Luxembourg Overhauls Immigration Procedure: Long-Stay D Visa Now Mandatory from October 1

LUXEMBOURG CITY, September 23, 2026 — Third-country nationals planning to settle in Luxembourg for more than 90 days must now apply for a long-stay D visa at a Luxembourg or Belgian embassy, under a major procedural change taking effect on 1 October 2026.

The reform replaces the previous requirement to apply for a temporary residence permit from the Directorate-General for Immigration (DGIM) as the first step in the process. Luxembourg becomes the last EU member state to abolish its standalone national procedure, bringing its immigration process fully into line with European standards.

Luxembourg makes long-stay D visa mandatory for third-country nationals from 1 October 2026.

What Changes

Aspect	Old Rule	New Rule (from 1 October 2026)
First Application	Temporary residence permit from DGIM	D visa from a Luxembourg or Belgian embassy
Timing	Before entry	Before entry, in person
Applies To	Work, study, family reunification	Work, study, family reunification

Applicants must appear in person at a Luxembourg embassy. Where no Luxembourg diplomatic mission exists, applications are handled by the relevant Belgian embassy.

✅ Key Features of the D Visa

Feature	Details
Validity	Six months
Entry Rights	Permits entry into Luxembourg
Schengen Movement	Allows travel within the Schengen Area pending issuance of the residence permit
Security Standard	Aligns with European Entry/Exit System requirements

Steps After Arrival in Luxembourg

Once the visa is issued and the traveller has entered Luxembourg, the following steps remain mandatory:

1. Declaration of arrival at the local municipal administration within three days

2. Application for a residence permit with the Directorate-General for Immigration

3. Medical examination where applicable

Who Is Not Affected

The new procedure does not apply to:

• EU citizens and their family members

• Nationals of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland

• British citizens protected under the Withdrawal Agreement

• Applicants for international protection

• Applications to change, renew or alter the category of a residence permit

• Residence permit applications submitted from within Luxembourg

Quick Reference Summary

Aspect	Details
Effective Date	1 October 2026
Applies To	Third-country nationals staying more than 90 days
New Application Route	D visa at Luxembourg or Belgian embassy
D Visa Validity	6 months
Post-Arrival Steps	Declaration of arrival within 3 days + residence permit application
Previous Procedure	Temporary residence permit from DGIM (abolished)
Luxembourg's Status	Last EU member state to abolish the standalone procedure

Read More

How to Find a Job in Luxembourg and Successfully Apply for a Work Visa: A Comprehensive Guide

Official Resources

Resource	Link
Guichet.lu – Immigration Portal	guichet.public.lu/en/citoyens/immigration.html
Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs	mae.lu
Luxembourg Ministry of Home Affairs	mai.etat.lu

For the latest immigration updates, visa policy changes, and 2026 developments worldwide, visit: visasupdate.com/blog/category/luxembourg

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