Luxembourg: a D visa replaces the temporary residence authorisation

Since 1 October 2026, a third-country national who wishes to obtain a first residence permit in Luxembourg no longer applies beforehand for a temporary residence authorisation (AST). Instead, they submit an application for a long-stay (D) visa to a diplomatic representation of Luxembourg or Belgium abroad. The reform aligns Luxembourg with the practices of other EU member states.

The application is submitted in person at the Luxembourg embassy or, where the country is not represented, at the competent Belgian embassy, and no longer through the Directorate General for Immigration. The D visa issued is valid for 6 mois: it allows entry into Luxembourg and travel within the Schengen area while waiting for the residence permit to be issued.

After arrival, the applicant has 3 jours to make an arrival declaration at their municipality of residence and to submit their residence permit application to the Directorate General for Immigration. The timetable is therefore tight once on site.

The reform applies to all third-country nationals, excluding those from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, who wish to settle in Luxembourg for more than 90 jours, whether to work, study or join their family.

The following are excluded: EU citizens and their family members, nationals of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, British nationals covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, applications for replacement, renewal or change of category of an existing permit, applications submitted directly on Luxembourg territory, and applicants for international protection.

The source gives no details on the documents to be provided, the fees, the processing times or the list of embassies concerned. It states only that employers and individuals with procedures under way or planned must now follow the new procedure.