Luxembourg

Am I eligible to apply for an EU Blue Card?

To carry out a professional activity as a highly-skilled worker in Luxembourg, you must obtain:

• before entering the country:
  • submit an application for a temporary authorisation to stay to the Directorate of Immigration of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

In order to apply for the EU Blue Card, the third-country national must meet the following requirements:

• hold a valid passport,
• check whether or not they have to obtain a visa to enter the Schengen area,
• satisfy the conditions of higher professional qualification, i.e.:
  • have an employment contract of one year at least for highly qualified work,
  • have an offer for a remuneration:
    • at least equivalent to 1.5 times the amount of the Luxembourg average gross annual salary (EUR 78,336), or
    • at least equivalent to 1.2 times the Luxembourg average gross annual salary (EUR 62,668.80) for work in one of the following professions and for which the government has noticed a particular need to employ third-country nationals:
      • mathematicians, actuaries and statisticians,
      • systems analysts,
      • software developers,
      • web and multimedia developers,
      • applications programmers,
      • software and application developers and analysts, multimedia developers not listed elsewhere,
      • database designers and administrators,
      • systems administrators,
      • computer network professionals,
      • database and network professionals not elsewhere classified,
  • show a document proving that they possess the high professional qualifications required for the activity or sector mentioned in the employment contract, or that they meet the requirements to carry out the regulated profession indicated in the employment contract.
• an extract from the criminal records or an affidavit (sworn oath) established in the country of residence,
• a curriculum vitae,
• where necessary, a power of attorney.

The documents enclosed must be originals or certified true copies (except for the passport where a plain copy will suffice). Should the authenticity of a document be in doubt, the Minister of Immigration can request that the document be authenticated by the appropriate local authority and legalised by the embassy (or alternatively notarised with an apostille of The Hague).

If the documents are not drawn up in German, French or English, an official translation by a sworn translator must be attached.

If the information or documents provided are incomplete, the applicant will be given a reasonable deadline to submit the missing documents and information. The application may be rejected if the deadline is not met.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has maximum 3 months to send a reply. If no decision is received within this time, the application has been rejected.

• for persons subject to visa requirements in order to enter Luxembourg: request a type D visa after having obtained the temporary authorisation to stay;
• after entering the country:
  • make a declaration of arrival in the new commune of residence in Luxembourg;
  • undergo a medical check;
  • apply for a residence permit for third-country highly qualified workers called 'EU Blue Card'.

How much do I have to earn to qualify for an EU Blue Card?

The gross annual salary resulting from the monthly or annual salary specified in the work contract or binding job offer must be equal to or higher than the relevant salary threshold defined by the Member State (at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary in the Member State concerned).

Luxembourg set the minimum salary threshold for 2023 at: 84.780 EUR.

Are there exceptions to the minimum salary requirement?

For professions in sectors where there are many unfilled vacancies, Member States may set a lower minimum salary threshold.

Luxembourg set the lower minimum salary threshold for 2023 at: 67.824EUR.

The following professions are in the shortage list for Luxembourg: Mathematicians, actuaries and statisticians, systems analysts, software developers, web and multimedia developers, applications programmers, software and application developers and analysts, multimedia developers not listed elsewhere, database designers and administrators, systems administrators, computer network professionals, database and network professionals not elsewhere classified.

Will EU citizens' applications be prioritised over mine?

Some Member States apply a Labour Market Test (LMT). This is a mechanism that aims to ensure that migrant workers are only admitted after employers have unsuccessfully searched for national workers, EU citizens (in EU Member States, this also means EEA workers) or legally residing third-country nationals with access to the labour market according to national legislation (for more information see the FAQ section).

Luxembourg does not apply a labour market test.

How long will my EU Blue Card be valid?

The standard period of validity in Luxembourg is: the residence permit is valid from the date of the arrival declaration at the commune. It is valid for a maximum of four years and renewable. If the employment contract has a duration of less than 4 years, for the duration of the contract plus 3 months.

Specific rules: during the 2 first years, the residence permit is valid for a specific profession, in a specific sector, regardless of the employer.

The sector and profession for which the non-EU national is authorised to work are indicated on the residence permit under the field "observations" in the form of an "ISCO" code.

How much will it cost?

Initial EU Blue Card fee: 80 EUR.

Renewal: 80 EUR. Replacement: 80 EUR.

Fee for express issuance: N/A.

How long will it take to get my EU Blue Card?

National law foresees that the maximum processing time for issuing an EU Blue Card in Luxembourg is three months.

Luxembourg Ministry for Labour, Employment and Social and Solidarity Economy

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