How to Apply for a Luxembourg Schengen Visa from the UK

Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in the world and spans an area of just 1,650 square kilometres. With a population of 500,000 residents, it is more like a large town than a country, but its size actually makes it a great place to visit as many of the main attractions are concentrated in one place. The centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right and many of the top sights in Luxembourg can be found here.

While many of the country's top attractions and points of interest lie in vibrant Luxembourg City, the old quarter of which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Luxembourg's many small towns are lovely and well worth exploring. It's also an easy country to travel around, whether on foot in the capital city, on a driving tour through the picturesque countryside, or town-hopping by train. Old fortresses and beautiful castles complement the scene, making it a popular tourist destination that is frequently visited in combination with surrounding countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands.

Who needs a visa to travel to Luxembourg from the UK?

Travelling to Luxembourg for EU/EEA Citizens

The Czech Republic is a Schengen country, which allows for free movement between the 26 EU and EFTA states (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland). A uniform Schengen visa issued by one of the Schengen states is valid for travel within the whole Schengen area.

Travelling to Luxembourg Post-Brexit for UK Citizens

The rules for travelling or working in Europe will change from 1 January 2021:

The rules for travelling or working in Europe will change from 1 January 2021:

• You will be able to travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism. This is a rolling 180-day period.
• Therefore, if you’re travelling to the Luxembourg, previous visits to the Schengen area within the 180 days before your date of travel would count against the 90-day limit.
• If you are travelling visa-free to the Luxembourg and to other countries in the Schengen area, make sure your whole visit is within the limit.
• To stay for longer, to work or study, or for business travel you will need to meet the entry requirements set out by the Luxembourg. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You should check with the Embassy of the Luxembourg what type of visa, if any, you will need.
• Periods of stay authorised under a visa or permit will not count against the 90-day limit.

The European Commission has not yet set out how the limit of 90 days in any 180-day period for visa-free travel will be implemented for those who are already travelling in the EU or Schengen Area on 31 December 2020.

If you are travelling to Luxembourg before 31 December 2020 and will stay until 1 January 2021 or later, you should check with the Embassy of Luxembourg for information on how the 90-day visa-free limit will apply to you. This also applies if your stay includes travel to other Schengen area countries.

At border control for Luxembourg, you may need to:

• show a return or onward ticket
• show you have enough money for your stay
• use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing

Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit.

Travelling to Luxembourg for Third Country Nationals

Many non-EU nationals who reside in the UK are still required to get a Schengen visa to travel to Luxembourg.

Citizens of the following countries residing in the UK and planning to visit Luxembourg are required to get a Luxembourg visa to be able to enter Luxembourg.

The main requirement is that you must have a UK residence permit valid for at least another three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Luxembourg/ the Schengen Area.

Before starting a visa application, or getting a flight to Luxembourg, make sure to check whether you need a visa to Luxembourg or not.

If you have a 3-month UK visa you can extend it for three more months in order to be eligible to apply for a Luxembourg Schengen visa from within the UK. You must apply for an extension before your visa expires and while you’re still in the UK.

Note: You can stay in the UK until the decision about the extension is taken, but only if you have applied within the visa period.

You should apply for a Luxembourg visa at the appropriate Luxembourg Embassy/Consulate or Luxembourg visa application centre in the UK if:

• The Czech Republic is the only Schengen country you plan on visiting
• The Czech Republic is your main destination (the country you will be staying the longest in)
• The Czech Republic is the first Schengen country you are visiting (when spending an equal amount of days in The Czech Republic and another Schengen country)

In case you plan on staying in Luxembourg for more than 90 days you must apply for a residency permit, not a Luxembourg Schengen visa.

Please, note that if you are not a resident in the United Kingdom you should apply at the Luxembourg Embassy/Consulate/VAC in your home country of residence.

