How to get a Luxembourg startup visa in 2025

Luxembourg startup landscape

Luxembourg has become over time an ideal destination for entrepreneurs thanks to multiple factors that make the country a unique environment for the creation of startups. First of all, its strategic geographical position in the heart of Europe and its advanced logistics infrastructure facilitate access to the entire continent without customs barriers and make Luxembourg an epicenter for businesses looking to operate in the European Union. Added to this is the country's political and economic stability, which together with a diversified economy and a favorable tax environment create a safe and ideal environment for investment.

In addition, Luxembourg stands out for its support of entrepreneurship and innovation, with numerous institutions dedicated to facilitating entrepreneurial projects. The House of Entrepreneurship and Luxinnovation offers advice and resources, while the Chambre de Commerce and the Chambre des Métiers provide administrative and financial support. The House of Sustainability fosters sustainable projects, and the LHoFT acts as an incubator for fintech companies. The House of Training, for its part, trains entrepreneurs with specialized courses.

If you're considering starting a business in Luxembourg, check out our comprehensive guide to opening a company in Luxembourg. This resource will walk you through the entire process, from choosing the right business structure to registering your company and obtaining the necessary permits.  

This comprehensive environment makes Luxembourg an exceptional place to develop successful businesses and take advantage of its expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem. However, in order to take advantage of all these benefits and develop a business project in the Grand Duchy, it is necessary to obtain a residence permit.

Although there is no visa called “startup visa” in Luxembourg, there is a visa for entrepreneurs who want to carry out entrepreneurial projects in the country, which is called an investor visa. This type of visa is suitable for those who want to obtain a residence through the creation or investment in a company as well as for those who want to obtain a residence by investment. In the following sections, we will review in detail the requirements to obtain this type of visa and the procedure to obtain it.

Requirements to obtain an investor visa

In order to obtain a visa or a residence permit as an investor, interested individuals must choose between investing in a new or existing company, investing in an existing or new investment or management structure, or investing through a deposit with a financial institution established in Luxembourg. Each of these investment options has specific requirements:

• Investment in either a new or existing company: This option involves investing a minimum amount of 500,000 euros in an existing or new Luxembourg company with commercial, industrial or artisanal activities.
• Investment in an existing or new investment or management structure. This option involves investment in an investment or management structure that meets the following characteristics: It must be domiciled in Luxembourg. It must have adequate substance in Luxembourg in terms of its activity, its business premises, its technical, human and financial resources and its contractual relations; It must have at least 2 full-time employees other than the beneficial owners; and It must have adequate systems of governance and internal control. Its activity must not have as its main objective a direct or indirect real estate object. In addition, contributed funds must also meet certain requirements: They must be contributed by the applicant or by another investment structure of which the applicant is the beneficial owner.They must consist of at least 75% own funds. They must be equal to or greater than 3,000,000 euros and appear on the balance sheet of the investment structure.
• Investment through a deposit in a financial institution established in Luxembourg. This option implies that the applicant undertakes to keep his investment in a bank account with a single financial institution domiciled in Luxembourg for a minimum period of 5 years, in addition the funds must meet the following conditions: Be greater than or equal to 20,000,000 euros. Be provided by the applicant or by another investment structure of which the applicant is the beneficial owner. Be made up of 100% of own funds, although they may be made up of foreign currency or financial instruments. Be free of any liens, pledges, mortgages or other security rights of any kind that restrict the applicant's full ownership. They must not have a direct or indirect real estate objective as their main purpose.

Finally, in addition to complying with all these requirements, interested individuals must submit their project or proof of investment to the Ministry of Economy or the Ministry of Finance and obtain a favorable response before applying for a residence permit.

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Step-by-step application process

Obtaining an investor residence permit in Luxembourg requires careful planning and adhering to a well-defined application process. Below we will guide you through the necessary steps to obtain it.

Step 1 - Obtaining a favorable opinion on the investment project

Before applying for a residence permit it is necessary to obtain a favorable opinion on the investment project, this must be requested from the Ministry of Economy in the case of an investment in an existing or new enterprise or from the Ministry of Finance in the case of an investment in an investment structure or through a deposit in a financial institution.

