The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a small state whose territory is about twice the size of Hong Kong. It borders Belgium, Germany and France. The population is 600,000 and the capital is Luxembourg. Due to its small size, it is not so easy to move to Luxembourg.
It was one of the founding nations of the EU, the currency is the Euro and the official languages are: Luxembourgish, French and German. The most commonly used language in the country is French. Other languages spoken are: English, Italian and Portuguese.
The number of immigrants is over 200 thousand (35% of the population), most of them are Portuguese, over 100 thousand.
Moving to Luxembourg
EU citizens
Luxembourg is part of the EU, so EU/EEA citizens can stay 90 days. After 90 days you must obtain the Residence Certificate, (déclaration d’enregistrement), from the municipality of residence. To obtain it, you need the following documents:
- iD card
- employment contract
- if you do not work, bank documents proving that you can live without working
In any case, I recommend you to bring also the following documents:
- international birth certificate
- certificate of criminal record
After five years of residence in Luxembourg, you can apply for a permanent residence permit.
Non-EU citizens
Citizens from certain non-EU countries can also enter Luxembourg without a visa.
If you need a visa to enter Luxembourg, you must apply for a visa at the Luxembourg consulate in your country.
Short-term visa (Visa C)
you can stay for a maximum of 90 days within a period of 180 days for the following purposes:
- tourist travel
- family visits
- business trips (visiting business partners, negotiating and concluding contracts, etc.);
- participation in conferences (congresses, exhibitions, fairs, etc.)
- participation in conferences
Long-term visa (visa D)
- work in Luxembourg
- join a family member who is an EU citizen
Moving to Luxembourg, useful resources
- Angloinfo, information and advice on housing, employment and much more
- Guichet, information for citizens and companies
- LIVING AND WORKING IN LUXEMBOURG, a small guide
- Asti, Emigrants and Refugees Association, you can contact them for information, advice, French courses, etc.
- Living and working in Luxembourg, useful guide
Move to Luxembourg, finding accommodation
Once you have arrived, you will need to start looking for permanent housing. Rental costs in Luxembourg are in line with the cost of living and are therefore extremely high. A studio apartment costs around €1,200 per month. Moreover, due to the high demand, it is not easy to find an apartment, especially in the capital.
It is no coincidence that over 50% of those who work in Luxembourg live in Belgium (Arlon), France (Thionville, Metz, Longwy, Audun le Tiche) or Germany (Trier), where housing and living costs are lower. A lot of useful information for commuters working in Luxembourg can be found on les frontaliers
If you want to rent a property in Luxembourg, you should know that the houses are usually unfurnished. When signing the contract, you will need to present your income and employment contract (a permanent job, renting during the probationary period is quite difficult).
You will have to pay a deposit (in the amount of three months’ rent) and brokerage fees (in the amount of one month’s rent). The rent usually includes heating, water, cleaning, etc.
To avoid agencies, you can search for accommodation in Luxembourg with the help of the expatriate community. Word of mouth is also a good way to find vacant apartments or apartments that will soon become available.
In any case, I recommend renting a flat in Germany because it is much cheaper and the traffic to Luxembourg is less than in Belgium and France.
If you choose to rent a room, the cost is lower (700-800 € per month) and it’s a bit easier, but even in this case an employment contract is usually required.
Real estate websites in Luxembourg
The most popular real estate sites are:
- Athome, the most popular rental website
- Immotop, quite popular website
- Immoweb, real estate website
- Immo Vlan, Belgian website
- Appartager, shared flats, free registration, to use all services you have to pay a fee
- Luxfriends, shared flats
- Bazar, classified ads website
- Furnished, rooms for rent
Moving to Luxembourg, conclusion
In Luxembourg, the purchase of health insurance is mandatory. The employee is automatically registered with the Caisse Nationale de Santé (CNS) by the employer. The self-employed person must register himself with the CNS.
One last consideration about the money you will need for your move. Luxembourg is an extremely expensive country. So if you plan to move there and look for work, I recommend having at least € 3,000 – 4,000 available to support yourself while you find work.
