How Can I Get Permanent Residency in Luxembourg?

Most non-EU nationals need five years of continuous legal residence in Luxembourg before applying for long-term resident status. Short absences do not break this period if each lasts under six months and the total stays under ten months. Longer absences of up to 12 months may be allowed for important reasons, such as pregnancy, serious illness or studies. EU Blue Card holders can combine time spent in other EU countries if their last two years are in Luxembourg.

Long-term resident status is Luxembourg's main form of permanent residency for non-EU nationals. It is issued as the long-term resident permit – EU, which is valid for five years and can be renewed. The permit gives access to all sectors, professions and employers without a separate work permit. It also offers greater security of residence. The status can be withdrawn after 12 months outside the EU or six years outside Luxembourg.

You must show stable, regular and sufficient income to support yourself and your dependants without social assistance. The authorities assess your income against the social minimum wage for unskilled workers. From June 2026, this is €2,771.33 gross a month. You must provide proof of income for the five years before your application, such as employment contracts and tax returns. A higher income may be needed if you support family members.

No formal language test is required for long-term resident status. However, you must provide documents that show your integration into Luxembourg society. Examples include language course certificates, membership of local clubs and testimonials. Learning Luxembourgish, French or German can help you settle and find work. A Luxembourgish language test, the Sproochentest, is only required if you later apply for Luxembourgish nationality.

The application fee for long-term resident status is €80, paid by bank transfer to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The renewal fee is also €80. You may also pay for sworn translations of documents that are not in English, French or German. Other costs can include a criminal record extract, document copies and postage. Check the Guichet.lu website for the latest fees before you apply.

The General Department of Immigration must respond within a maximum of six months. If you receive no reply within this period, the application is treated as refused. After you apply, you receive a receipt that lets you stay legally in Luxembourg if your current permit expires. Once approved, you book an appointment for photos and fingerprints. You can usually collect your permit a few days later.

EU Blue Card holders still need five years of residence. However, they can combine time spent as Blue Card holders in different EU countries. They must have five years of legal residence in the EU on a Blue Card. The last two years must be in Luxembourg, just before the application. From 3 March 2026, the EU Blue Card requires a minimum salary of €65,652 a year.

Some residents cannot apply while they hold certain permits. These include students, people in vocational training, seasonal workers, seconded workers and intra-corporate transferees. People with temporary permits of limited validity are also excluded. Non-EU family members of EU citizens follow a different route. They can apply for a permanent residence card for family members of EU citizens after five years.

Yes. Family members who joined you through family reunification can apply for long-term resident status once they meet the five-year residence rule and other conditions. You must have enough income to support them. Each family member needs health insurance. Spouses and partners on family permits can usually work in Luxembourg, which helps them build their own residence and income record.

Yes. You can apply for Luxembourgish nationality by naturalisation after five years of legal residence. The final year before applying must be uninterrupted. You must pass the Sproochentest, which tests spoken Luxembourgish at A2 level and listening at B1 level. You must also attend the Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg course or pass its exam. India does not allow dual citizenship, so Indian nationals should consider this carefully.