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.
Legal content reviewed by Maître Cora Maglo, Avocate à la Cour, Liste I du Barreau de Luxembourg depuis 2009.
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.
The need
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.
The risk
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.
Method
Our engagement process
- 1
Information intake
You describe your need via a structured form or an initial call. Our digital tools serve only to organise this information and save time.
- 2
Lawyer qualification
Maître Maglo reviews your situation, identifies the legal issues and confirms the feasibility and exact scope of the engagement.
- 3
Transparent quote
You receive a clear fee proposal, a fixed fee or a range, before any engagement. Nothing is billed without your approval.
- 4
Legal work
The firm drafts, negotiates or litigates as required. Every deliverable is designed and approved by a lawyer admitted to the Luxembourg Bar.
- 5
Tracking and delivery
You follow your matter transparently and receive your finalised documents with the explanations you need.
Documents required
- • Passport and civil status documents
- • Proof of employment or of resources
- • Any document specific to the permit you are seeking
Deliverables
- • Eligibility analysis
- • Complete application filed
- • Follow-up and any appeal
Indicative timing
Timelines depend on the permit and the administration; the firm anticipates and follows up on each file.
Fixed prices per type of procedure
The fee is stated according to the permit sought and the complexity.
The 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
Very rare in Luxembourg, 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: French, English, German, Luxembourgish, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, an asset for an international clientele.
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
Notre objectif n’est pas seulement d’expliquer la règle, mais d’identifier la solution la plus efficace pour atteindre vos objectifs. Chaque dossier est analysé sous trois angles.
Risque juridique
La règle applicable, les délais et les points de contentieux possibles.
Risque opérationnel
L’impact concret sur votre activité, vos contrats et votre organisation.
Risque financier
Le coût d’une décision, d’un litige ou d’une inaction, chiffré en amont.
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
Examples of matters handled
Proven expertise, anonymised
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.
Representative and anonymised examples, for illustration only. 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
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
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.
Member of
Affiliations & réseaux professionnels
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
Free diagnostic
Planning to settle in Luxembourg? Check your eligibility in 2 minutes.
A few questions are enough to identify your need and the right legal answer, with no sign-up and no commitment.
Choosing Cerno means choosing over 17 years of experience
- 2013
- independent firm
- 2009
- at the Bar since 2009
- 7
- working languages
- 100+
- companies & SOPARFI structured
- 200+
- visas & residence permits obtained
- 170
- client nationalities served
- 300+
- due diligence reviews conducted
Around twenty M&A transactions supported · one of the best visa approval rates in Luxembourg.
Since 2009, we devote our expertise to your satisfaction: more than 85% of our clients renew their trust in us.
Our work
Representative matters, anonymised
Typical examples of engagements handled by the firm, presented in an anonymised and illustrative manner. Each matter is handled and validated by a lawyer registered with the Luxembourg Bar.
A holding company and a residence permit, in a single process
Incorporation of a SOPARFI for a non-resident investor, combined with obtaining their residence permit. A single point of contact across both fronts.
Permit obtained in 6 weeksA similar matter? Companies & governanceFounders protected before the funding round
Structuring a shareholders’ agreement and governance for a young company with several founders, ahead of a funding round.
Shareholders’ agreement signed before the roundA similar matter? Debt recoveryA debt recovered across borders
Cross-border recovery of unpaid debts for an SME, through an order for payment and coordination with a foreign colleague.
Receivable recovered in full (100%)A similar matter? Employment lawAn executive defended before the Labour Tribunal
Supporting an executive in a contested dismissal, from strategy to representation at the hearing.
Case argued at the hearingA similar matter? ContractsA secured international distribution
Negotiating and securing an international framework distribution agreement, from liabilities through to the competent jurisdiction.
Competent jurisdiction securedA similar matter?Typical, anonymised examples, for illustration only. They do not prejudge the outcome of a matter, which depends on each situation.
Entrust my matter to the firmExpertise & 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 7 languages, clients of 170 nationalities
Testimonials
What our clients say
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.Farshid Pourlatifi
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.Nathan Wirtzfeld
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.Tatiana
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.
Let’s talk about your matter
Describe your situation: you receive an initial analysis and a transparent quote, with no obligation. One dedicated lawyer, from start to finish.