How do I move my belongings to Luxembourg?

Ready to move to Luxembourg? Although the process of moving to Luxembourg may seem daunting, it's relatively straightforward if you understand the requirements you need to meet.

Whether you're in Luxembourg for a year or two for your studies, or you've found a steady job and intend to stay for years to come, this guide will help you plan your big move!

On this page, we take a look at the process of moving your family and home: establishing your new residence, importing your personal belongings and vehicle, household items and more. Let's go !

Temporary and permanent residence in Luxembourg

Whatever the reason for your move to Luxembourg, you will need a residence permit to study, work and live in the country if you are not an EU citizen. You can obtain a residence permit as an employee or self-employed person, student, researcher, trainee and for a number of other professions.

Citizens of the Schengen area enjoy free movement of goods and people.

To apply for a temporary residence permit, you need to go to a Luxembourg embassy or consulate near you. You will need to provide them with certain documents, such as :

A valid passport after your arrival,
All applicable birth certificates and marriage/divorce certificates for family members
Proof of financial means,
Proof of employment,
Proof of admission to the school (students).

Most of these documents will need to be translated. You will generally have to wait at least 3 months before you can obtain your temporary residence permit, which functions as both a work permit and a residence permit.

To find out more about the various residence permits available in Luxembourg, click here.

Taxes and duties for moving to Luxembourg

Importing personal effects into Luxembourg

Are you planning to move to Luxembourg? The good news is that you can bring your personal effects with you without paying import duties. To do so, you need to meet the following requirements:

You must have personally owned and used your items for at least 6 months.
You must have lived abroad for the past 12 months
Your shipment must arrive within one year of your move to Luxembourg.
Your personal belongings must also be considered by customs as "corresponding to your social status". In other words, the value of what you bring into the country must correspond to your overall income level. It's a strange requirement, but one that seems to be a way of limiting the importation of luxury goods that will be resold illegally for profit in Luxembourg.

Nor can you lend to others, sell or dispose of duty-free goods, or transfer ownership for six months after their arrival in the country.

Documents required to import household goods

To obtain your household goods import exemption, you will need :

A complete inventory of household goods in English or French, with a signature at the bottom of each page
Original bill of lading or air waybill
Passport
Separate packing list
Declaration 136 F
Type D temporary residence visa
A certificate of address registration proving the city where you will be living
A declaration of arrival provided at least 3 working days after your arrival.
In addition, you must obtain a certificate of residence from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if you have not already received one prior to your arrival.

Taxes and duties on personal vehicles in Luxembourg

Deductible for personal vehicles

You can import your personal vehicle duty-free. To do so, you must have purchased it at least 6 months ago, and it must have more than 6,000 km on the odometer. You cannot sell or transfer ownership of the car within one year of importing it.

Documents required to import a personal vehicle

You'll need to provide fairly comprehensive documentation while your vehicle is being processed in Luxembourg. You will need:

Title and registration
A valid driver's license
Proof of insurance for at least 6 months, and a copy of international insurance coverage
A purchase invoice for the vehicle
A COM4 declaration, including documents proving that you own the vehicle, that you have used the vehicle in your country of origin, and an official certificate of change of residence.
A T form giving you permission to move your vehicle within the EU
A letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming your employment in Luxembourg

The conditions listed here are for guidance only and may differ somewhat depending on the details of your move, so we recommend that you contact the Luxembourg customs office directly if you have any questions or need to check your conditions.

Administrative formalities for vehicles imported into Luxembourg

Free advice and quotation service to choose an expat health insurance in Luxembourg.

Want to ensure a quick and easy move to Luxembourg? Here are a few quick tips to help you eliminate common moving headaches.

Plan your move at least 3 to 6 months in advance. Make sure you've obtained a residence permit for the whole family.
Sort out your personal belongings and all your household items. The more items you bring into your move, the more it will cost to transport them. What's more, you'll lengthen the time it takes to clear customs. Customs will need even more time to process your containers.
Only bring items of value, and try to minimize the total weight of the household goods you bring with you. You'll find everything you need in Luxembourg and the neighbouring countries, whether you're looking for clothes or to furnish your new home .
Have you found your new home? Not yet? Here you'll find all the information you need to find accommodation for your whole family.
Hire a professional international moving company. An experienced international moving company withexpertise in moving from abroad to Luxembourg is your best ally. They can help you get through the red tape and make sure your items arrive safely.
Are you planning to move? Here you'll find our administrative guide to a stress-free move for the whole family to Luxembourg.