adminLast reviewed: 25 October 2026. Luxembourg updates its salary thresholds and procedures regularly, so check the official Guichet.lu pages before you apply.
Luxembourg is a small country with high pay and many international employers, and adverts often describe “€50,000+ jobs with visa sponsorship”. In reality there is no sponsorship scheme where you pay for a visa slot. Your employer follows a set legal process, and you apply for authorisation to stay. This guide explains that process step by step.
Quick answer
- You need a job offer first and must apply for a temporary authorisation to stay from outside Luxembourg. Applications made from inside the country are usually inadmissible.
- Two main routes: ordinary salaried work, which includes a labour market test, and the EU Blue Card for highly qualified workers.
- EU Blue Card salary: at least €65,652 gross per year from 3 March 2026, with a contract of at least six months.
- Fees are small: the residence permit fee is €80.
- Processing is slow: the first decision can take up to three months for a Blue Card and up to four months for ordinary salaried work.
Route 1: Salaried worker
For most jobs below the highly qualified level, the employer must declare the vacancy to ADEM, the Luxembourg employment agency. If no suitable candidate is found within three weeks, the employer can ask ADEM for a certificate allowing a non-EU hire. This is a labour market test, so the employer has to show it could not fill the job locally.
The official page we read does not list a minimum salary for this route, but the job must still follow Luxembourg’s legal minimum wage. After the 1 January 2026 adjustment, the social minimum wage for an unskilled worker aged 18 or over is €2,703.74 per month for full-time work, and €3,244.48 per month for a qualified worker. Multiplied by 12, those are about €32,400 and €38,900 a year. So a salary of €50,000 or more is well above the minimum, but it is not a legal requirement for this route.
Route 2: EU Blue Card
- Contract: at least six months, for highly qualified work.
- Salary: at least €65,652 gross per year. A law-firm notice dated 3 March 2026 says this new threshold came from a ministerial regulation of 23 February 2026. Some official pages may still show an older figure, so check the latest on Guichet.lu.
- Qualifications: proof of the higher professional qualifications needed for the job, such as diplomas, or the credentials needed for a regulated profession.
- Labour market test: the employer must still declare the vacancy to ADEM, but highly qualified workers are exempt from the test.
The process step by step
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Before you travel | Apply from your country of legal residence for a temporary authorisation to stay. Documents include your passport, criminal record extract, CV, diplomas and signed contract. If your nationality needs a type D visa, apply for that too. |
| 2. Wait for the decision | Up to three months for a Blue Card and up to four months for ordinary salaried work. No reply in time counts as a refusal. If approved, the authorisation is valid for 90 days. |
| 3. Arrive and declare | Declare your arrival at your local commune within three days (three working days for Blue Card holders). This declaration plus the authorisation works as a work permit until the permit arrives. |
| 4. Medical check | A doctor’s examination and tuberculosis screening. |
| 5. Residence permit | Apply within three months of arrival, online or by post. Fee: €80. |
| 6. Biometrics | Attend an appointment for photo and fingerprints, then collect the chip card. |
How long does the permit last?
- Ordinary salaried worker: the first permit lasts a maximum of one year and is tied to one profession and sector. Renewal can be up to three years and any sector or profession.
- EU Blue Card: the first permit lasts four years, or the contract length plus three months if the contract is shorter. In the first 12 months you are tied to a specific profession and sector.
- Long-term residence: possible after five years of lawful stay, with Blue Card holders needing the last two years in Luxembourg.
Can my family join me?
Blue Card holders can bring a spouse or partner and unmarried minor children, with family reunification documents. Each family member needs their own application. The official salaried-worker page we read does not describe family rights, so check Guichet.lu for your route.
Red flags and scams
- Anyone selling a “Luxembourg visa slot” or guaranteed work permit.
- Offers to apply from inside Luxembourg as a tourist. Applications from inside the country are usually inadmissible.
- A salary far above the market for a junior job, or no interview.
- No signed employment contract. A dated, signed contract is part of the application.
- Contact only through WhatsApp or a free email address with no company details.
If you think you have been targeted, stop paying, keep all messages and receipts, and report it to your local police. You can also email us at info@careerjobss.com.
Frequently asked questions
Can I look for a job after arriving in Luxembourg?
Not as a general rule for these work routes. The authorisation is tied to a job offer, and you must apply from outside the country first.
Can I change employer?
In the first year the rules are tight. For Blue Card holders you must inform immigration in advance, and the authorities can object to a proposed employer change within 30 days, according to a September 2026 guide.
Who applies for the permit?
The worker submits the residence permit application but can authorise a third party, such as the employer, with a written power of attorney.
Sources and references
- Guichet.lu: Conditions of residence for third-country salaried workers
- Guichet.lu: Salaried work for third-country highly qualified workers (EU Blue Card)
- Arendt: EU Blue Card increase of minimum salary threshold (3 March 2026)
- Expatica: EU Blue Card Luxembourg rules and steps (updated 1 September 2026)
- PwC Luxembourg: Social parameters on 1 January 2026
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Luxembourg rules, salary thresholds and fees change often. Always confirm the current position on Guichet.lu or with a registered adviser before making decisions. Corrections are welcome at info@careerjobss.com.
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