Commune first — your 13-digit matricule, CNS health card, and bank account all flow from the declaration of arrival you must file within 8 days.
Overview
Moving to Luxembourg as a third-country national requires completing a precise sequence of administrative steps managed across several agencies. The anchor step is the declaration of arrival (déclaration d'arrivée) at the communal administration (Bureau de la population) of your new commune — which must be filed within 8 days of occupying your residence. This triggers registration in the National Registry of Natural Persons (Registre national des personnes physiques — RNPP) and allocation of your 13-digit national identification number (matricule), which is Luxembourg's equivalent of a national ID number used by all public administrations, employers, banks and the health system. Alongside the commune registration, third-country nationals must undergo the mandatory medical check-up (medical examination plus TB screening) and then apply for a residence permit from the General Department of Immigration within 3 months of arrival. The Centre commun de la sécurité sociale (CCSS) handles social security registration (activated by your employer), and the Caisse nationale de santé (CNS) issues your social security card by post. Verified against guichet.public.lu and ccss.etat.lu as of June 2026.
Pre-Arrival: What to Prepare Before Leaving Home
- Temporary authorisation to stay: Third-country nationals must obtain this from the General Department of Immigration before entering Luxembourg (applications submitted from inside Luxembourg are inadmissible). Processing times are not published officially; allow 4–8 weeks and submit from your country of legal residence.
- Type D visa (if applicable): If your nationality requires a Schengen visa, request the long-stay national visa (type D, €50) at the Luxembourg consulate after receiving the temporary authorisation to stay. This visa is valid for 90 days and allows entry and initial stay while you pursue the residence permit.
- ADEM certificate: Your employer must obtain this from ADEM before the contract is finalised. Request confirmation from your employer that the ADEM process is complete before booking travel.
- Document pack: Assemble apostilled or legalised copies of: your criminal record from your home country, diplomas/qualifications (with sworn translations into French, German or English), employment contract, and health insurance proof. These are needed for the authorisation to stay and residence permit applications.
- Housing: The commune declaration of arrival requires proof of accommodation (owner/occupant consent, lease extract, or notarial deed). Arrange accommodation before arrival; communes will ask for a supporting document.
Continue reading — paid members only.
This guide is part of our full paid membership library. Upgrade to access all 10 Luxembourg guides, plus Migration Fee Protection up to USD 25,000 if your application doesn't go ahead for a qualifying reason.
See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after arriving in Luxembourg must I register with my commune?
Within 8 days of occupying your new residence. This applies to all persons — EU citizens, third-country nationals, and Luxembourg nationals — establishing usual residence in a Luxembourg commune. The declaration of arrival (déclaration d'arrivée) must be filed with the Bureau de la population of your commune in person (with passport/ID, accommodation proof, and authorisation to stay if applicable) or online via MyGuichet.lu. Missing the 8-day deadline can complicate downstream steps, as the commune registration is what triggers your matricule allocation.
What is the matricule and why does every Luxembourg agency ask for it?
The matricule is your 13-digit national identification number, allocated by the National Registry of Natural Persons (RNPP) when you register with your commune. It is Luxembourg's universal cross-agency identifier: the General Department of Immigration uses it to process your residence permit, CCSS uses it for social security registration, CNS uses it for your health card, the tax authority (Administration des contributions directes) uses it on tax declarations, and your employer's payroll system records it. Without the matricule, you cannot register for social security or open a bank account at most Luxembourg institutions.
When should I book the mandatory medical check-up, and where do I go for TB screening?
Book the medical examination with a Luxembourg GP (authorised general practitioner, internal medicine specialist or paediatrician) as soon as possible after arrival — the GP must send the certificate to the Health Directorate (Direction de la Santé) within one month of the examination. For TB screening (required for anyone aged 2 and over), you can use any medical analysis laboratory in Luxembourg, or the Ligue médico-sociale (LMS). Children aged 2 months to 2 years must use the LMS. The Health Directorate must receive both the GP certificate and the TB screening confirmation before the General Department of Immigration can issue your residence permit — delay in booking the medical directly delays your permit.
How do I get my Luxembourg social security and health insurance card (CNS)?
Social security registration is handled by the Centre commun de la sécurité sociale (CCSS). Your employer registers you with the CCSS when you start work — you do not need to apply yourself. Once registered as the main insured person, the Caisse nationale de santé (CNS — 'Gesondheetskees' in Luxembourgish) automatically creates your social security card and mails it to your registered address. The card functions as both your social security card and your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Keep your commune address current so the card reaches you.
Can I open a bank account in Luxembourg before I have a residence permit?
You can approach a bank as soon as you have your matricule and a residence document (the authorisation to stay plus the commune declaration receipt serve as a right of residence). In practice, most Luxembourg banks (BGL BNP Paribas, Spuerkeess, ING Luxembourg, etc.) require the 13-digit matricule, a valid passport, proof of address (lease or commune declaration receipt), and your employment contract. Some banks also accept the temporary authorisation to stay as a residence document. The full residence permit is not required to open an account, but the matricule from commune registration is.
What if I am an EU citizen — do the same steps apply?
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens exercise free movement and do not need an authorisation to stay or residence permit. However, the 8-day commune declaration requirement applies to everyone. After 3 months, EU citizens intending to remain permanently may want to obtain a registration certificate (attestation d'enregistrement) — free of charge — from the communal administration. After 5 years, they can apply for a permanent residence certificate. The commune declaration still generates the matricule, which EU citizens also need for social security, tax, and banking. EU family members who are third-country nationals follow the full third-country national procedure.