Immigration to Luxembourg from the United Kingdom
Before Brexit, immigrating to Luxembourg from the United Kingdom was a breeze, no visas, no lengthy procedures, just a straightforward move to the heart of Europe. However, things have become more complex in the post-Brexit era. If you're considering relocating to the Grand Duchy, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. But don't worry, this article is here to help you navigate your way.
While Brexit has certainly complicated the immigration process for UK citizens, it's not all doom and gloom. One significant advantage British citizens still enjoy is the ability to enter Europe, and by extension, Luxembourg, without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days.
Do UK citizens need a visa to move to Luxembourg?
If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’re probably aware that the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union. This significant change means that British citizens no longer enjoy the freedom of movement they once did within the EU. Naturally, many people are now wondering, What’s the current situation for moving to Luxembourg from the UK?
For short stays of less than 90 days, UK citizens can still enter Europe without a visa, provided the purpose of their visit is tourism or business. However, if you plan to stay in Luxembourg for more than three months, or if your stay is less than three months but involves work, you will need to apply for a visa for Luxembourg from the UK.
ETIAS system
It's also crucial to be aware that starting in 2025, British citizens will need an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) to enter the Schengen Area, including Luxembourg. While ETIAS is not a visa, it’s a visa waiver program designed to strengthen EU border security and improve safety within the Schengen Zone.
To complete the ETIAS application, you'll need to provide personal details, passport information and indicate the first European country you plan to visit. Additionally, you'll be required to answer some general security and health-related questions.
UK community in Luxembourg today
Now that you know you don’t need a visa to enter Luxembourg despite Brexit, you might be eager to start driving to Luxembourg from the UK. But before you hit the road, you might want to familiarise yourself with the strong ties between the two countries. Moving on, let's explore the topic by examining the British population in the Grand Duchy, looking at some statistics, and exploring where the communities congregate.
British population in Luxembourg
According to the latest United Nations data, the UK had 4,732,510 emigrants as of mid-2020, representing about 7.05% of the British population. This figure places the UK 13th out of 232 countries in terms of the number of citizens living abroad, a relatively high ranking. The most popular destinations for British emigrants are Australia (27.16%), followed by the United States (14.23%) and Canada (11.36%). On the other hand, Luxembourg is a less common destination, ranking 50th among preferred countries for British emigrants.
However, despite not being a top destination, the number of British citizens in Luxembourg is still significant. As of January 1, 2023, there were 3,924 British nationals living in Luxembourg, making up 0.59% of the total population and 1.25% of the foreign population. This places the British as the 14th most represented foreign nationality in the country.
Nevertheless, while the British community in Luxembourg remains substantial, it has seen a decline of about 30% since Brexit. In 2019, there were approximately 5,766 British citizens in the Grand Duchy.
Why do British people immigrate to Luxembourg?
Beyond the total number of British residents, it's also insightful to look at the annual influx and the reasons behind their move. Post-Brexit data shows that most visas granted to UK citizens are for family reasons or employment purposes, with very few coming to Luxembourg for educational reasons.
British community in Luxembourg
As we've seen, the British population in Luxembourg, though smaller than in some other countries, is vibrant and well-connected. Here are some of the key communities and events that help British nationals feel at home:
Doing business in Luxembourg
If you're considering establishing yourself in Luxembourg, whether as an employee or an independent entrepreneur, it's essential to understand the business landscape before you start searching for flights from the UK to Luxembourg. To do so, you should familiarise yourself with the country’s key industries and economic sectors.
Luxembourg's economy is one of the most dynamic in Europe and among the most open in the world. The country consistently ranks among the top 10 globally in terms of territorial competitiveness, digitalization, and innovation. The most developed industrial sectors in Luxembourg include the steel industry and financial services.
The steel industry has long been the backbone of Luxembourg's economy, serving as a major source of employment and contributing significantly to the national GDP. In fact, by the mid-20th century, Luxembourg had become the world’s largest steel producer. This sector’s growth played a crucial role in the country’s economic development for many years. However, following the first steel crisis in the 1970s, the government made significant efforts to diversify the economy by creating a favourable tax environment, which soon turned Luxembourg into one of the world's leading financial centres.
Today, the financial sector is one of Luxembourg’s most vital, accounting for 25% of the country’s GDP. As of April 2024, 117 banks were operating in the Grand Duchy, with private banking playing a significant role. Additionally, over the past 15 years, Luxembourg has emerged as Europe’s leading centre for investment funds, making it an operational hub for many international financial institutions.
Many of the world’s largest multinational companies, including Pepsi, Ikea, Accenture, Burberry, Procter & Gamble, Heinz, JP Morgan, FedEx, Amazon, and Deutsche Bank, have established operations in Luxembourg.
If you are exploring business opportunities in the Grand Duchy and would like to investigate further, we recommend contacting the British Chamber of Commerce for Luxembourg, which we mentioned earlier. They can provide valuable guidance and direct you to the right resources based on your interests or business inquiries.
How to register a company in Luxembourg
Living in Luxembourg
One of the most important things to examine when moving to another country is getting an idea of what life is like in the country. Let's then try to take a look at the quality of life, cost of living, culture and general lifestyle in the Grand Duchy with some comparisons to life in the United Kingdom.
Quality of life
Assessing the well-being of citizens across Europe can be challenging due to the subjective nature of this concept. However, several metrics provide some insights. One such metric is the global life satisfaction index, where Europeans rated their satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied).
In 2018, Luxembourg scored 7.5, slightly above the European average of 7.3, while the UK scored 7.6, a marginal difference that suggests both countries offer a similar level of life satisfaction.
