What the General Department of Immigration and the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office actually charge — and what you pay beyond the application fee.
Overview
Luxembourg immigration fees are set under the amended Law of 29 August 2008 on the free movement of persons and immigration and associated Grand-Ducal regulations. The Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office (Bureau des passeports, visas et légalisations — BPVL) of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs handles short-stay Schengen visas, while the General Department of Immigration (Direction générale de l'immigration) of the Ministry of Home Affairs processes residence permit applications. A standard Schengen short-stay visa (type C) or airport transit visa (type A) costs €90; long-stay national visas (type D) cost €50. Once in Luxembourg, the residence permit application fee is €80, payable at submission. The EU Blue Card route requires a minimum gross annual salary of €65,652 (set by Grand-Ducal regulation, updated July 2024). Beyond permit fees, applicants also pay for the mandatory medical check-up, apostille/legalisation of documents (€20 per document), and any sworn-translation costs. Verified against guichet.public.lu and mae.gouvernement.lu as of June 2026.
Government Fee Schedule — Visas and Residence Permits
| Fee item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Short-stay Schengen visa (type C) | €90 | Standard fee; applies also to airport transit visa (type A). Paid to Luxembourg consulate/BPVL. |
| Long-stay national visa (type D) | €50 | All applicant categories. Required after obtaining temporary authorisation to stay if visa-obligated. |
| Reduced Schengen visa — selected nationalities | €35 | Nationals of Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Georgia, North Macedonia, Armenia, Azerbaijan. |
| Reduced Schengen visa — children 6–12 | €45 | Children under 6: free. EU/EEA family members: free. |
| Residence permit application | €80 | Paid at the General Department of Immigration when submitting the application. Applies to salaried worker, EU Blue Card, student, family reunification, and private-reasons permits. |
| Apostille of a Luxembourgish document | €20 | Per document; issued by the Directorate of Consular Affairs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Online via MyGuichet.lu or in person at BPVL. |
| Academic recognition — MESR register | €75 | Per diploma; paid to the Ministry of Research and Higher Education (MESR). Non-refundable even if refused. |
| Professional recognition — regulated professions | €75 | Per application to MESR for regulated profession access at higher-education level. |
What the €80 Residence Permit Fee Covers — and What It Does Not
- What is included: The €80 application fee covers administrative processing of the residence permit for third-country nationals (salaried worker, EU Blue Card, student, private reasons, family reunification). It is payable at submission and is non-refundable.
- Mandatory medical check-up (not included): All third-country nationals applying for a residence permit must undergo a medical examination by a GP or specialist and a tuberculosis (TB) screening at a medical analysis laboratory or the Ligue médico-sociale (LMS). The costs of these examinations are borne by the applicant; no fixed national tariff applies — fees vary by clinic.
- Sworn translations: Documents not drawn up in French, German, or English must be translated by a sworn translator recognised by the Ministry of Justice. Translation costs are the applicant's expense.
- ADEM certificate (employer-side): Before a salaried worker can be hired, the employer must obtain a certificate from the director of ADEM (Agence pour le développement de l'emploi) confirming no suitable local/EU candidate is available. This certificate is free of charge to the employer but the 3-week labour market test delay affects application timelines.
- EU Blue Card — no ADEM test required: Highly qualified workers applying under the EU Blue Card route (minimum gross annual salary €65,652) are exempt from the ADEM labour market test, reducing pre-arrival administrative burden.
Fee Exemptions and Reductions
- Children under 6: Exempt from Schengen visa fees entirely.
- EU/EEA family members: Family members of EU citizens residing in Luxembourg do not pay the Schengen visa fee and do not need a specific permit to work.
- Researchers and students on school trips: Third-country researchers travelling for scientific research and students on accredited school trips pay no Schengen visa fee.
- Naturalisation fee reimbursement: Candidates for Luxembourg nationality may, under conditions, be reimbursed the €75 Sproochentest registration fee and approved course fees after submitting the nationality application to the relevant commune registrar.
- British citizens under the Withdrawal Agreement: Eligible UK nationals applying for a permanent residence permit after 5 years of lawful residence pay no application fee — verified against guichet.public.lu (updated 22.10.2024).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Luxembourg residence permit application cost for a third-country salaried worker?
The application fee for a residence permit for a third-country salaried worker is €80, paid to the General Department of Immigration (Direction générale de l'immigration) of the Ministry of Home Affairs at submission. This is separate from any long-stay visa fee (€50, paid to the consulate before entry), the mandatory medical check-up (clinic-variable), and any sworn translation costs. The €80 fee is non-refundable once the application is processed, even if refused.
What is the minimum salary required for an EU Blue Card in Luxembourg?
As of July 2024, following transposition of EU Directive 2021/1883 by the Act of 4 June 2024, the salary threshold for the EU Blue Card in Luxembourg is a gross annual salary of at least €65,652, as set by Grand-Ducal regulation. The employment contract must be for at least 6 months. Unlike the standard salaried worker route, EU Blue Card applicants are not subject to the ADEM labour market test, so the employer does not need to wait 3 weeks for an ADEM certificate before signing the contract.
What does a Schengen visa cost at the Luxembourg consulate, and who pays a reduced fee?
The standard fee for a short-stay Schengen visa (type C) or airport transit visa (type A) is €90, paid at the Luxembourg consulate or a consulate representing Luxembourg. A reduced fee of €35 applies to nationals of Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Georgia, North Macedonia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Children aged 6–12 pay €45. Children under 6, EU/EEA family members, and accredited researchers pay no fee. The long-stay national visa (type D) costs €50 across all categories.
Who issues apostilles in Luxembourg and what does it cost?
In Luxembourg, apostilles are issued by the Directorate of Consular Affairs (Direction des affaires consulaires) of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs — specifically through the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office (BPVL). The fee is €20 per document. You can apply online via MyGuichet.lu (electronic apostille/e-apostille) or in person at the BPVL counter. Processing takes approximately 3 working days. Luxembourg is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille — rather than full legalisation — is sufficient for documents going to other Hague Convention member states.
Are there any immigration fees for EU citizens moving to Luxembourg?
EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals exercising free movement rights do not pay residence permit application fees in Luxembourg. They must register with their commune within 8 days of arriving and, after 3 months, may need to obtain a registration certificate (attestation d'enregistrement) — this administrative step is free of charge for the citizen. Family members who are third-country nationals pay the €80 residence permit fee but are exempt from Schengen visa fees. Permanent residence certificates after 5 years are also issued free of charge.
What total budget should I allow for a Luxembourg salaried-worker permit application beyond the €80 fee?
Beyond the €80 residence permit fee, budget for: the long-stay visa (type D) if visa-obligated (€50); sworn translations of non-French/German/English documents (market-rate, typically €50–150 per document); the mandatory medical examination and TB screening at a Luxembourg clinic (clinic-variable, no fixed tariff); apostille of any home-country documents needed (€20 per document in Luxembourg, plus the issuing-authority fee in your home country); and courier/postage if applying by post. No ADEM certificate fee applies — the ADEM certificate is issued free of charge to the employer.