Articles on: Becoming Self-Employed in Luxembourg

How to Prove a Clean Professional History for a Business Permit in Luxembourg

One of the 4 criteria for a business permit (autorisation d'etablissement) in Luxembourg is professional integrity (honorabilite professionnelle). You must prove a clean criminal and business record. What you need depends on how long you have lived in Luxembourg.

Your situation	What you need
Luxembourg resident for 10+ years	Criminal record (bulletin 3) + sworn declaration
Resident under 10 years or non-resident	Criminal records from all countries (last 10 years) + notarial declaration of non-bankruptcy + sworn declaration (+ LU bulletin 3 if already active in LU)

What does "professional integrity" mean?

The Ministry of Economy checks that you:

Have no relevant criminal convictions (fraud, theft, economic crimes)
Have not evaded business or tax obligations in previous activities
Have no unresolved bankruptcy

This does not mean your record must be spotless. Minor offences unrelated to business (like a traffic fine) will not block your application. The Ministry looks at convictions that are relevant to running a business.

If you have lived in Luxembourg for 10+ years

You need two things:

Criminal record extract — bulletin numero 3 (extrait du casier judiciaire). This is the standard extract that excludes minor suspended sentences and small fines. It is free of charge.
Sworn declaration (declaration sur l'honneur) — this is part of the business permit application form. You declare that you have not been involved in bankruptcy or tax evasion.

How to get bulletin 3

Detail	Answer
Cost	Free
Where to request	Online via MyGuichet LU, by email/post, or in person at the Service du casier judiciaire
What you need	Valid ID (identity card, passport, or residence permit)
How long it takes	Usually a few days online, longer by post

Practical tip: Request your bulletin 3 via MyGuichet.lu — it is the fastest option. You will receive it as a PDF in your eSpace.

If you have lived in Luxembourg for less than 10 years (or are a non-resident)

You need more documents:

Criminal records from every country where you lived in the last 10 years. Each country has its own process — contact the embassy or consulate of each country to request them.
Luxembourg criminal record (bulletin 3) — only if you are already exercising an activity in Luxembourg. If you are applying from abroad without any existing Luxembourg activity, this is not required.
Notarial declaration of non-bankruptcy (declaration notariee de non-faillite) — you go to a notary in Luxembourg (or in your country of residence) and sign a recent declaration that you have not been declared bankrupt. This has a cost (notary fees apply).
Sworn declaration — same as above, part of the application form.

Foreign criminal records can take several weeks or even months to arrive, especially from non-EU countries. Start requesting them as early as possible — do not wait until you are ready to submit your business permit application.

Practical steps for foreign criminal records

List all countries where you lived in the past 10 years
Contact each country's embassy or consulate in Luxembourg (or the relevant authority in that country) to request a criminal record extract
Ask about processing time — some countries are fast (days), others are slow (weeks to months)
Check if apostille or certified translation is needed — some countries issue records in their own language only. The Ministry may ask for a sworn translation into French, German, or English.
Keep copies of all correspondence in case of delays

If a country does not issue criminal record extracts (rare but possible), explain this in your application. The Ministry will evaluate on a case-by-case basis.

What if I have a criminal record?

Having a conviction does not automatically disqualify you. The Ministry evaluates:

The nature of the offence (business-related crimes weigh more heavily)
How long ago it was
Whether the sentence has been served

If you are unsure whether your record will be an issue, contact the House of Entrepreneurship for confidential guidance before applying.

Quick reference

Question	Answer
What is professional integrity?	Clean criminal and business record
LU resident 10+ years — what do I need?	Bulletin 3 (free) + sworn declaration
LU resident under 10 years — what do I need?	Foreign criminal records + notarial non-bankruptcy declaration + sworn declaration (+ LU bulletin 3 if already active in LU)
Is bulletin 3 free?	Yes
Where to get bulletin 3?	MyGuichet LU, email, post, or in person
How long for foreign records?	Days to months — start early
Does a conviction disqualify me?	Not automatically — Ministry evaluates case by case

For the full picture of all 4 business permit criteria, see our article on the 4 criteria for a business permit.

You show up, you do the work, you build something of your own. Bravo.
🙌💜 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: April 2026. Rates and thresholds may change — always verify with the relevant authorities for the most current figures.

Updated on: 13/04/2026

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