Another useful tool is the Quality-of-Life Index provided by Numbeo, which aggregates eight sub-indices. According to this index, Luxembourg scores 221.99, while the UK is lower with a score of 171.29. This disparity highlights how subjective and varied quality-of-life assessments can be. Ultimately, the best approach is to consider the specific characteristics of each country and see how they align with your personal preferences and lifestyle.
Comparison item | Luxembourg | Score | UK | Score |
Purchasing Power Index | Very High | 190.68 | Very High | 117.33 |
Safety Index | High | 65.78 | Moderate | 52.25 |
Health Care Index | High | 74.58 | High | 73.2 |
Climate Index | Very High | 82.62 | Very High | 86 |
Cost of Living Indes | Moderate | 63.36 | Moderate | 63.38 |
Property Price to Income Ratio | Moderate | 8.62 | Moderate | 9.06 |
Traffic Commute Time Index | Low | 28.15 | Low | 34.69 |
Pollution Index | Low | 23.27 | Moderate | 40.45 |
Quality of Life Index | Very High | 221.99 | Very High | 171.29 |
Cost of living
Comparing the cost of living in Luxembourg and the UK reveals that both countries are relatively expensive. To gauge this, we can refer to indices provided by Numbeo, which offers the world’s largest database on the cost of living. Their “Cost of Living Plus Rent Index” estimates the price of consumer goods, including rent, relative to New York City.
London ranks as one of the world’s most expensive cities, only surpassed by some major Swiss cities, and is significantly more expensive than Luxembourg. However, Luxembourg's cost of living is comparable to other UK cities like Edinburgh or Bristol and is slightly higher than in cities like Belfast, Newcastle upon Tyne, or Sheffield.
A more detailed comparison would involve looking at various categories of living expenses, but it's important to make these comparisons city by city rather than on a national level. We will then focus a little more on this subject, but only by comparing the two capitals.
Luxembourg City is generally less expensive in most aspects compared to London, except for certain items like the cost of a meal at McDonald’s or similar establishments, and mobile phone and internet plans. Our comparison is however incomplete, we have selected the most representative items, Numbeo offers a much more extensive table that you can consult directly on their website.
Category | Element | Luxembourg | London |
Restaurants | Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 90 | 93.4 |
Transportation | One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | 0 | 3.21 |
Rent Per Month | Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 1,798.15 | 2,555.82 |
Rent Per Month | Apartment (1 bedroom) outside of Centre | 1,443.10 | 1,900.49 |
Utilities (Monthly) | Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment | 222.57 | 331.95 |
Utilities (Monthly) | Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data | 19.93 | 16.93 |
Utilities (Monthly) | Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 48.12 | 35.88 |
Multiculturalism
Luxembourg is exceptionally multicultural. In 2023, of the total population, 347,402 were Luxembourgish nationals, while 313,400 were foreign nationals, meaning that 47.4% of the population is of foreign nationality. This is a unique situation compared to most countries worldwide. This multiculturalism extends to languages as well. Luxembourg has three official languages: Luxembourgish, French, and German. Although English is not an official language, it is widely spoken and commonly used in professional environments, particularly in the prominent financial sector.
Cultural life in country and its nature
Luxembourg may be a small country, but it boasts a rich cultural heritage deeply connected to European history. Its mediaeval architecture, castles, and museums reflect centuries of French, German, and Belgian influence. The country’s vibrant cultural scene includes festivals, theatres, and galleries that celebrate both its historical legacy and contemporary diversity.
Surrounded by lush forests, rolling hills, and valleys, Luxembourg offers a serene environment filled with natural beauty, providing a perfect blend of cultural richness and picturesque landscapes.
How to immigrate to Luxembourg from the UK?
If you're considering relocating to Luxembourg from the UK, it's important to understand the visa requirements and the immigration process. As mentioned earlier in this article, UK nationals do not need a visa to enter Luxembourg for stays of up to 90 days if the purpose of the visit falls into one of the following categories:
- Tourism or family visits.
- Participation in conferences, trade fairs, or exhibitions.
- Business travel (such as visiting business partners, negotiating contracts, etc.)
- Participation in boards of directors and general meetings.
- Provision of services within the same group of companies.
Long term visa to Luxembourg
If your stay in Luxembourg exceeds 90 days, you will need to apply for a long-term visa, also known as a Type D visa. This visa has a duration from 90 days and up to 1 year, with possibility of extension.
The application process for a long-term visa involves several steps, which must be completed in order to receive a visa. We describe the process in common steps, but you might face some differences, depending on your intended activity and personal situation, so keep it in mind.
The required documents vary depending on the purpose of your stay (e.g., work, study, or family reunification). In the following links you will find information about the requirements for each case:
Work-related
Business-related and self-employed or voluntary work
Privaye and family reasons
Once you have received your temporary authorization of stay, you need to schedule a visa appointment at the Luxembourg Embassy in London. This must be done within 90 days of receiving the authorization.
Details:
- Address: 27 Wilton Cres, SW1X 8SD
- Phone: (+44-20) 7235 6961
- Website: londres.mae.lu
With this you should already have a clear idea of the process, however, if you still do not know if you need a visa to enter the UK and the requirements, we will clarify things a little more. For each of the most common reasons for entry we are going to explore and see if the British need a visa and, in each case, we will leave links where the requirements and procedures for obtaining a visa are specified.
Tourist or Family Visits
Business Visits
Employment
Studies and Student Visas
Family Reunification
Private Reasons for Entry
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do UK citizens need a visa to move to Luxembourg?
What is the process for applying for a long-term visa to Luxembourg from the UK?
How can I get in touch with the British community in Luxembourg?
Source: datosmacro.expansion.com, datosmacro.expansion.com, b-l-s.lu, facebook.com, .internations.org, bcc.lu, ec.europa.eu, numbeo.com, numbeo.com, londres.mae.lu
We took photos from these sources: Maxim Hopman on Unsplash