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Pathway

Luxembourg Post-Study Job Search Residence

Luxembourg Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

Certain non-EU graduates and researchers can stay in Luxembourg for twelve months to look for a job or prepare a business. You must have completed eligible studies or research there and apply before your current student or researcher permission ends.

Completion
An eligible Luxembourg master's degree, defended PhD, or successfully completed research activity
Requirements
Study or research proof, resources, insurance, and a plan
Filing deadline
At least 30 days before the current permit or mobility period ends

Summary

Eligible graduates and researchers can seek twelve months in Luxembourg to look for work or start a business after completing a qualifying master's degree, PhD, or research project there. The applicant must have the appropriate student, researcher or eligible mobility status and file at least thirty days before that permission ends. A bachelor's degree alone or unfinished studies do not meet the completion test.

The permit gives time to seek a suitable job or develop a business, with support and insurance still required. It is not itself a salaried-worker or self-employed permit, and the eventual employment or business must meet the next category's rules. The search period is not a renewable long-term solution.

Plan the move from study or research to work
  1. Before current status ends Apply while status is valid Prove the qualifying Luxembourg study or research completion and meet the filing deadline.
  2. 12-month bridge Job search or business preparation If the bridge is granted Use the residence period to prepare a qualifying work or business application.
  3. Before the bridge ends Switch to the next status Separate requirements apply Obtain the appropriate salaried-worker or self-employed authorization.

The search permit is not an open work permit or a renewable long-term search status. A degree earned elsewhere or a Bachelor’s alone does not meet the stated graduate test.

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Eligibility

After study

The applicant must hold a valid Luxembourg student permit, or be in Luxembourg under qualifying student mobility from another EU Member State, and must have either:

The application must be submitted at least 30 days before the student permit expires or the mobility period ends. A student who already has a job or concrete business project can apply directly for the appropriate salaried-worker or self-employed permit through the simplified graduate procedure, but that direct procedure is limited to holders of a Luxembourg student permit, not students present only through mobility.

After research

A holder of a valid Luxembourg researcher permit, or a researcher in Luxembourg under EU researcher mobility, can apply after successfully completing the Luxembourg research activity. The application is due no later than 30 days before the researcher permit or mobility period ends. If the mobile researcher leaves Luxembourg at the end of the project, the official procedure points the application to the first Member State instead.

Both branches require a full passport, Luxembourg criminal-record extract, proof of completion, comprehensive health insurance and resources for living and return travel equal to at least 80% of the current social inclusion income (REVIS). A scholarship or loan, bank evidence or an accepted Luxembourg guarantor undertaking can be used. The amount is indexed and must be checked on the application date. The fee is €80.

More about this route

This is not a general jobseeker visa for someone who studied or researched elsewhere.

What This Route Allows

Approval gives a private-reasons residence permit marked for job search or business creation, valid for 12 months. It allows the holder to remain in Luxembourg while finding suitable employment or developing a real business project.

Before it expires, the holder must qualify for and apply under the salaried-worker or self-employed route. The eventual job or business must relate to the graduate's academic education or the researcher's academic background. Where applicable, a researcher's family member permit can be renewed for the same 12-month period.

What This Route Is Not

This is not itself a salaried-worker or self-employed permit, an open right to take any job, or a renewable long-term job-search status. The 12 months do not remove the ADEM, contract, qualification, business-plan, licensing or other conditions of the route used next.

A Bachelor's degree alone, an unfinished Master's program, a degree earned outside Luxembourg or research not successfully completed in Luxembourg does not meet the stated completion test.

Next Steps

  1. Confirm whether you qualify through the Master's/PhD student branch or completed-research branch.
  2. Calendar the deadline at least 30 days before the current permit or mobility period ends.
  3. Obtain formal completion evidence, a Luxembourg criminal-record extract and comprehensive insurance.
  4. Calculate resources at 80% of the current indexed REVIS and document the full 12-month plan.
  5. Pay the €80 fee and file while the current status remains valid.
  6. Use the year to prepare an education-related job or business application well before the bridge permit expires.

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