To come to Luxembourg as a researcher, you must:
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;
- be in possession of a valid passport;
- for persons subject to visa requirements in order to enter Luxembourg: request, where necessary, 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;
- undergo a medical check;
- then apply for a residence permit for third-country researchers.
Where to apply
Authorisation of stay and residence permit
You must apply to the Directorate of Immigration for an authorisation of stay before you enter Luxembourg.
Visa
Once granted, the researcher must, if necessary, obtain a visa at the embassy or consulate in the country of origin within 90 days.
If a visa is not required, you must enter the territory of Luxembourg within 90 days of the granting of the authorisation of stay.
Documents required
The application for a temporary authorisation to stay must contain the applicant's identity details (surname, first name(s) and address) and must be accompanied by the following documents and information:
- a certified copy of their valid passport, in its entirety;
- an extract from the criminal records or an affidavit (sworn statement) established in the country of residence;
- a curriculum vitae;
- a copy of their diplomas or professional qualifications;
- a signed hosting agreement with an approved research institute, provided that the research project has been accepted by the institute's competent bodies;
- an individual financial statement of support covering for the cost of living and return travel. The financial statement of support is drafted by the approved research institute after the hosting agreement has been signed;
- where necessary, a proxy.
Duration of validity of permits
The residence permit for researchers is valid for one year or for the duration of the research project, if this is less than one year, and is renewable.
Further requirements
From the time of your arrival, you have three days to report to your local Commune to signal your presence to the competent local authorities (declaration of arrival), and three months to file an application for a residence permit at the Directorate of Immigration of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
You must undergo a medical check and show proof of accommodation.
You must pay a fee of 80 EUR.
Appeals
Negative decisions related to authorisations to stay can be challenged before the First instance Administrative Court within three months of notification of the ministerial decision.
If the First instance Administrative Court rejects the appeal, a further appeal can be filed before the Administrative Court within 40 days of the judgement notification.
Further information
Change of employment
You are allowed to ask for change of status if all necessary conditions are met by submitting an in-country application to the Directorate of Immigration of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
Long-term residence
After five years of uninterrupted legal residence in Luxembourg you have the right to apply for long-term resident status at the Directorate of Immigration of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. Only half the years you have spent as a researcher will be counted for the purposes of your application.
You must show:
- stable and regular financial resources sufficient to support yourself and your dependent family members without recourse to social assistance;
- adequate accommodation;
- medical insurance for yourself and your family members.
You must not represent a threat to public order or public security, and must have a clean criminal record.
While assessing your application, the Minister will take into account how well integrated you are.
A researcher may need to conduct research in a number of institutions, located in different countries.
If a researcher already holds a residence permit for researchers in another EU Member State, they are permitted to stay in Luxembourg to continue their research. There is a specific procedure to be followed, which differs depending on whether:
- the stay in Luxembourg lasts for fewer than 180 days within a 360-day period (short-term mobility);
- the stay in Luxembourg lasts for between 180 and 360 days (long-term mobility).
Short-term mobility
Procedure
Notification: for stays lasting fewer than 180 days within a 360-day period, the researcher, or the research institution established in Luxembourg, must notify the competent authorities in the first Member State, as well as the Luxembourg Directorate of Immigration, of their intention to do part of their research at the research institution located in Luxembourg.
The notification must be submitted as soon as plans are made for the mobility project, and in all cases, before the mobility period actually commences.
If the researcher's period of short-term mobility has already begun and a period of long-term mobility proves to be necessary, the application for an authorisation to stay for the purpose of long-term mobility must be submitted to the Minister at least 30 days before the end of the short-term mobility.
Documents required
The documents enclosed must be originals or certified copies (except for passports and diplomas, for which plain copies 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 that it bear a Hague Convention apostille).
If the documents are not written in English, German or French, an official translation by a 'sworn translator' must be attached.
Supporting documents required for notification (short-term mobility)
The notification submitted to the Directorate of Immigration must include the following information and documents:
· a copy of the applicant's valid passport, in its entirety,
· a copy of the applicant's valid residence permit issued by the first Member State, covering the entire period of mobility,
· the hosting agreement entered into with the research institution in Luxembourg,
· a document stating the planned duration and dates of the mobility period, if they are not specifically mentioned in the hosting agreement,
· proof that the researcher has sufficient funds to cover their living expenses for the duration of the stay without having to resort to social welfare, and sufficient funds to cover the cost of their return trip. Their monthly resources must amount to at least the social minimum wage for skilled workers,
· proof of health insurance.
