Any student who lives outside the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein (referred here as the third country) who wants to study in Luxembourg must apply for a Luxembourg student visa. This is a requirement for most applicants before they can get a Schengen entry visa.
This process is open to all who wish to pursue a full-time program (lasting more than three months) in a higher education institution.
What documents do you need to apply for a student visa in Luxembourg?
Here are the following original documents that you need to get a temporary authorization of stay, which is a requirement to get an entry visa.
Do note that these should be in either English, German, or French.
Valid passport
Every applicant must have a passport that has been issued in the last ten years. Likewise, it should have two free blank pages available for the visa.
Accomplished application form for temporary authorization of stay
This should include your particulars, i.e., name and address.
You can access the form, which should be printed on plain paper, here.
Proof of enrollment
Apart from this document, the student must also provide a record that demonstrates their situation. For example, if you are participating in any of these programs, you should submit proof of such:
- EU program or multilateral program with a mobility clause
- A bilateral agreement between two higher education institutions
Criminal records
The applicant must secure an affidavit/sworn declaration of criminal records from their country of residence.
Proof of financial capacity
The student must demonstrate that they have the means to support themselves throughout their studies to get a student visa in Luxembourg.
To do this, you will need to submit an original bank statement and bank certificate spanning the last six months.
If your parents will support you, you will need to submit an attestation that they can cover the cost of your schooling for at least a year.
If a Luxembourg citizen will support you, you should submit an attestation signed by the sponsor.
Any of these documents should show that the applicant has resources equating to 80% of the social inclusion income. Currently, this is set at EUR 1201 ($1420) per month per adult.
If you’re under a scholarship or on a student loan, you will need to submit proof of such.
Health insurance
You will need to possess medical insurance that will cover your entire stay in Luxembourg.
Copy of residence permit
This requirement is only applicable to third-country students who reside in an EU country.
Parental authorization
This is only applicable to students aged 18 years old and below.
Check Also:Â Programs in Europe for International Students
How much money do you need for a Luxembourg Student Visa?
The cost for a Schengen entry visa is EUR 50 ($69.) A reduced rate of EUR 35 ($41) is available to Russians, Moldovans, Ukrainians, etc.
The cost for the residence permit, on the other hand, is EUR 80 ($95.)
Steps on Applying for a Student Visa in Luxembourg
Here’s a breakdown of the things you need to do to get a study visa in Luxembourg.
1. Apply for a temporary authorization of stay.
As mentioned, you will need to compile all the documentary requirements above to obtain a temporary authorization of stay.
It’s best to do this in advance since the processing period can take up to 60 days. This may even go longer if the documents are incomplete or if the consulate needs to request additional information or papers.
2. Wait for your temporary authorization to stay.
The processing body will send your approved authorization to document by post. This is only valid for 90 days, so you will need to apply for a Schengen entry visa during this period.
If you are a national of the countries exempted from visa application, you may enter Luxembourg.
3. Apply for a Schengen entry visa (type D.)
If you are required to apply for an entry visa, you will need to apply for this at least 15 days before your intended departure.
For this, you are going to submit the following documents.
- Accomplish Common Schengen Application Form
- Valid passport
- Two pieces of Passport-sized photos
- Residence permit (if not living in your country of origin)
- Proof of visa fee payment
- Proof of funds to cover your stay
- Travel/health insurance
The good news is that you’ve already obtained most of them when you applied for the temporary authorization to stay.
Depending on your country, you may apply through the Consulate of either Luxembourg or Belgium.
In some cases, the application process is sourced to visa centers. You will need to course your application and book an appointment through their respective websites.
Remember: this visa is only valid for three months.
4. Enter Luxembourg and declare your arrival
Once in Luxembourg, the student should make a declaration of arrival in their commune’s administration office. This should be done within three days of arrival.
The documents required for this declaration are:
- Valid passport or EU residence permit, if applicable
- Temporary authorization to stay letter
- Valid proof of address, such as a rental agreement
The commune official should give the student a copy of the arrival declaration as a receipt.
5. Undergo a medical exam.
Upon arrival, the student must undergo a medical exam and TB screening.
A medical certificate will then be issued by the Immigration Medical Department, which will then be forwarded to Immigration Directorate. This is important as it is another requirement for residence permit processing.
6. Apply for a residence permit.
The student must apply for this permit at the Immigration Directorate within three months of arrival.
The following documents should be submitted for the application to be processed:
- Valid passport
- Copy of temporary authorization to stay
- Copy of declaration of arrival from the commune
- Enrolment certificate from a higher education institution
- Proof of payment
Once approved, the office will invite the student to set an appointment at the Immigration Directorate. Here, the student will have their picture and fingerprints taken.
The residence permit with the chip should be ready for pick up in a couple of days.
This permit is only valid for a year, so the student must apply for renewal at least two months before the expiry date.
I hope that this article on getting a student visa in Luxembourg was helpful. If you are interested in studying in Europe, make sure to check out Available Programs in Europe for International Students.
