Working during a stay of less than 90 days
as a third-country national
Last update
If you are a third-country national and wish to take up paid employment during your short stay (less than 90 days) in Luxembourg, you must first apply for a work permit.
Please note: only an employer who, within 3 weeks of declaring a job vacancy with the National Employment Agency (Agence pour le développement de l’emploi - ADEM), has not been offered a suitable candidate from the national labour market may apply to the Director of ADEM for a certificate authorising them to recruit a person of their choice.
Who is concerned
Each national of a third country (i.e. a country that is neither a Member State of the European Union (EU) nor considered equivalent to an EU Member State – Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland).
However, you are exempt from applying for a work permit if:
- your employment in Luxembourg lasts for less than 3 months per calendar year; and
- you fall into one of the following categories:
- staff from fairground attractions, circuses and other travelling establishments;
- workers in the entertainment industry without regular employment;
- athletes;
- invited researchers, conference speakers and university lecturers;
- people undertaking business trips, namely journeys to visit business partners, to seek out and develop business contacts, to negotiate and conclude contracts, to take part in trade fairs, exhibitions and shows, or to attend board meetings and general meetings of companies;
- persons providing services (excluding any services provided under a subcontract).
The application for a work permit must be submitted by the third-country national. However, you may authorise (see 'Power of attorney (Mandate convention)' under 'Online services and forms') a third party, for example your future employer, to carry out the necessary procedures on your behalf.
How to proceed
Submitting the application for a work permit
You must apply for a work permit before starting work in Luxembourg.
You must submit your application for a work permit on plain paper to the General Department of Immigration, stating:
- your identity: surnames and first names;
- your exact address in your country of residence.
You must hold a valid visa if you are subject to a visa requirement.
Supporting documents
You must submit the following documents with your application:
- a copy of your valid passport, in its entirety;
- a curriculum vitae;
- a copy of your diplomas or professional qualifications;
- a copy of your employment contract:
- dated and signed by you and your future employer; and
- which specifies a gross salary corresponding to at least the current monthly social minimum wage in force in Luxembourg;
- the original certificate issued by ADEM authorising your employer to recruit the person of their choice.
Response from the ministry
In principle, the time limit for a response is a maximum of 3 months.
If you do not receive a response within this period, you may consider your application to have been rejected.
Once the application for a work permit has been approved, you will receive your work permit by post.
After entering the country, you must complete the necessary formalities for a short stay.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
Ministry of Home Affairs General Department of immigration - Department for foreigners
- Address:
-
26, route d’Arlon
L-1140
Luxembourg
B.P. 752, L-2017 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 84 040
- Fax:
- (+352) 22 16 08
- Email address:
- immigration.public@mai.etat.lu
Closed ⋅ Opens at 9.00
- Friday:
- 9.00 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 16.00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 9.00 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 16.00
- Tuesday:
- 9.00 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 16.00
- Wednesday:
- 9.00 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 16.00
- Thursday:
- 9.00 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 16.00
National Employment Agency (ADEM) Employer Services – 'Third-Country Nationals' unit
- Address:
- 19, rue de Bitbourg L-1273 Luxembourg-Hamm Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 88 000
- Email address:
- info.moe@adem.etat.lu
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
Time frame for processing requests and for issuing documents
Pdf • 363 Kb
-
Luxembourg diplomatic and consular missions
on the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade
-
List of countries whose citizens require a visa
on the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade
-
Travel documents for non-EU nationals
on Your Europe
-
Listes des experts, traducteurs et interprètes assermentés
sur le site du ministère de la Justice
-
S’établir au luxembourg
sur le site web de l'ASTI
Legal references
-
Loi modifiée du 29 août 2008
portant sur la libre circulation des personnes et l’immigration
-
Règlement grand-ducal modifié du 5 septembre 2008
portant exécution de certaines dispositions relatives aux formalités administratives prévues par la loi du 29 août 2008 sur la libre circulation des personnes et l'immigration