• Application for an opinion before the Ministry of Economy. To request the opinion of the Ministry of Economy on an investment project it is necessary to contact the ministry directly. Address: 19-21, boulevard Royal, Luxembourg Phone: (+352) 24 78 41 37 Mail: info@eco.public.lu Website: meco.gouvernement.lu
• Request for an opinion before the Ministry of Finance. To request the opinion of the Ministry of Finance it is necessary to send a request by email to immigration@fi.etat.lu accompanied by the following items: The application form. Copy of the applicant's identity document. Proof of the origin of the funds. Statement of the beneficial owner(s). Duly completed declaration of honor form. For investments in an investment structure, it is also necessary to submit: The by-laws of the investment structure. Audited financial statements (balance sheet, profit and loss account, breakdown of equity by shareholders or partners and, if applicable, annexes) A bank account identification document of the investment structure's Luxembourg bank account. A business plan including a description of the investment structure's activities, a document describing the governance and internal control mechanisms, an analysis of financial and equipment needs and a human resources plan together with the relevant employment contracts. For an investment in the form of a deposit with a financial institution, it’s also necessary to submit: A bank account identification document of the Luxembourg bank account. A recent account statement of the Luxembourg bank account. 

The reply from the ministry is sent by post and is valid for one year.

Step 2 - Application for a temporary residence permit

The next step, once you have a favorable opinion from the relevant ministry, is to apply for a temporary residence permit. To do so, the person must send a free-format application for a temporary residence permit from his country of origin to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, to a diplomatic or consular representation of Luxembourg or to a diplomatic or consular mission representing Luxembourg.

This application must specify the identity and exact address of the applicant and must be accompanied by a copy of the passport and an extract from the criminal record or an affidavit drawn up in the applicant's country of residence.

Step 3 - Applying for a D visa

In addition to the temporary permit, certain people need to apply for a long-stay visa (type D visa) to enter Luxembourg, this depends on the existing conventions between the applicant's country of origin and the Luxembourg nation. The Luxembourg government has a page with a list of all the countries whose citizens need to apply for this visa.

To make this application it is necessary to go in person to the diplomatic or consular mission of Luxembourg in the country of origin or, failing that, to the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country representing Luxembourg within 90 days of obtaining the temporary residence permit and make an application for a type D visa accompanied by the following documents:

• 2 recent and identical passport photos
• A valid passport whose validity exceeds by at least 3 months the end of the period of validity of the requested visa.
• The temporary residence permit.

This visa costs 50 euros and is valid for 90 days. Once approved, it is stamped in the passport in the form of a stamp or sticker.

Step 4 - Carry out the necessary formalities after entering Luxembourg.

Once you have entered Luxembourg it is necessary to make a declaration of arrival and then undergo a medical examination.

• Declaration of arrival: Within 3 days of arrival in Luxembourg be necessary to make a declaration of arrival to the municipality of residence, presenting the following documents: A valid identity document such as a passport, a visa or a residence permit issued by another EU member state. The long-term visa. Proof of address which can be for example a lease contract, or an electricity or gas bill. Once this is done the applicant will receive a copy of his declaration of arrival in the form of a receipt. 
• Medical examination: The next step is to have a medical examination as soon as possible, this examination includes first a medical examination performed by a general practitioner established in Luxembourg and then a tuberculosis screening test performed by a medical analysis laboratory. A prescription from the doctor who performed the medical examination is required for this test.

Following the results of these examinations, the Health Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health will issue a medical certificate, which will be sent to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs for the processing of the application for a residence permit.

Step 5 - Application for a residence permit as an investor

The last step is the application for the residence permit, this application must be submitted within 3 months of arrival in Luxembourg to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. It can be done online through MyGuichet.lu or by mail by sending the residence permit application form to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

In both cases it will be necessary to attach the following documents:

• Copy of the passport.
• Copy of the visa.
• Copy of the arrival declaration issued by the municipal administration.
• Proof of suitable accommodation, such as a lease agreement, property deed, or other relevant documents.
• Proof of an 80 euros fee payment (approximately 10,702 Bangladeshi Takas as of mid-September 2024) to the account IBAN LU46 1111 2582 2814 0000 (BIC: CCPLLULL, beneficiary: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Immigration Department; communication: residence permit for...).

If the application is approved, the applicant will receive a letter inviting him to make an appointment with the Immigration Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to take a photograph and fingerprints, which will be incorporated into the residence permit.

A few days after entering the biometric data, the applicant will receive a summons to pick up his/her residence permit in person at the Immigration Department.