Articles on: Becoming Self-Employed

Business Activities That Need No Qualification in Luxembourg

Many business activities in Luxembourg require no specific diploma or professional qualification to get started. You still need a business permit (autorisation d'etablissement / Niederlassungsgenehmigung), but you don't need to prove a degree, certificate, or years of experience for the activity itself.

This is good news for freelancers, consultants, online sellers, and many service providers.

Activities That Need No Qualification

The following commercial activities can be started without any specific professional qualification:

Trading — buying and selling products of any type
E-commerce — online shops, marketplace selling
IT and software — web development, app development, software engineering
Consulting — IT, marketing, management, business, strategy
Coaching — life coaching, sports coaching, yoga, wellness
Training and teaching — courses, workshops, tutoring
Marketing and communication — digital marketing, social media, PR
Graphic design — visual design, branding, illustration
Translation and interpreting
Data analysis
Event management
Logistics
Industry-based businesses

This list is not exhaustive. As a general rule: if your activity is not on the list of regulated professions (liberal professions, crafts requiring a master certificate, HORECA, transport, real estate), you likely don't need a specific qualification.

You Still Need a Business Permit

"No qualification required" does not mean "no registration required." You still need a business permit, and you still need to meet 3 of the 4 criteria that apply to every business permit in Luxembourg:

Physical establishment in Luxembourg — your business must have a physical address in Luxembourg with infrastructure suitable for the activity. EU/EEA nationals do not need to live in Luxembourg, but the business must be based there. Non-EU nationals must also apply for a residence permit (autorisation de sejour)
Clean professional reputation — no convictions for serious offences, sworn declaration of prior management roles in the last 3 years (Article 28 declaration), criminal records from countries you lived in the past 10 years
Effective management — you must personally manage the day-to-day operations of your business and be physically present at the establishment
Professional qualification — not applicable to your activity (this is the criterion you skip when your activity is on the no-qualification list above)

For the full picture of how each of the 4 criteria works, see our deep-dive on the 4 criteria for a business permit.

Practical tip: Just because no qualification is needed doesn't mean you can start working immediately. You still need to apply for the business permit, register with CCSS, and potentially register for VAT. Budget 1-2 months for the full process.

What DOES Require a Qualification?

For comparison, here are the activity types that DO need specific qualifications or certificates:

Activity type	Qualification needed	Where to check
Liberal professions (architect, accountant, engineer, etc.)	Specific diploma + professional body membership	Guichet LU
Craft activities — List A (hairdresser, baker, electrician, etc.)	Master certificate OR 6 years experience	Chambre des Metiers (cdm.lu)
Craft activities — List B (manicurist, photographer, etc.)	Vocational diploma OR 3 years experience	Chambre des Metiers (cdm.lu)
Craft activities — List C (pet groomer, etc.)	No qualification needed	Chambre des Metiers (cdm.lu)
HORECA (restaurant, hotel, bar, etc.)	HORECA certificate OR 1 year experience OR diploma	House of Training (houseoftraining.lu)
Transport (goods over 2.5T or 9+ passengers)	Certificate of access + financial guarantee	Chambre de Commerce (cc.lu)
Real estate (agent, broker, developer)	Certificate of access + liability insurance	House of Training (houseoftraining.lu)

If your activity falls between two categories or you're not sure, contact the House of Entrepreneurship (houseofentrepreneurship.lu) for free guidance before you apply. Getting the classification wrong can delay your permit.

Quick Reference

Question	Answer
Do I need a diploma for IT consulting?	No
Do I need a diploma for e-commerce?	No
Do I need a diploma for coaching/training?	No
Do I still need a business permit?	Yes — always
Do I still need to register with CCSS?	Yes — always
Where do I apply?	Through the business permit procedure on Guichet LU (Ministry of Economy)
How long does the permit take?	Up to 3 months legal maximum (often 1-4 weeks in practice). See how to apply for a business permit for the detailed procedure

Here's to everyone who chose to create something of their own — your courage makes the economy better for all of us.
🙌💜 Your BravoLisa Team

This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute professional tax, legal, or accounting advice. Every situation is different — consult a qualified professional (tax adviser, accountant, or lawyer) for advice specific to your circumstances. BravoLisa does not accept liability for decisions made based on this information.

Last updated: May 2026. Rules and classifications may change — always verify with the relevant authorities for the most current information.

Updated on: 14/05/2026

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