Luxembourg Investment Visa

Luxembourg Investment Visa - Guide for 2023

Updated on Wednesday 15th March 2023

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There are several ways through which foreign citizens can move to Luxembourg, and the best known are employment, family reunification and business. The Luxembourg investment visa enters the category of business immigration, and it addresses non-EU and non-EEA citizens interested in living in one of the most appealing countries in Europe from economic point of view.

Below, our lawyers explain the conditions associated with obtaining a Luxembourg residence permit by investment. Our law firm in Luxembourg is at your disposal with various immigration services.

Luxembourg residency by investment – conditions and requirements in 2023

Obtaining residency by investment in Luxembourg is a possibility for foreign citizens willing to inject capital in the country’s economy. There are several options for those who want to relocate here under this program, out of which the following 4 are often employed:

investing at least 500,000 EUR in a local company that already operates on the market;
investing a minimum of 500,000 EUR by registering a new company;
investing a minimum of 3 million EUR in an existing investment fund or by creating a such a vehicle;
investing at least 20 million EUR by setting up a deposit with a Luxembourg bank.

With respect to the last option, our lawyers in Luxembourg can assist with the creation of a bank account here.

An important aspect is for Luxembourg investor visa holders to commit to maintain their capital injection for a minimum of 5 years for some of the options presented above.

Steps to apply for a Luxembourg investment visa

Here are the main steps to complete if you are interested in obtaining a Luxembourg residence permit by investment:

file an application for a temporary stay visa with the Immigration Directorate;
apply for a D visa after obtaining the temporary visa to stay;
register with the local municipality no later than 3 days from entering the country;
taking the medical examination;
filing for Luxembourg residency by investment.

The last application must be submitted with the Ministry or Economy or Finance, depending on the investment choice.

You can rely on our immigration lawyers in Luxembourg for guidance during the entire procedure. It can take around 4 to 5 months to obtain residency by investment in Luxembourg.

The startup visa in Luxembourg in 2023

Not all investors coming to Luxembourg want to set up large operations in 2023. The Grand Duchy has switched its focus from the financial sector to more innovative ones, such as research and development, information technology and communications, and fintech which are a great option to create startups.

While there is no startup visa in Luxembourg yet, foreign citizens from third countries, namely non-EU and non-EEA states, can apply for self-employed permits. The procedure resembles that of obtaining work permits.

As an applicant for a self-employed residence permit, a foreign citizen must first submit a request for temporary authorization to stay. The most important aspect to consider in this sense is that the application must be filed from outside Luxembourg.

Here are the main documents to be filed when applying for a Luxembourg self-employed permit:

copy of the valid passport;
a clean criminal record or declaration that the applicant has committed no crime;
a CV;
a viable business plan and financing options;
proof of sufficient income to complete one’s activities.

Depending on whether the foreign applicant wants to start a new business, takeover an existing one or complete an activity that is subject to specific regulations, additional documents must be submitted.

The temporary authorization to stay has a validity of 3 months, during which the immigrant investor must apply for the self-employed residence permit.

It is also possible to request immigration support, case in which a power of attorney will be necessary for the representative. Our Luxembourg lawyers are at your disposal if you want to apply for residency through self-employment by launching a startup.

It is worth noting that even if there is no startup visa in Luxembourg , the government supports such ventures through various programs.

Family immigration based on a residency by investment in Luxembourg

There are various advantages if you decide to move to Luxembourg through the residency by investment or startup scheme in 2023, as you can also bring family members. They can be included on your application form as dependents. Once you will receive your residence card, they will also obtain theirs. At first, temporary residency is granted.

If you are interested in bringing family members to Luxembourg, you can rely on our local law firm.

How long does it take to obtain residency by investment in Luxembourg?

The processing time for the residence permit you can obtain as an investor in the Grand Duchy is about 6 months. However, when considering applying for a startup visa in Luxembourg, you will first be issued the temporary authorization to stay and after that the residence permit. Obtaining the temporary permission depends on your country of origin, as well as if the application is filed directly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or through the Luxembourg embassy or consulate in your country.

No matter the pathway you choose to relocate to Luxembourg, you can rely on our immigration lawyers who can advise and assist you.

Differences and similarities between residency by investment and startup visas

When considering immigrating to Luxembourg in 2023, you must consider the differences and similarities between a residence permit obtained as an investor and as a self-employed person. Here is what you should take into account:

residency investment implies a higher amount of money invested, while the startup visa does not;
the application procedure for both programs take approximately the same – 6 months;
it is possible to bring family members under both schemes;
residency by investment is a safer option from an economic point of view, as is requires investment in a business that will generate income you can live from.

Useful things to consider with respect to the program

Foreign nationals who are interested in the Luxembourg investment visa should note the that if they come from other EU countries, they no longer need to apply for a visa for the Grand Duchy. They can use their EU residence permits, as long as these are valid.

More importantly, those who want to invest in existing Luxembourg companies or start new enterprises must address the Ministry of Economy. Those seeking to invest 3 or 20 million EUR must file their applications with the Ministry of Finance that will analyze their requests.

Feel free to contact our Luxembourg law firm for assistance in preparing your application in accordance with your investment choice.

Benefits of obtaining residency by investment in Luxembourg

One of the most important benefits of obtaining a Luxembourg residence permit by investment is the possibility of immigrating with the spouse and minor children who qualify as dependents. Parents can also be brought to the Grand Duchy and qualify for permanent residency after living here for 12 months.

The Luxembourg investment visa comes with a permanent residence permit after 5 years. Citizenship can be obtained after living here for another 5 years.

According to Eurostat's Non-national population by group of citizenship, 1 January 2021, Luxembourg was home to 54,890 third-country nationals (TCNs) and 244,165 EU citizens. Moreover, the UK, China, and Montenegro are the top 3 countries of origin for residents, according to Luxembourg's National Statistics Office. Of the 11,904 new residence permits issued in 2020, 33% were issued for family reasons, 24% for work-related reasons, and 16% for international protection. In addition to the foreign residents of the nation, it is believed that 10% of Luxembourgish nationals have a foreign background and that more than half of them have a migrant background.

If you are interested in entering the Luxembourg residency by investment scheme and need support, contact our lawyers for support. We are also at your service if you want to move here by applying for other types of residence permits.