Moving to Luxembourg: how to go about it?
Ready to move to Luxembourg?
The process of moving to Luxembourg may seem daunting. However, it is relatively straightforward if you understand the requirements you need to meet.
Are you coming to Luxembourg for a year or two to pursue higher education? Have you found a stable job and plan to stay in Luxembourg for the foreseeable future? Whatever your situation, this guide will help you plan your big move!
On this page, we’ll walk you through the process of moving your family and your home. You’ll learn how to:
- establish your new residence
- import your personal belongings
- import your vehicle
- …
Moving and Establishing Residency in Luxembourg
To establish your residence, whether temporary or permanent, in Luxembourg, you will need a residence permit.
If you are not a citizen of the European Union and are coming to study, work, or live in the country, you must obtain a visa prior to your arrival. You can obtain a residence permit as an employee or self-employed individual, student, researcher, intern, or for a number of other professions.
Citizens of the Schengen Area, meanwhile, benefit from the free movement of goods and people.
To apply for a temporary residence permit, you must visit a Luxembourg embassy or consulate near you before departing for Luxembourg. You will need to provide them with certain documents:
- A passport valid beyond your arrival date,
- All applicable birth certificates and marriage/divorce certificates for family members
- Proof of financial means,
- Proof of employment in Luxembourg,
- Proof of admission to school (students).
Most of these documents must be officially translated. You will generally have to wait at least 3 months before receiving your temporary residence permit. This permit serves as both a work permit and a residence permit.
To learn more about the different types of residence permits in Luxembourg, click here.
Taxes and Fees for Moving to Luxembourg
Importing personal belongings to Luxembourg
Are you planning to move to Luxembourg? Good news—you can bring your personal belongings without paying import duties. To do so, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must have owned and used your personal belongings personally for at least 6 months
- You must have lived abroad for the past 12 months
- Your shipment of personal effects must arrive within one year of your move to Luxembourg
- Your personal belongings must also be considered by customs as “consistent with your social status.” In other words, the value of what you bring into the country must correspond to your overall income level. This requirement, which may seem strange, helps limit the importation of luxury goods that are illegally resold for profit in Luxembourg.
You may also not lend, sell, or dispose of duty-free goods to others during the six months following their arrival in the country.
Documents Required to Import Household Goods into Luxembourg
To obtain an import tax exemption for your household goods, you will need:
- A complete inventory of household goods written in French or English, with a signature at the bottom of each page
- Original bill of lading or air waybill (AWB)
- Passport
- Separate packing list
- Form 136 F
- Type D temporary residence visa
- Address registration certificate proving the city where you will be living
- Arrival declaration submitted at least 3 business days after your arrival
- Certificate of Residence from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if you have not already received one prior to your arrival.
Do you need temporary housing while you look for a permanent place to live? Click here.
Taxes and duties on the importation of personal vehicles
Duty-free allowance for personal vehicles
You can import your personal vehicle into Luxembourg duty-free. To do so, you must have purchased it at least 6 months prior to importation. It must also have more than 6,000 km on the odometer. You may not sell or transfer ownership of the car within one year of its importation.
Documents required to import a personal vehicle into Luxembourg
You will need to provide fairly comprehensive documentation while your vehicle is being processed for import into Luxembourg. You will need:
- Title and registration
- Valid driver’s license. For more information on the steps to follow to properly include your car in the moving process, consult the instructions regarding the process for obtaining a valid driver’s license in Luxembourg .
- Vehicle insurance: You must have proof of insurance valid for at least 6 months, and a copy of the international insurance coverage
- Purchase invoice for the vehicle
- COM4 declaration, including documents proving that you are the owner of the vehicle, proving that you have used the vehicle in your country of origin, and an official certificate of change of residence
- Form T, which authorizes you to drive your vehicle within the EU
- Letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming your employment in Luxembourg.
The conditions listed here are provided for informational purposes only and may vary slightly depending on the specifics of your move; therefore, we recommend that you contact the Luxembourg customs office directly if you have any questions or need to verify your requirements.
More information on the administrative procedures for importing a vehicle into Luxembourg
Tips for moving to Luxembourg
Want to ensure a quick and easy move to Luxembourg? Here are some quick tips to help you avoid common headaches when moving.
- Plan at least 3 to 6 months in advance to organize your move. Make sure you have obtained residence permits for the whole family.
- Sort through your personal belongings and all your household items. The more itemsyou bring with you, the more it will cost to transport them. In addition, you will increase the time it takes to clear customs. Customs officials will need more time to process your containers.
- Only bring valuable items and try to minimize the total weight of the household goods you bring with you. You will find everything you need in Luxembourg or in neighboring countries, whether it's clothing or furnishings for your new home.
- Have you found your accommodation? Not yet? Here you will find all the information you need to find accommodation for your whole family.
- Hire a professional international moving company. An experienced international movingcompany with expertise in moving from abroad to Luxembourg is your best ally. They can help you overcome administrative hassles and ensure that your items arrive safely.
- Is the move scheduled? Here you will find our administrative guide for a stress-free move for the whole family to Luxembourg.
We hope this article has helped you learn more about what to expect when moving to Luxembourg. Feel free to share it!
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