Immigration & mobility
Immigration law lawyer in Luxembourg
To settle, work or bring your family to Luxembourg, you need the right residence permit and a complete file. The firm assists skilled employees, investors and families: EU Blue Card, work permit, family reunification, investor residence and naturalisation.
In short
An immigration lawyer in Luxembourg determines the residence permit suited to your situation (EU Blue Card, work permit, family reunification, investor residence or naturalisation), then prepares and files the application. Cerno Law Firm acts from the eligibility analysis through to an appeal in case of refusal.
Responsible for legal content: Maître Cora Maglo, Avocate à la Cour, Liste I du Barreau de Luxembourg depuis 2009. · Applicable law: Luxembourg
Immigration law lawyer in Luxembourg: key points at a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Fees | Fixed prices per type of procedure. The fee is stated according to the permit sought and the complexity. |
| Indicative timing | Timelines depend on the permit and the administration; the firm anticipates and follows up on each file. |
| Documents required |
|
| Deliverables |
|
Luxembourg immigration relies on precise procedures and deadlines that must be met: an incomplete or late file leads to refusal or costly delays.
Cerno Law Firm secures every stage, from eligibility to filing, and acts in the event of a refusal or an appeal.
Immigration to Luxembourg: which procedure applies?
Setting up a company, investing or receiving a job offer does not itself grant residence rights. Nationality, current status, proposed activity and the purpose of residence determine the relevant process.
| Profile or event | Documents to prepare | Question to examine |
|---|---|---|
| Company founder or self-employed applicant | Nationality, experience, business plan, activities | Is a self-employed residence route and professional authorisation relevant? |
| International hire or relocation | Employment contract, role, remuneration, current status | Which residence/work process, and in what sequence? |
| Refusal or request for more information | Decision, notification date, application file | Which response or appeal is possible and by what deadline? |
Required evidence and deadlines vary by permit category. Contacting a law firm does not suspend administrative or appeal deadlines.
Guichet.lu — third-country self-employed residence
Discuss my situation with a lawyerImmigration law lawyer in Luxembourg: when should you call on the firm?
You want to live, work or invest in Luxembourg, or bring your family there.
The right permit depends on your situation, and a procedural mistake is costly.
What happens if you do nothing?
Refusal, loss of the right of residence, family separation, delays that jeopardise a hiring or a project.
Certain steps are subject to strict time limits.
How we act
Eligibility analysis, assembly and filing of the application, follow-up with the authorities and appeals in the event of a refusal.
Coordination between employer and employee and support for the family.
Practice areas
When to call on the firm
- Obtaining an EU Blue Card or a work permit.
- Bringing a spouse and children (family reunification).
- Securing an investor residence.
- Applying for Luxembourg nationality.
Start online
Start your case in under 5 minutes
A simple, transparent process supervised by a lawyer admitted to the Luxembourg Bar.
Today, most cases can be initiated entirely online. Our digital tools streamline administrative steps so the lawyer can focus on the legal analysis of your situation.
Step 1 of 5 · 3 to 5 minutes
Describe your need
Select your issue, answer a few simple questions and share your documents if needed.
What you get
- Initial qualification of the case
- List of useful documents
- Secure transmission
What reassures our clients
Confidentiality
Lawyer’s professional secrecy.
Speed
Start your case online 24/7.
Transparency
Fees communicated before engagement.
Expertise
Review by a lawyer of the Luxembourg Bar.
Simplicity
Under 5 minutes to open your case.
Fixed prices per type of procedure
The fee is stated according to the permit sought and the complexity.
See fees for this areaThe right residence permit for your profile
Employee, highly qualified (EU Blue Card), self-employed worker, investor or family member: each profile falls under a different authorisation. See the EU Blue Card, the work permit and investor residence.
Investor and entrepreneur immigration
Combining immigration and corporate work makes it possible to structure the company and obtain the director's residence permit within a single, coherent file. See investor residence, entrepreneur and start-up immigration and the investors and corporate practice.
Immigration for companies and HR teams
Recruitment of foreign talent, intra-corporate transfer (ICT), secondment and employer compliance. See corporate immigration and international mobility.
Family, reunification and nationality
Family reunification, settling close relatives and access to Luxembourg nationality. See family reunification and Luxembourg nationality.
Appeals in the event of a refusal
A refusal is not the end of the road: an appeal is possible within strict time limits. The firm brings it and defends your file before the competent authorities and courts.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which permit do I need to work in Luxembourg?
Depending on your profile: the EU Blue Card for highly qualified positions, or a residence permit for a salaried worker. The firm determines the appropriate permit.
How do I obtain residence as an investor?
Several routes exist (investor, business founder, self-employed activity). The firm qualifies the appropriate route and aligns the application with the structuring of the company.
Does the firm assist employers?
Yes, it also assists employers recruiting foreign talent (sponsorship, intra-corporate transfer, compliance).
How long does an application take?
Timelines rest with the immigration authorities; the firm prepares a complete file to avoid back-and-forth and speed up processing.
What can I do if my application is refused?
An appeal is possible within strict time limits; the firm brings it and defends your file.
Does the firm work in several languages?
Yes: in French and English, an asset for an international clientele. Another language can be considered depending on the matter; mention it in your request.
