Relocating to Luxembourg – top tips from the experts

Who knew that moving to a new country would require such athleticism? After all, there’s bureaucratic red tape to manoeuvre, hoops to jump through and races to get to the top of waiting lists. The maze of entry requirements is certainly not unique to Luxembourg, but here, the process can be especially challenging for those who do not speak the official French, German or Luxembourgish.

This is where relocation companies come in handy. Whether you hire a company on your own or have one provided through your employer, these companies exist to be your translator, shepherd, and welcome wagon. But it takes a great deal of blind faith to trust this new chapter of your life to a company that may be thousands of miles away.

So, what can you do to help make your relocation to Luxembourg as smooth as possible?

Get on the telephone

If you are able to choose a relocation firm, interview at least two or three companies to get a feel for how each company might guide you through the process. If your employer has contracted a company for you, insist on a detailed conversation at the outset to discuss specifics of your contract to understand what the relocation company can, and cannot, do for you.

“A lot of people choose a company based on cost, but you should have a conversation before you make a decision. Your relocation company needs to be on your side and you need to feel comfortable with them,” Nicole Avez-Nana of AB-Lux Relocation Services advises.

Schools and daycare come first

State schools in Luxembourg are open to all children. Classes are taught in Luxembourgish (pre-school), German and French (both primary school). So, it may not come as a surprise that private, English-language international schools are in high demand in Luxembourg, with lengthy waiting lists for new admissions. The situation is the same for English-speaking daycare.

“School enrolment should start even before the visa process,” said Sherry Sideris of Integreat. “If something falls through with the Visa, it’s easier to cancel or delay a child’s enrolment at an English-language school than it is to take care of the other way around.”

Securing a place in a school is important for other reasons, too. “In Luxembourg children must be enrolled in school from the age of four onward, by law. Parents can face fines for truancy if their child is not attending school. People new to the country may not be aware of this,” adds Sideris.

Prepare your documents

Depending on where you are moving from, it could take time to gather the documents required to obtain a Visa. When moving to Luxembourg becomes a real possibility, begin notarising copies of your official documents: birth certificates, marriage certificates, criminal history records, university transcripts, and full color photocopies of passports.

If moving from a country that provides a financial allowance for children, you will also be required to provide proof that these payments have stopped before receiving child allowance payments from Luxembourg. Having your papers in order early will help your relocation company process your visas more quickly.

House hunting

Planning to house hunt over a holiday or weekend? Think again. “People think that because they are on holiday, agents are free to show them homes and apartments, but that is not true,” warns Sylvie Schmidt of European Relocation Services. “It’s the same for weekends. You can’t really look at houses on the weekends here because people don’t want to interfere with their private lives.”

Be warned, demand for housing is high. Sonia Pinternagel of Assist Relocation explains, “When you see something you like, take it! You might see a place you like in the morning and by the afternoon, it’s already taken by someone else.”

Build your community

While most relocation companies will remain on call to answer questions and help solve problems, it’s important to think about what your life in Luxembourg will be like after the move is complete.

“We are expats ourselves, we’ve done this before,” said Sideris, explaining that Integreat coordinates happy hours and dinner groups to help expat clients connect with each other.

Sonia Pinternagel steers her clients toward established organisations like the American Women’s Club and British Ladies’ Club. “It’s important to get involved in the culture of Luxembourg. It’s good to share personal experiences, or just shopping tips. You’re starting a new life here.”