for a long stay visa (D).

Before applying for a visa, third-country nationals must apply, from their country of origin, for a temporary authorisation to stay at the General Department of immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The application procedure for the authorisation to stay depends on the planned activity:

Within 90 days following receipt of the temporary authorisation to stay, the applicant must submit, in person, a long stay visa application (D) in 2 copies to the Luxembourg diplomatic or consular mission in their country of residence or, failing that, to the embassy or consulate of the country in the Schengen area which represents Luxembourg for the issuance of a long-stay visa (Belgian embassy or consulate only).

The application must be accompanied by the following documents:

  • 2 recent and identical identity photos;
  • a valid passport or a travel document accepted in the Schengen area, which is valid for at least 3 months after the expiry date of the requested visa;
  • the temporary authorisation to stay.

When the visa is granted, it is affixed in the passport in the form of a stamp or vignette.

A visa type D is valid for a period of 90 days to one year maximum.

Note that the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office is competent for visa applications regarding stays not exceeding 90 days over any 180-day period. For applications concerning a stay of more than 3 months, the competent authority is the Department for foreigners at the General Department of immigration.

Staying less than 90 days and carrying out a paid activity

Third-country nationals subject to a visa obligation who wish to work in Luxembourg during a stay of less than 90 days must apply for a short stay visa (C).

Before applying for a type C visa, third-country nationals must apply, from their country of origin, for a work permit to the General Department of immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Family reunification with an EU citizen

Third country nationals subject to a visa obligation who wish to join a member of their family who is an EU citizen or from a country treated as such should not apply for a long stay visa (D). They can apply for a short stay visa (C) to enter Luxembourg in order to join a family member who is a citizen of an EU Member State or of a country treated as such.

Online services and forms

Downloadable forms

Note: view tips for using PDF forms.

Application form for a Schengen Visa

Last update 18.10.2023

PDF155 Kb

Other language(s)

Who to contact

Immigration Directorate - Department for Foreigners

Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office (BPVL-MAEE)

Related procedures and links

Procedures

Declaring one's move to a new commune of residence

Links

Further information

Legal references

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