Rules are changing for Moroccans who want to settle in Luxembourg. From 1 October 2026, third-country nationals who submit a first application to stay for more than 90 days will have to follow a new procedure.
Luxembourg is scrapping the previous requirement for a temporary residence authorisation (AST). Instead, applicants will have to apply directly for a long-stay visa, known as a D visa, at the competent diplomatic representation.
The reform mainly affects people who wish to come to Luxembourg to work, study or join their family.
Luxembourg and Moroccans: a new procedure from 1 October
Until now, a third-country national first had to request a temporary residence authorisation from Luxembourg’s Directorate-General for Immigration.
From 1 October, this step will be removed for new first-time settlement applications.
The applicant will now have to submit their D visa application in person at the competent Luxembourg embassy. If Luxembourg is not represented in the country concerned, the application can be submitted at the competent Belgian embassy.
Who is affected by this change?
The new procedure applies to third-country nationals, meaning people who are not citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
Moroccans are therefore concerned when they wish to settle in Luxembourg for a period of more than 90 days.
The reform mainly covers several situations:
- employment and professional activity;
- studies;
- family reunification;
- other categories that allow long-term settlement.
By contrast, citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland are not affected. Beneficiaries of the withdrawal agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union are also subject to specific rules.
D visa replaces the temporary residence authorisation
The main change concerns the order of the formalities.
Under the old procedure, the applicant had to obtain a temporary residence authorisation before applying, where necessary, for a long-stay visa.
From now on, the D visa will be the starting point of the procedure for new settlement applications.
Once the visa has been granted, the applicant can enter Luxembourg. The D visa will be valid for six months and will allow travel within the Schengen area during the period before the residence permit is issued.
What to do after arriving in Luxembourg?
The process does not end with obtaining the visa.
After arrival, the foreign national must make a declaration of arrival at their municipality of residence within three days.
They must then submit their residence permit application to the Directorate-General for Immigration.
The residence permit therefore remains necessary to continue living legally in Luxembourg.
Why is Luxembourg changing this procedure?
The Luxembourg government presents this reform as a way to align with European practices.
According to the authorities, Luxembourg was the last EU Member State to keep a separate national procedure based on a temporary residence authorisation.
The government also highlights a security objective. The D visa is intended to be better integrated into European border control and management systems.
Finally, the authorities believe that this change will make it easier for new arrivals to travel within the Schengen area before their residence permit is issued.
What happens to applications already submitted?
The reform includes transitional measures.
Applications submitted up to and including 30 September 2026 will continue to be processed under the old procedure.
Similarly, temporary residence authorisations that have already been issued will remain valid under the conditions set out in the decision.
Those concerned therefore do not need to repeat their application just because the new procedure is coming into force.
An important reform for future Moroccan residents
For Moroccans preparing to move to Luxembourg, the change will take effect on 1 October 2026.
The main change concerns the starting point of the process: instead of beginning with an application for a temporary residence authorisation from the Luxembourg authorities, new applicants will have to go through the D visa procedure from abroad.
The conditions and documents required then depend on the reason for the stay: work, studies, family reunification or another category of settlement. The Luxembourg government states that detailed information on the formalities will be available on the official Guichet.lu portal from 1 October.
External sources:
- Luxembourg Government — new immigration procedure
- Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Visa and immigration
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