Staying in Luxembourg to find a job or set up a business after completing your studies or research
Last update
After completing their research, studies or their period spent in Luxembourg in this context (mobility), you (as a researcher or student) may remain in Luxembourg to find a job or set up a business there, provided you apply for and are granted a 'job search or business creation' residence permit.
This application must be filed:
- before the researcher or student residence permit expires; or
- before your time in Luxembourg comes to an end because of your mobility obligations as a researcher/student.
Who is concerned
The 'job search or business creation' residence permit may be requested by:
- researchers who already have a valid 'researchers' residence permit that was issued in Luxembourg and which has not yet expired;
- researchers who have a valid 'researchers' residence permit that was issued in another EU Member State and who are in Luxembourg because of their mobility obligations;
- students who already have a valid 'students' residence permit that was issued Luxembourg and which has not yet expired;
- students who have a valid 'students' residence permit that was issued in another EU Member State and who are in Luxembourg because of their mobility obligations.
Deadlines
The application for a residence permit for job search or business creation purposes must be filed at the latest, 30 days before:
- the expiry date of the 'researchers'/'students' residence permit; or
- the end of their mobility period.
How to proceed
Filing an application
Your application for a 'job search or business creation' residence permit must be filed, in writing, with the General Department of Immigration at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Supporting documents
You must attach the following documents to the application:
- a full copy of your valid passport (all pages);
- an extract from your Luxembourg criminal record, dated less than 3 months prior;
- for a researcher: proof that you have successfully completed your research work in Luxembourg;
- for a student: proof that you have:
- successfully completed the final year of study in Luxembourg, earning a Master's degree; or
- successfully defended your doctoral thesis for research in Luxembourg, earning a Doctorate;
- proof of comprehensive health insurance, covering all risks in Luxembourg;
- proof that you have sufficient resources during your stay to cover your living and return travel costs. Your monthly resources must amount to at least 80% of the social inclusion income currently in force in Luxembourg. The following may be used as proof:
- a student-grant or student-loan certificate stating the amount and duration; or
- a bank certificate; or
- a statement of financial support (formal obligation) provided by a guarantor living in Luxembourg;
- where necessary, a power of attorney.
Power of attorney: you can give power of attorney to a third party (for example, your future employer), authorising them to submit the application on your behalf. In this case, the agent, with the exception of legal advisers, must provide proof of their mandate in the form of a power of attorney (see under 'Online services and forms'), duly dated and signed by the principal, and the signature must be preceded by the handwritten phrase 'bon pour procuration' (valid for power of attorney).
If the documents are not drawn up in English, French or German, an official translation by a certified translator must be attached.
If the proof that you have completed your research or your studies is not yet available when you are filing your application, you will be given a receipt which:
- confirms that you have submitted your application; and
- allows you to remain in Luxembourg for a further 3 months.
This will give you enough time to provide the proof that you have completed your research or studies (your Master's degree or Doctorate).
Processing times
If the information or documents submitted in support of your application are inadequate or incomplete, you will be granted a reasonable time frame to provide the required additional materials.
The processing time will be suspended until the required documents or information are received within the time frame set for providing them.
Should the additional information or documentation fail to be provided within the set time frame, the application may be rejected.
Approval of the application
If your application is approved, you will obtain a non-renewable 12-month residence permit, for personal reasons, bearing the statement 'recherche d’emploi ou création d’entreprise' (job search or business creation).
Where applicable, the residence permit of the researcher's family member will be renewed for the same period of time.
Good to know
Declaration of arrival
You are no longer required to go to the communal administration of your commune of residence to declare your arrival, given that you are already officially resident in Luxembourg.
The only exception to this is if you move home while the procedure is ongoing, in which case, you need to declare your move to your new commune of residence.
Stay beyond 12 months
In order to remain in Luxembourg beyond the 12 months granted for job search or business creation purposes, you must, before the expiry of your residence permit, file an application for a residence permit for 'salaried workers' or 'self-employed workers'.
The work carried out as a salaried or self-employed worker must be related to your academic background or research.
If you return to your country of origin without having applied for authorisation before the expiry of your 'researchers'/'students'/'mobility' residence permit, you will fall under the normal regime if you wish to return to Luxembourg to work as a salaried worker or as a self-employed worker. In that case, you would have to apply for a long-stay visa before you enter the country.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
- Ministry of Home Affairs
- General Department of Immigration
- Main address:
- 26, route d’Arlon L-1140 Luxembourg Luxembourg
- Phone:
-
(+352) 247 84 040
Open ⋅ Closes at 11.30
- Wednesday:
- 9.00 to 11.30 and 14.30 to 16.00
- Thursday:
- 9.00 to 11.30 and 14.30 to 16.00
- Friday:
- 9.00 to 11.30 and 14.30 to 16.00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 9.00 to 11.30 and 14.30 to 16.00
- Tuesday:
- 9.00 to 11.30 and 14.30 to 16.00
- Email address:
- immigration.public@mai.etat.lu
- Postal box:
-
B.P. 752
L-2017 Luxembourg
- Fax:
- (+352) 22 16 08
- Additional information:
-
Registration and issuing of biometric residence permits: only by appointment.
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
sur le site du ministère de la Justice
Legal references
portant sur la libre circulation des personnes et l’immigration