Steps to Applying for Luxembourg Schengen Visa from the UK

Step 1: Know Your Visa Type and Validity

To apply for a Schengen visa to Luxembourg in the UK, you first need to know the type of visa you require and how long the visa will be valid. There are different Czech Republic Schengen visa types depending on your purpose of travelling from the UK to the Czech Republic.

1. Short-stay (Schengen) Visa – valid for up to 90 days (in a 180-day period) for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting family/friends, conference, EEA/EU national family member
2. Residence and work permits (Long stays) – you should apply for this kind of visa if you want to live in the Czech Republic for more than 90 days for employment, family reunification, study, research etc.

You will then be issued either a single entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visa for up to 5 years based on the information you provide in your visa application.

Find out more about the types of Schengen visas in our article: Schengen Visa Types – All You Should Know When Applying for a Schengen Visa

Step 2: Identify Where to Make Application and Book an appointment

To apply for a Luxembourg visa, you must book an appointment with the Luxembourg Embassy in London. You can do this through VFS Global.

Embassy of Luxembourg in London

27 Wilton Crescent
LONDON SW1X 8SD
United Kingdom

Tél.: (+44-20) 7235 6961
Fax: (+44-20) 7235 9734
londres.amb@mae.etat.lu

Consular section
Visa applications: 10 am – 11.45 am Monday to Friday
Visa collections: 11.30 am – 12 noon Monday to Friday

Step 3: Complete your application form

Step 4: Prepare your documents

The following list of documents are required in order to obtain a visa to Luxembourg in the UK:

Note: Children under the age of 12 are exempted from providing fingerprints.

This requirement only applies if you haven’t provided biometric data within the last 59 months

Note: Cash is not considered proof of financial subsistence.

Note: Photocopies of the original documents should also be submitted and documents should not be more than one month old.

The documents listed above are documents required in all cases, regardless of the purpose of your visit in Luxembourg.

Depending on your employment status, here is a list of additional documents that are required for your visa application:

For employees:

• Employment contract
• Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Leave permission from the employer
• Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary

For the self-employed:

• A copy of your business license
• Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Income Tax Return (ITR)

For foreign students in the UK:

• Proof of enrollment
• No-objection certificate from school or university

For retirees:

• Pension statement of the latest 6 months

Requirements for children under the age of 18:

Parents or an adult guardian are required to accompany their under-age children at the application center at the Embassy of Luxembourg in London. Also, minors who are granted a Luxembourg visa are not allowed to travel to Luxembourg by themselves. They should be accompanied by an adult during their stay in Luxembourg.

Apart from the general documentation required, accompanying should be other additional documents depending on the purpose of your Luxembourg Visa application.

List of additional documents required for the most frequent purposes of Luxembourg Visa Application:

Luxembourg Tourist/Visitor Visa:

• Invitation letter from your family or friends in the Luxembourg with the address and phone number – if applicable
• Bank statement of the last 6 months
• Passport copies

Luxembourg Visa for Business Purposes:

• Invitation letter from the Luxembourg company you will be visiting and their detailed address accompanied with the dates of your visit
• A certificate from your employer stating/allowing your business travel
• If there were previous trade relations between the two companies, proof of such events must be provided
• Business bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Memorandum and Article of Association in original certified copy (registered with joint stock companies) Trade License (first issued and present renewal), Proprietorship/Partnership documents
• Regarding the applicant’s expenses during stay in the Schengen zone, either the employer or the partner company must state coverage of expenses on the letter or invitation.

Luxembourg Visa for Medical Purposes:

• A local medical report
• A medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in Luxembourg, confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation
• Payment receipt of medical fees

Luxembourg Visa for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes:

• Invitation letter from the above-mentioned authorities with details upon the nature of events or activities – purpose of visit, expense coverage
• Names of the applicants (crew members)
• Duration of stay
• Travel itinerary

Luxembourg Visa for Members of Official Delegations:

• The official invitation copy
• Identity of applicant
• Purpose of journey (negotiations, meetings, event by intergovernmental organizations, consultations)
• Duration of stay
• Place of accommodation

Luxembourg Visa for Study, Training, Research, or other type of Internship Purposes:

• An enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses
• Certificate of completion or courses attended
• Financial sustenance

Luxembourg Airport Transit Visa:

• Visa or other type of entry permit in the transit country
• Copy of your valid visa for your final destination

Required documents for visa application for underage children

All documents provided should be legalized.

