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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.

Temporary visa restrictions for Guinean nationals

Temporary visa restrictions for Guinean nationals

9/2/2026

The council has introduced temporary restrictions on certain visa provisions for Guinean nationals.

From 20 July 2026, member states will no longer be able to:

  • issue multiple-entry visas to Guinean nationals

  • waive requirements for supporting documents that Guinean visa applicants must provide

  • waive the visa fee for holders of diplomatic or service passports

In addition, the standard processing time for visa applications will increase from 15 to 45 calendar days.

For more information, read the Council decision.

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.

Long waiting times for short-stay visa appointments

Long waiting times for short-stay visa appointments

6/10/2026

The waiting time for a short-stay visa appointment with TLScontact is currently longer than usual.

We regret that we are unable to offer earlier appointment slots at this time.

To avoid delays to your travel plans, we strongly recommend submitting your visa application as early as possible. Schengen visa applications may be submitted up to six months before your intended date of departure.

Medicine and dentistry entrance exams – Visa update

Medicine and dentistry entrance exams – Visa update

5/20/2026

Students planning to take the medicine and dentistry entrance examinations organised by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation on 27 August 2026 must now apply for a Short-Stay Visa (Visa C). Unlike previous years, a Long-Stay Visa (Visa D) is no longer required to participate in the entrance examinations.

After attending the examination, applicants must return to their country of residence before their visa expires and wait there for the results.

Applicants who are admitted to a medicine or dentistry programme will then need to apply for a Long-Stay Student Visa (Visa D – Article 60).

Students are encouraged to prepare and submit their applications as early as possible. Please make sure to consult the updated short-stay visa checklist before applying.

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.