Family members
If family members are coming with the researcher, the following documents are also required:
· a copy of each accompanying family member's entire valid passport,
· a copy of the valid residence permit issued by the first EU Member State and covering the whole duration of the mobility, for each family member,
· proof that each family member is covered by health insurance.
Application processing time
In the case of short-term mobility, the researcher can come to Luxembourg as soon as the notification is given, or at any time thereafter, providing the dates of the mobility are within the period of validity of the authorisation to stay for the purposes of research, granted in the first Member State.
The researcher is issued (either by post, or in person at the offices of the Directorate of Immigration) with a document certifying that they are authorised to stay in Luxembourg for the duration of their mobility period. This certificate facilitates the declaration of arrival which must be filed with the communal administration of the place where they will be living.
If the Minister for Immigration objects, the third-country national is not permitted to do part of his/her research in Luxembourg. If the mobility has already taken place, the researcher must immediately cease all activities and leave Luxembourg, returning to the first Member State.
Validity period
The mobility can begin immediately after it has been notified to the Minister or at any later date during the period of validity of the residence permit as a researcher issued by the first Member State.
The researcher is issued (either by post or when presenting himself at the Directorate of Immigration) a document attesting that he is authorized to stay in Luxembourg for the duration of his mobility. This certificate is to facilitate the declaration of arrival at the municipality of the chosen place of residence.
In the event of objection by the Minister in charge of immigration, the third-country national is not authorized to conduct part of his research in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and when the mobility has already taken place, the researcher shall immediately cease to carry on any activity and leave the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the first Member State.
Long-term mobility
Procedure
For a stay lasting between 180 and 360 days, either the researcher or the research institution established in Luxembourg must file an application for a temporary authorisation to stay for the purpose of research with the Directorate of Immigration.
The researcher is not obliged to leave the Schengen Area in order to file an application for an authorisation to stay, and does not need a visa.
Documents required
The documents enclosed must be originals or certified copies (except for passports and diplomas, for which plain copies 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 that it bear a Hague Convention apostille).
If the documents are not written in English, German or French, an official translation by a 'sworn translator' must be attached.
The application for a temporary authorisation to stay must be sent to the Directorate of Immigration, along with:
· a copy of the applicant's valid passport, in its entirety,
· a recent extract from the applicant's criminal record, or an affidavit issued in the applicant's country of residence,
· a curriculum vitae,
· a copy of their diplomas or professional qualifications,
· the hosting agreement entered into with the research institution in Luxembourg,
· an individual statement of financial support covering the researcher's living expenses and return trip. This statement must be issued by the research institution after the hosting agreement has been signed,
· where necessary, a power of attorney.
Family members
If family members are coming with the researcher, the following documents are also required:
· a copy of each accompanying family member's entire valid passport,
· a recent extract from their criminal record, or an affidavit issued in their country of residence, for each family member,
· proof that each family member is covered by health insurance.
Application processing time
The Directorate of Immigration will return its decision within 60 days of receiving the complete application.
The researcher is authorised to do part of their research at the research institution in Luxembourg until the minister has ruled on their application for authorisation to stay for long-term mobility, provided that:
· their stay in Luxembourg has not already exceeded 180 days,
· the authorisation issued by the first Member State is still valid,
· the complete application was submitted to the Minister at least 30 days prior to the start date of the long-term mobility.
Applicable fee
On application, and for a fee of 80 euros, third-country nationals authorised to stay in Luxembourg are issued with a residence permit for "researchers", bearing the wording "mobilité de chercheur" (mobility for the purposes of research), entitling them to stay and do part of their research in Luxembourg for the duration of the mobility.
Validity
The residence permit is valid for as long as the hosting agreement is valid.
Further requirements
Declaration of arrival
Within 3 days of arriving in Luxembourg, the researcher must file a declaration of arrival with their new commune of residence, along with the following documents:
- a valid travel document (passport and, where applicable, a visa or a residence permit or authorisation issued by another EU Member State),
- the original copy of the temporary authorisation to stay obtained in the researcher's country of origin for the entry to the territory of Luxembourg, or the residence permit for researchers, bearing the wording "mobility for the purpose of research",
- where applicable, valid proof of address (e.g. rental agreement, electricity bill, etc.).
Obligations
The research institution in Luxembourg, or the researcher, must inform the Directorate of Immigration of any changes that affect the conditions under which the mobility was authorised.