Step 5: Attend your appointment

The visa interview is a meeting between you and the consular officer/interviewer. During this interview, the consular officer will ask you several questions about you and your intended trip. You will also be submitting the required documents throughout the meeting, to the interviewer.

The visa interview is a meeting between you and the consular officer/interviewer. During this interview, the consular officer will ask you several questions about you and your intended trip. You will also be submitting the required documents throughout the meeting, to the interviewer.

Visa Fees for UK Residents

The fee must be paid upon submitting the Luxembourg visa application. After you complete this payment, you will receive a receipt, which shows that payment has been made, which must be offered amongst other documents of the application dossier. You will have to pay a Luxembourg visa fee in order for your application to be processed.

Since Luxembourg is a Schengen state, visa fees are the same as any other Schengen visa. These are the costs of a Luxembourg Schengen Visa when applying from UK:

Schengen Visa Category (by age)	Fee in UK Pound	Fee in Euro
Adult	73 £	80 €
Child between 6-12 years of age	36.5 £	40 €
Child younger than 6 years of age	Free	Free

Note: Keep in mind that these fees may change depending on currency fluctuations and can be paid only in UK Pounds. Payments can be made in cash and by credit or debit card. The visa fees will not be reimbursed in case of visa rejection.

Step 6: Receive your visa

Visa Application Processing Time in UK

You can apply for a Luxembourg Schengen Visa 6 months before your planned trip. Depending on the nationality of the applicant, the processing time may take at least 15 days from the day of application. In some cases when required documents are missing from the application, this process may take longer.

Therefore, to avoid unwanted complications, the Luxembourg Consulate General in London advises that you provide all required documents and submit your application at least 20 work days (4 weeks) before the day you leave for Luxembourg.

Visa application decision:

• Approved – Once your visa is approved, it will be stamped in your passport. Make sure to carefully check the visa sticker to make sure everything is correct and exactly how you need it.
• Rejected – if your visa has been rejected, it would have been for a specific reason and you have the right to appeal.

Common rejection reasons include:

• Marriage certificate missing – if you are applying for a visa for family reasons, you may have to prove family ties. This is why you must provide a marriage certificate
• You applied for the wrong visa – it is your responsibility to apply for the correct visa depending on how long you are going to Switzerland for and your reason for travelling there
• It is not clear that you plan to return to the UK – it must be clear that you intend to return to the UK before the visa expires. If the visa staff have doubts about this, your visa will be rejected
• The purpose of your trip cannot be established – the reason why you are planning to go to Switzerland must be made clear. You can do this by providing specific documents like a full itinerary, work contract or invitation letter, etc.

What If My Luxembourg Schengen Visa Is Rejected?

If you receive a negative answer in your Luxembourg Schengen visa application, this does not mean you cannot ever travel to Luxembourg. You have two options.

Luxembourg Schengen Visa Extension

Short-stay Schengen visa extensions are permitted by the regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) No. 810/2009 of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Journal of Laws of the EU of 2009 L243/1). However, you will have very low chances to get one, if you do not have a strong reason as the basis of your application.

Luxembourg Entry Restrictions in Response to Coronavirus

In early 2020, Luxembourg joined the rest of its Schengen country neighbours in closing its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country has since partially reopened its borders, with conditions.

The entry requirements changed regularly and travellers were advised to check on the latest news regarding restrictions, quarantine or whether a test will be required from reliable news sources, the Luxembourg government website, or the UK government website one to two weeks before their trips to be aware of the latest requirements for travelling to Luxembourg.