Foreign-born population – 2025 | 52% of the population | Main countries of birth: Portugal (20%), France (13%), Italy (6%) |
Size: 0.4 million, 49% women | Evolution since 2015: +41% |
International Migration Outlook 2026
50th Edition
In 2025, Luxembourg received 25 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free mobility), ‑2.9% compared to 2024. This figure comprises 64% immigrants benefitting from free mobility, 10% labour migrants, 22% family members (including accompanying family) and 3% humanitarian migrants. Around 500 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 700 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants (excluding intra-EU migration). In addition, 53 000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2024, a 2% increase compared to 2023. These posted workers are generally on short-term contracts.
Portugal, France and Italy were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2024. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Eritrea registered the strongest increase (98) and Syria the largest decrease (‑300) in flows to Luxembourg compared to the previous year.
In 2025, the number of first asylum applicants decreased by ‑17%, to reach around 1 800. The majority of applicants came from Eritrea (400), Syria (200) and Venezuela (90). The largest increase since 2024 concerned nationals of Afghanistan (25) and the largest decrease nationals of Syria (‑200). Of the 1 200 decisions taken in 2025, 51% were positive.
Emigration of Luxembourg citizens to OECD countries increased by 10% in 2024, to 4 800. Approximately 40% of this group migrated to Germany, 25% to France and 8% to Belgium.
In March 2025, Luxembourg published its annual list of occupations in high shortage, updating the sectors eligible for facilitated recruitment of third-country nationals. The revised list contained 22 occupations and continued to serve as the basis for accelerated recruitment procedures, exempting them from the labour market test and fast granting of the required certificates for employers who are recruiting them.
Occupations related to the industrial and logistic sector were added to the shortage occupation list, while six others were removed following improvements in labour-market matching. The annual revision remained a key instrument for aligning labour migration policy with labour-market demand.
Following the transposition of the EU Blue Card Directive (EU) 2021/1883 into national law, which entered into force on 1 July 2024, Luxembourg continued throughout 2025-2026 to implement the reformed framework for highly qualified workers, updating the salary threshold and adapting the fiscal regime.
In February 2026, Luxembourg announced the extension of temporary protection until 4 March 2027, following the corresponding decision at EU level. Beneficiaries retained access to residence rights, employment, education, social assistance and healthcare under the existing temporary protection framework. Implementation of the biometric residence card system for beneficiaries of temporary protection continued during the reporting period replacing the paper attestations. This card allows the holder to access rights and services associated with their temporary protection status. Administrative procedures for issuance and renewal of biometric cards were further rolled out during 2025 and 2026.
Regarding irregular migration, the Return House (Maison Retour) was opened on 1 September 2024, in order to offer social support to people awaiting return, to encourage voluntary returns.
Luxembourg continued implementing the Law on Intercultural Living Together, which entered into force on 1 January 2024. Policy efforts focussed on operationalising the new governance framework established by the law and expanding participation in its voluntary instruments.
Additional municipalities joined the Communal Pact for Intercultural Living Together (Gemengepakt), extending local participation in programmes aimed at civic engagement, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion. The Citizen Pact (Biergerpakt) continued to be promoted as a voluntary framework open to all adults living or working in Luxembourg.
Throughout 2025 and the first half of 2026, Luxembourg continued administrative and institutional preparations for the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, scheduled to apply from 2026.
For further information: www.guichet.public.lu | www.ona.gouvernement.lu | www.integratioun.lu
