Luxembourg may be a small European Union country, but the nation is extremely wealthy and safe. Welcoming non-European nationals since 2017, the Luxembourg Investor Visa offers the opportunity for qualifying foreign investors to gain residence permits in the country, and even citizenship.
In this investment visa guide learn about:
As of 2017, Luxembourg’s Immigration Law permits a third country national that isn’t part of the European Union to obtain a residence permit. To support the government’s economic diversification and growth policy, the investor visa program is open to foreign investors and non-EU citizens, inviting qualifying applicants to invest in the country’s economy and in turn receive residence permits. The move was made to encourage entrepreneurship in the country and provide a boost to the local economy.
But why Luxembourg, you may wonder? Aside from living in a safe and stable EU Member country with excellent business opportunities, a Luxembourg residence permit allows you visa free travel around the European Union (including all 26 Schengen member states). As a citizen, you can get visa free access to 174 countries.
While there are many Golden Visa schemes and citizenship by investment programs out there like the Golden Visa Portugal, Ireland Golden Visa or the Netherlands Golden Visa, Luxembourg offers its own set of competitive advantages. As one of the richest countries in the world, Luxembourg is known as being the business hub of Europe. Banking is extremely safe in the country. To top it off, the country has one of the highest rates of per capita GDP worldwide, making it a pleasant country to live in with excellent living standards. Good healthcare, excellent education and favorable taxes for business people are also big draws.
The residence permit itself is issued initially for three years and is renewable for three years, which includes the applicant’s family members like the spouse and dependent children.
Applicants can choose between a mix of direct and indirect investments to qualify for the investor visa scheme.
One of the following investments must be made by the foreign investor:
Route 1: Existing Business
Make a minimum investment of €500,000 in an existing company with its registered office in Luxembourg. The foreign investor must stay committed to keep the investment for at least five years
Route 2: New Business
Invest at least €500,000 in a new business still to be created, with a registered office in Luxembourg. Five full time job positions must be created within three years of the incorporation of the business. The recruitment of staff must be done with the help of the National Employment Agency.
Route 3: Management and Investment Structure
Make a capital contribution of at least €3 million in a management and investment structure, either existing or still to be created. The investments themselves can be made by the foreign investor or via an intermediary of an investment structure. These intermediaries include other investment funds, family wealth management funds, private equity or venture capital funds. The structure must have a solid internal governance system including adequate internal control mechanisms and appropriate accounting procedures.
Route 4: Bank Deposit in a Financial Institution
Deposit €20 million in the form of a deposit with a financial institution established in Luxembourg, with the commitment to keep the deposit for at least five years.
Luxembourg passport
Country nationals enjoy visa free access to the European Union, as well as visa free privileges to over 160 destinations worldwide.
Live in a wealthy country
Obtain a residence permit and live in an economically rich country, with excellent healthcare, education and housing options. What’s more, the residence permit leads to permanent residency and citizenship.
Whole family is eligible
The third country national can include the spouse and dependent children under 21 in the residency application.
1.Submit application
Collect the necessary documents and submit your application to the Immigration Directorate. Investors must obtain an approval from the Minister of the Economy or from the Minister of Finance depending on the respective investment.
2.Pre-approval process
The Directorate will assess the application and respond within three months. Once approved, the applicant receives a letter of approval, which is considered temporary authorisation until the investment is made.
3.Make the investment
Choose an investment route, collect the necessary funds and invest.
4.Receive the golden visa
After arrival into Luxembourg, you need to register with your commune in Luxembourg within 3 days of arrival. Applicants will need to undergo a medical check. Once all this is done and the competent authorities verify investments the investor has made, the applicant can apply for the residence permit.
Collect documents and prepare application
Letter of approval is issued
Residence permit is issued
Apply for citizenship
While Luxembourg doesn’t have a citizenship by investment scheme, citizenship is possible. First, third country nationals must obtain a residence permit and live in the Luxembourg territory for five years to order to receive a passport. To obtain a Luxembourg passport, third country nationals must have a clean criminal record, have lived in Luxembourg for at least five years uninterruptedly, attend the course “Living together in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg” and pass a language test.
The investor applying for the Golden Visa scheme in Luxembourg must submit the following documentation:
Investors can choose between a mix of direct investments and indirect investments. Foreign investors or third country nationals must invest in one of the following four options: Existing Luxembourg based company with a registered office in Luxembourg, new business with a registered office in Luxembourg (still to be created), investment funds, or a bank deposit.
While there is no official citizenship by investment program, thanks to immigration law, it’s possible to receive citizenship by naturalization after five years of residing in Luxembourg.
The foreign investor has access to the following benefits: doing business with a nation that has stable foreign and European affairs, owning a legal permit in a country with United Nations headquarters, having access to optimal living standards, and visa free travel within the European Union.
To acquire the investors residence permit, the third country national invest at least eur 500,000 in an existing business or new business, or at least eur 20 million in a bank deposit. Alternatively, the third country national can invest at least eur 3 million in a management or investment structure.
