Moving to Luxembourg Through Work: Visa Pathways, Salary Thresholds and Requirements

Luxembourg is small, wealthy and very international. Its job market is built around finance, technology and professional services, and a large share of its workforce was born abroad. For skilled professionals outside the EU, it is one of the more realistic routes into Europe, because the rules are clear and, for highly qualified workers, the process can be fast.

This guide explains the work routes into Luxembourg for non-EU professionals: the EU Blue Card, the Salaried Worker Permit and the intra-corporate transfer. You will find the salary threshold that applies right now, how the threshold has changed, the qualifications you need, the step-by-step process, what your family can do, and how permanent residence and citizenship work.

The salary threshold went up again in March 2026. That is not a reason to give up on Luxembourg. It is a reason to know exactly which number applies to you before you apply.

This guide is for information only and is not legal advice. Immigration rules and thresholds change, so always confirm the current figures on the official Luxembourg government pages linked in each section before you apply. Information checked October 2026.

Luxembourg at a Glance

Which Pathway Fits You?

Most non-EU professionals use one of three routes. Which one applies depends on your qualifications, your salary and who is hiring you.

If you also hold an EU Blue Card issued by another EU country, Luxembourg has a separate route for you to move and work here. It uses the same EUR 65,652 figure. The official page is linked at the end of this guide.

The EU Blue Card: Conditions and Salary Threshold

The EU Blue Card is the main route for highly qualified workers, and it has the biggest advantages: no labour market test, faster family reunification and the right to move to another EU country later.

The salary threshold, and how it has changed

The minimum gross annual salary is set by ministerial regulation. A new regulation dated 23 February 2026 raised it, with effect from 3 March 2026.

Two details matter. First, the date you file decides which figure applies. An application filed before 3 March 2026 is assessed under the previous threshold. Second, since June 2024 there is no longer a lower threshold for shortage occupations, so every applicant faces the same figure.

How should you read the increases? The last step was about 3.5 percent. That is a rise, but a country does not keep raising the bar for a pathway it wants to close. The figure goes up because the skilled workers using this route are earning more. For you, the practical point is simple: your contract needs to show a gross annual salary at or above the figure for your filing date.

Other conditions

• Employment contract of at least six months with a Luxembourg employer.
• Higher professional qualifications for the job, such as a university degree relevant to the role. If the profession is regulated, you must also meet the requirements to practise it in Luxembourg.
• ICT shortcut: since July 2024, specialists and managers in information and communication technology can qualify on experience alone. Law firm summaries put this at at least three years of relevant experience in the seven years before applying, with no degree needed.

What the Blue Card gives you

• No labour market test. Your employer does not have to prove that no local candidate was available.
• Family reunification. Your spouse or registered partner can join you, and can work without applying for a separate work permit. Your family still needs suitable housing, health insurance and stable resources.
• Mobility inside the EU. Under the EU Blue Card rules, after 12 months you can move to another EU country for skilled work through a simplified process.
• Speed. The Luxembourg home affairs ministry reported an average of about 27 days to issue an EU Blue Card in 2024. Official guidance says decisions generally arrive within a maximum of four months, so plan for the longer end.
• A modest fee. The state fee for the residence permit is EUR 80 per person.

The Salaried Worker Permit: If You Are Below the Threshold

If your salary is below the Blue Card figure, or the role does not need a degree, the Salaried Worker Permit is still a real route in. The difference is that your employer must prove first that the job could not be filled locally.

The labour market test

1. The employer declares the vacancy to ADEM, the national employment agency.
2. ADEM looks for a suitable candidate on the Luxembourg and European labour market. The official guide gives a deadline of three weeks.
3. If ADEM presents no suitable candidate, it issues a certificate that allows the employer to hire a non-EU national. Some shortage occupations use a faster procedure, so check the ADEM list for your role.

What the permit looks like

• First permit: valid for a maximum of one year, for one profession and in one sector only.
• Changing jobs: you can ask to change employer or sector before the first renewal, as long as the conditions are met and you apply from inside Luxembourg.
• Renewal: apply within two months before expiry. You will need proof that you worked during the permit, including a recent social security affiliation certificate.
• If you were unemployed for part of the year, the permit can be renewed for a maximum of one year.

Intra-Corporate Transfers: If Your Employer Moves You

If you already work for a multinational that has a Luxembourg entity, an intra-corporate transfer (ICT) can be the simplest route. It covers managers, specialists and trainees.

• You must hold an employment contract with the group company abroad before and during the transfer.
• The Luxembourg entity of the group files the application for the authorisation to stay before you enter the country.
• Law firm summaries describe typical evidence of prior employment in the group of 3 to 12 months for managers and experts and 3 to 6 months for trainees.
• The residence permit is granted for at least one year, up to the length of the assignment.

Step by Step: How the Process Works

How Long Will It Take?

After You Arrive: Permanent Residence and Citizenship

Long-term resident status

After five years of uninterrupted legal residence you can apply for long-term resident status. You will need to show stable and sufficient resources without relying on social assistance, adequate accommodation, and medical insurance for you and your family. You should also have a clean criminal record and pose no threat to public order or security.

Luxembourg citizenship

• Residence: at least five years of legal residence, with the last year before applying uninterrupted.
• Language: a certificate showing you can speak and understand Luxembourgish. Secondary sources describe a speaking test at A2 level and a listening test at B1 level, so confirm the current levels with the official language institute.
• Civics: the course "Living together in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg", or passing its exam.
• Dual citizenship is allowed, so you do not have to give up your original nationality.

Finding a Job That Will Sponsor You

The permit rules only matter once you have an employer. These steps give you the best chance of getting to that point.

• Target the right sectors. Finance and funds, ICT, insurance, logistics, healthcare and engineering hire from abroad most often.
• Match your language profile. English opens many doors in finance and technology, and French or German adds a lot. If you speak none of them, aim for international-facing roles first.
• Check the salary against the threshold early. If your expected salary is near EUR 65,652, ask the recruiter in the first conversation whether the role is intended for the Blue Card.
• Ask directly about sponsorship. Ask whether the employer has hired from outside the EU before and who handles the immigration paperwork.
• Tailor your CV and LinkedIn to the Luxembourg market, in English or French, with your qualifications and experience stated clearly. Use the ADEM job portal and employer career pages alongside LinkedIn.

Mistakes That Cost People Time

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a job offer before I apply?

Yes. For every route in this guide, the application starts from a job offer or a transfer by your employer.

Can my spouse work in Luxembourg?

Yes. Family members of residence permit holders can work without a separate work permit, and Blue Card holders get faster family reunification with immediate work access for a spouse.

Does the salary threshold apply to the Salaried Worker Permit?

No. The EUR 65,652 figure is for the EU Blue Card. The Salaried Worker Permit instead depends on the ADEM labour market test.

Do I need to speak Luxembourgish to move there?

Not for the work permit. Language matters for your job, for daily life, and for citizenship, which needs Luxembourgish.

How long until I can settle permanently?

Long-term resident status needs five years of legal residence, and so does citizenship.