How do you obtain a residence permit in Luxembourg?
Third-country nationals generally need to obtain a residence permit before their arrival, according to the purpose (work, Blue Card, self-employed, investment, family, studies). The file and the procedure vary according to the chosen route.
What is the EU Blue Card?
It is the permit for highly qualified workers from third countries. It requires a qualifying contract, a recognised degree or experience and a salary reaching an annual threshold, and grants extensive rights, including European mobility.
How does family reunification work?
The holder of a residence permit may, subject to conditions of resources and housing, bring over their spouse and children. The deadlines and documents depend on the situation; a carefully prepared file avoids refusals.
How do you obtain an investor residence permit?
The investor permit requires a significant and documented investment in the Luxembourg economy, with a lawful origin of funds and a genuine project. The legal and tax structuring is prepared in advance.
How do you recruit an employee from outside the European Union?
The employer generally has to declare the position and obtain an authorisation, or use the Blue Card for highly qualified profiles. Cerno combines employment law and immigration to secure the recruitment.
How do you challenge a refusal of a residence permit?
Through an informal appeal to the administration, then, if necessary, a contentious appeal before the Administrative Court, within strict deadlines. A prompt analysis of the decision is essential.
Quick answer
How do you immigrate legally to Luxembourg?
To immigrate legally to Luxembourg, you generally need to obtain a residence permit matching your situation: salaried employment, EU Blue Card, self-employed activity, investment, family reunification, studies or private residence. The conditions vary according to the applicant's nationality and project.
Our approach
A pragmatic reading of every case
Our aim is not only to explain the rule, but to identify the most effective route to your objectives. Every matter is analysed from three angles.
Legal risk
The applicable rule, deadlines and possible points of dispute.
Operational risk
The concrete impact on your business, your contracts and your organisation.
Financial risk
The cost of a decision, a dispute or inaction, quantified upfront.
Expertise
Our immigration law services
Immigration for individuals
- Residence permits
- Renewals
- Changes of status
- Regularisations
- Retirees and private residence
Work and talent
- Salaried work permit
- EU Blue Card
- Self-employed worker
- International posting
- European mobility
Investor immigration
- Investor residence permit
- Residence by investment
- Foreign entrepreneur
- Project structuring
Family and private life
- Family reunification
- Spouse and children
- Private and family life
- Luxembourg nationality
Employers
- Recruitment from outside the EU
- Labour market test
- Blue Card for your talent
- Compliance and follow-up
Administrative litigation
- Refusal of a residence permit
- Informal appeal
- Contentious appeal
- Administrative Court
Typical situations
The engagements we handle in this area
EU Blue Card
Preparation of the file for a foreign executive recruited by a Luxembourg company.
Family reunification
Reuniting a family after the main applicant has settled.
Investor permit
Assisting an investor and structuring their project.
Refusal of residence
Appeal against a decision of the Immigration Directorate.
Illustrative situations describing types of engagement, not identifiable client matters or results obtained. Every matter is handled and validated by a lawyer registered with the Luxembourg Bar.
They entrust us with their cases
Varied profiles, the same standard of excellence
- Entrepreneurs setting up their company in Luxembourg
- International investors
- SME executives
- International groups
- Expatriates and international families
- Employers recruiting foreign talent
Explore our key areas of expertise
Immigration, work and investment
Member of
Affiliations & professional networks
Free guide · PDF
The practical guide to secure your next step
Checklists, key steps and points to watch, prepared by the firm. Get it instantly, no strings attached.
- The key steps, explained simply
- The documents to prepare
- The common mistakes to avoid
Go further
Related pages
Free diagnostic
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Founded in 2013; Maître Cora Maglo has been admitted to the Luxembourg Bar since 2009
- 2013
- independent firm
- 2009
- at the Bar since 2009
- 4,7/5
- 81 Google reviewsRead reviews
Expertise & authority
Ongoing review and analysis of Luxembourg and European case law
Avocate à la Cour, List I of the Luxembourg Bar since 2009
Trained at the London School of Economics, formerly at Clifford Chance and Bonn Steichen & Partners
Member of international networks: EILN, AEA, Cross Border Advisory Solutions
Every matter handled and approved by a lawyer admitted to the Bar
Support in French and English
Testimonials
What our clients say
Selected excerpts from public reviews. Consult the Google listing for all ratings and comments; a testimonial does not guarantee a legal outcome.
Had a consultation with Me Cora Maglo about my Luxembourg Blue Card application. She explained everything clearly: the process, timeline and documents I need, and helped me with my wife’s family reunification too. Honest and practical advice. I felt confident after talking to her.F. P.J’ai beaucoup apprécié le service de Maître Maglo : son sérieux, sa sympathie, son professionnalisme et sa disponibilité. Toujours répondu rapidement et clairement, avec des conseils pragmatiques, sans pousser à des procédures longues et coûteuses lorsqu’elles ne sont pas justifiées.N. W.Super assistance and great support! Highly recommend. All my questions were answered, Cora and her team kept me updated all the time. I will definitely reach out to them next time for my residency.T.They talk about us
The firm referenced and cited
Professional directories, business press and legal publications where Cerno Law Firm and Maître Cora Maglo are referenced.
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