Articles on: Becoming Self-Employed

What Are the 4 Criteria for a Business Permit in Luxembourg?

To get a business permit (autorisation d'etablissement) in Luxembourg, you must meet 4 legal criteria. These apply whether you are starting a commercial activity, a craft, or a regulated liberal profession.

Criterion	What it means
Professional integrity (honorabilite professionnelle)	Clean criminal and business record
Professional qualification	Diploma, experience, or exemption depending on activity
Fixed premises in Luxembourg (etablissement fixe)	A physical address suitable for your activity
Effective management	You personally manage the business day-to-day

These requirements come from the Law of 2 September 2011 (amended 26 July 2023) regulating access to commercial, craft, and certain liberal professions.

1. Professional integrity

You must have a clean professional record. This means:

No relevant criminal convictions
No evasion of social security or tax obligations (including withholding taxes) in previous or current activities
No history of bankruptcy (or you must show it has been resolved)

To prove this, you submit:

A criminal record extract (extrait du casier judiciaire, bulletin numero 3) — free of charge
A sworn declaration (declaration sur l'honneur) — included in the application form
If you lived outside Luxembourg in the last 10 years: criminal records from all countries where you resided, plus a notarial declaration of non-bankruptcy

If you have been a Luxembourg resident for more than 10 years, you only need the Luxembourg criminal record (bulletin 3) and the sworn declaration. No foreign records or bankruptcy certificate required.

We explain the full process in our article on how to prove a clean professional history.

2. Professional qualification

What you need depends on your activity type:

Activity type	Qualification required?
Commercial — e.g., IT consulting, trading, e-commerce	No qualification needed
Craft — List A (e.g., electrician, plumber)	Master craftsman certificate or 6 years experience
Craft — List B (e.g., hairdresser, baker)	Vocational diploma or 3 years experience
Craft — List C (e.g., cleaning, moving)	No qualification needed
Liberal profession (e.g., architect, accountant)	Relevant diploma required
HORECA (hotels, restaurants, cafes)	Certificate of access, or 1 year experience, or diploma

Lists A, B, and C are part of the artisan (craft) classification. Commercial activities are a separate category — they do not appear on these lists and generally require no professional qualification.

Practical tip: If you don't have the exact diploma, professional experience can sometimes substitute. The Ministry evaluates this case by case. Contact the House of Entrepreneurship for free guidance.

We covered which activities need no qualification in our article on business activities that need no qualification.

3. Fixed premises in Luxembourg

You must have a physical address in Luxembourg with infrastructure suitable for your activity. What counts:

Home address — works for intellectual services (IT consulting, translation, accounting, etc.)
Rented office or commercial space — needed for retail, craft workshops, restaurants
Coworking space — can work if you have a dedicated address

You prove this with a copy of your lease agreement or a residence certificate (certificat de residence).

We go into more detail in our article on what counts as a fixed place of operation.

4. Effective management

The person named on the business permit must personally and regularly manage the business. This means:

You are physically present in Luxembourg on a regular basis
You make the day-to-day business decisions
You cannot just lend your name to someone else's business

This applies to both sole traders and company directors. If you are a non-resident, you must be able to travel to Luxembourg as often as the business requires.

What documents do I need?

The exact list depends on whether you have been a Luxembourg resident for more than 10 years:

Document	Resident 10+ years	Resident under 10 years or non-resident
Business permit application form	Yes	Yes
Criminal record (bulletin 3)	Luxembourg only	All countries of residence (last 10 years) + LU bulletin 3 if already active in LU
Notarial declaration of non-bankruptcy	No	Yes
Sworn declaration	Yes	Yes
Proof of qualification (if required)	Yes	Yes
Lease agreement or residence certificate	Yes	Yes
Copy of ID or residence permit	Yes	Yes
Payment of 50 EUR fee	Yes	Yes
Articles of association (companies only)	If applicable	If applicable

How long does it take?

The Ministry of Economy processes complete applications within up to 3 months. In practice, straightforward cases often take 1-4 weeks. If you receive no response within 3 months, the permit is considered tacitly granted.

The key word is "complete." Incomplete applications cause delays. Double-check every document before submitting.

Quick reference

Question	Answer
How many criteria?	4: integrity, qualification, premises, management
Fee	50 EUR
Where to apply	MyGuichet LU (recommended) or by post
Processing time	Up to 3 months (often 1-4 weeks)
No response in 3 months?	Tacit approval
Need qualification for IT consulting?	No (commercial activity, List C)
Can I work from home?	Yes, for intellectual services

Bravo to everyone who chose to work for themselves. That takes real courage.
🙌💜 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

Was this article helpful?

Thank you!