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Long-stay visa D for Luxembourg – procedure update

Long-stay visa D for Luxembourg – procedure update

10/1/2026

From 1 October 2026, third-country nationals who wish to reside in Luxembourg and fall under the jurisdiction of a Belgian embassy or consulate representing Luxembourg must follow the procedure applicable at the competent Belgian post or, where applicable, its external service provider (ESP).

Applications for a long-stay visa D must be completed through Visa On Web, in line with the instructions of the competent Belgian post.

The previous procedure based on a separate temporary residence authorisation (AST) no longer applies to new applications. Temporary residence authorisations already issued remain valid under the conditions stated in the relevant decision.

A visa D is required for third-country nationals who intend to stay in Luxembourg for more than 90 days.

Your main purpose of stay determines the category you must select and the documents you need to provide.

Work and professional activity

  • Salaried worker
  • EU Blue Card holder
  • Self-employed worker
  • Posted salaried worker
  • Intra-Corporate transferee
  • Seasonal worker
  • Scientific researcher
  • Athlete or coach

Studies, training and mobility

  • Student in post-secondary education
  • Au pair
  • Student in primary or secondary education
  • Intern/Trainee
  • Volunteer

Family and personal reasons

  • Family member
  • Private reasons
  • Visa D without intention to apply for a residence permit

For information on residence conditions and supporting documents, please consult the information for third-country nationals.

Where and how to apply

Applications must be completed through Visa On Web and submitted to the Belgian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence.

Where the diplomatic post works with an external service provider (ESP), applications must be submitted through that provider according to the arrangements stated on the diplomatic post’s website.

Before submitting your application, make sure you:

  • select the category matching your main purpose of stay;
  • check and print or download the relevant checklist;
  • complete the Visa On Web D visa application form accurately, then date and sign it;
  • make an appointment according to the instructions of the competent Belgian post or ESP;
  • attend in person with your Visa On Web form and all required documents;
  • provide the required originals and legible copies, together with any required translations, legalisations or apostilles.

The documents required depend on the category selected. The relevant checklist explains the requirements for originals, copies, translations, legalisations and apostilles.

The Belgian post or ESP will carry out the required checks when you submit your application. You may be asked to provide missing documents or additional information. The Luxembourg authorities may also request additional documents during the processing of your application.

The file is then transmitted to the competent Luxembourg authorities.

The decision on the long-stay visa is taken by Luxembourg’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Directorate General for Immigration, except for certain categories, such as Working Holiday Visas, which fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For practical information, please check our FAQ.

Long-stay visa representation in Cameroon

Long-stay visa representation in Cameroon

9/1/2026

From 1 September 2026, the Embassy of Belgium in Yaoundé will process long-stay visa applications for Belgium and legalisation requests if you live in Chad.

If you are applying for a Schengen visa in N’Djamena, the French authorities will continue to process your application.

The Embassy of Belgium in Yaoundé also processes long-stay visa applications for Belgium and all legalisation requests if you live in:

  • Gabon
  • Equatorial Guinea

Please check the relevant information and procedures before starting your application.

Upcoming changes to consular fees

Upcoming changes to consular fees

8/1/2026

Please note the following upcoming changes to consular fees:

  • From 1 August 2026, the consular fee for document legalisation will increase to €25.

  • From 1 September 2026, the visa fee for long-stay return visas (visa D) will increase to €335.

Applicants are encouraged to take these changes into account when planning their application.

Long-stay visa fee update

Long-stay visa fee update

6/26/2026

From 1 July 2026, the fee for long-stay visa (D visa) applications will increase to €250.

If you already have an appointment scheduled on or after 1 July 2026, the new fee will apply when you submit your visa application.

Please ensure that you pay the updated fee on the day of your appointment.

Entry/Exit System (EES): New EU border system now fully operational

Entry/Exit System (EES): New EU border system now fully operational

6/22/2026

As of 10 April 2026, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is now fully operational across all Schengen countries. 

What is the Entry/Exit System? 

Instead of stamping passports, the system will record your entry and exit electronically if you are a non-EU traveller staying for a short period. 

It will also collect basic information such as your facial image, fingerprints, and details from your travel documents. 

This system helps improve border control, increase security, and make the process faster and more efficient. 

Who does it apply to? 

The Entry/Exit System (EES) applies to non-EU travellers staying in the Schengen area for a short period (up to 90 days within any 180 days). 

It applies whether you need a visa or not. 

A non-EU traveller is anyone who is not a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland. 

Some travellers may be exempt, depending on their status. 

How does it work? 

With the Entry/Exit System (EES), every time you enter or leave the Schengen area, your information is recorded electronically. This also applies if you are refused entry. 

The system securely stores your facial image, fingerprints, and details from your travel documents. 

Key benefits of the system 

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is designed to: 

  • make border checks faster and more efficient  

  • reduce waiting times, including through self-service options  

  • improve security by identifying people who overstay and helping prevent identity fraud  

  • support authorities in detecting security risks and serious crime.  

For more information, please consult the official EU website. 

Important: Short-Stay Tourist Visa for Belgium

Important: Short-Stay Tourist Visa for Belgium

5/14/2025

We remind applicants for a short-stay tourist visa (Type C) that this type of visa is issued exclusively for tourism purposes in Belgium. Belgium must be the main destination of the trip.

This means that the applicant must spend the majority of their stay in Belgium, and not in another Schengen country.

If the primary purpose of the trip is to visit another Schengen country, the visa application must be submitted to that country, even if the applicant enters the Schengen Area through Belgium.

Any false declaration or inappropriate application may lead to a visa refusal and compromise future visa requests.

Important notice third-party agents

Important notice third-party agents

9/22/2024

All applicants are advised that from now on, walkers and similar persons will not be allowed access to the tlscontact centre.

Indeed, it has been noted that some people come back several times with documents from different people for the same service. henceforth, any person who brings documents that are not theirs, more than once, will be considered as third-party agent and will be banned from accessing the visa application centre.

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