Incorporate Luxembourg
Autorisation d'établissement

Business permits and visas
in Luxembourg.
Done right.

Whether you need a standard commercial permit for your startup or a full non-EU founder visa. We handle the full application: We assess your qualifications, compile your dossier, and handle the Ministry of Economy so you can launch without delays.

Required for all commercial, craft & liberal activities
We manage Ministry (DCSEE) submissions end-to-end
Typically issued within 2–4 weeks with our preparation
How it works
Luxembourg business permit

Ministry approved

DCSEE Luxembourg

What is it?

The Autorisation d'établissement, Luxembourg's mandatory trading licence

The Autorisation d'établissement isn't just a formality, it is a strict legal requirement. Here is what the Ministry of Economy demands, and exactly how we handle the complexities for you.

The Legal Mandate

§ The Law

Every commercial entity (SARL, SARL-S, SA) must hold a valid permit before issuing a single invoice.

Our Solution

We integrate the permit application seamlessly into your incorporation timeline, ensuring you are legally cleared to trade from day one without bureaucratic delays.

Professional Integrity

§ The Law

The Ministry strictly checks the manager's background for past bankruptcies or criminal records.

Our Solution

We pre-clear your profile. We guide you on exactly which sworn declarations and notarized documents to pull from your home country, guaranteeing a flawless dossier.

The Substance Test

§ The Law

A simple virtual P.O. Box is non-compliant. The permit requires proof of a compliant physical address suited to your operations.

Our Solution

We bypass the need for expensive immediate office rentals by providing a Ministry-approved registered office and domiciliation setup that passes the strict substance tests.

Precise Activity Classification

§ The Law

The Ministry uses strict legal codes. A vague description of your SaaS or service can trigger demands for irrelevant university diplomas.

Our Solution

We draft your corporate activities using the exact terminology the Ministry expects, keeping you safely categorized to prevent unnecessary degree checks and friction.

Permit categories

Three types of business permits in Luxembourg

Commercial & Digital Services

Most common

SaaS, e-commerce, tech, consulting, and B2B services

Best for: Modern tech startups, marketing agencies, and digital consultants. The bureaucratic barrier is lowest here. Because the law does not demand a specific university degree for this category, we simply focus on proving your professional integrity and securing your corporate substance to fast-track your approval.

Craft & Trade Activities

Skilled trades

Construction, manufacturing, food production, artisans

Liberal & Regulated Professions

Regulated

FinTech, architects, accountants, engineers, healthcare

Commercial & Digital Services

Commercial & Digital Services

SaaS, e-commerce, tech, consulting, and B2B services

Key requirements

  • No specific university degree required
  • Clean criminal record
  • Declaration of non-bankruptcy
  • Compliant Luxembourg registered address

How it works

Five steps to your
business permit

Document Sourcing & Pre-Clearance

Days 1–7

You provide your passport and university degrees (if applicable). We give you exact instructions on how to pull your criminal record (casier judiciaire) and non-bankruptcy declaration from your home country so they meet strict Luxembourg formatting rules.

Dossier Drafting & Substance

While you gather documents, we secure your Ministry-approved registered office (to prove local substance) and draft your corporate object in precise legal terminology to ensure you fall under the fastest classification track.

Ministry Submission

We finalize your dossier and submit the application directly to the General Directorate for SME and Entrepreneurship (DCSEE).

Government Review

This is the Ministry's window. We act as your direct local liaison, instantly answering any technical questions the government agents have about your business model to prevent your application from being pushed to the back of the queue.

Final Approval & Bank Unlocking

The moment your Autorisation d'établissement is issued, your business is legally live. We use the permit to fully unlock your corporate bank account so you can start billing clients globally.

Not sure which
permit you need?
We'll tell you.

Activity classification determines your permit type. One wrong classification can mean a rejected application. Book a free call and we'll map your exact requirements.

Luxembourg permit expert

Testimonials

What our clients say about the permit process

Facts & Numbers

200+

Business permits successfully obtained

1 / 4

Case study

From application to approval in 16 days: how we secured a commercial permit for a Paris-based e-commerce founder

Marie had already registered her SARL but was stuck on the permit. Within two weeks of engaging us, her Autorisation d'établissement was issued — with zero back-and-forth from the Ministry.

Marie L., E-commerce Startup

Document preparation

Our process

98% first-attempt approval rate through preparation, not luck

We audit every application before it leaves our desk — activity codes, qualifications, address compliance, and document completeness — so nothing comes back from the Ministry flagged.

Reviews

"I had no idea how to navigate the local authorities. The team handled all the permit classification and Ministry follow-up. We were fully operational in under 3 weeks."

Markus T.

SaaS Founder, Germany

Questions founders usually ask about permits.

Everything you need to know before you apply.

An Autorisation d'établissement — commonly called a business permit — is a mandatory legal requirement for any person or company wishing to carry out commercial, craft, or certain liberal profession activities in Luxembourg. Without it, you cannot legally invoice clients or operate your business. It is issued by the DCSEE (Direction des Classes Moyennes, du Tourisme et du Logement) on behalf of the Ministry of the Economy.

Any Luxembourg-based company — SARL, SARL-S, SA, or individual — that conducts commercial activities must hold a valid permit. This includes online businesses, e-commerce operators, consultants, service providers, and physical retail. Certain activities, such as licensed professions (law, medicine, architecture), require both this permit and separate professional registration.

At least one manager of the company must demonstrate the required professional qualifications. For commercial activities, this typically means a university degree in a relevant field or three or more years of relevant professional experience. For craft activities, formal trade qualifications are usually required. Non-EU diplomas may need to be validated or recognised by Luxembourg authorities before submission.

Yes, it is possible to obtain a permit without being physically resident in Luxembourg, provided a qualified manager is formally appointed and the company has a valid registered address in Luxembourg. We regularly assist international founders with this setup and can advise on the most practical route based on your specific situation.

Standard processing by the Ministry takes between 2 and 4 weeks once a complete application is submitted. The preparation phase — document gathering, qualification review, activity classification, and address setup — typically takes 1 to 2 weeks with our guidance. Overall, most permit applications are resolved within 3 to 6 weeks from initial engagement.

Rejection is usually triggered by incomplete documentation, incorrect activity codes, or missing qualification evidence. If this happens, we review the Ministry's feedback, address the specific issues raised, and resubmit. Our thorough pre-submission audit is specifically designed to prevent first-attempt rejections, and we currently maintain a 98% first-submission success rate.

Pure holding companies that do not engage in active commercial activities and only hold stakes in other entities typically do not require an Autorisation d'établissement. However, if the holding company provides management services, charges fees, or engages in any active business activity, a permit is likely required. We assess this during the initial consultation.