A business permit (also called autorisation d’établissement or establishment authorisation) is the official licence required to carry out most commercial, industrial, craft, or regulated activities in Luxembourg.

• Issued by the Ministry of the Economy for commercial and industrial businesses.
• Required for both Luxembourg residents and foreign founders, whether you set up a SARL (LLC), SA (public limited), SOPARFI holding company, branch, or even as a sole trader.
• Without this permit, you can’t legally start trading, sign client contracts, or invoice in Luxembourg.

For many activities, the permit goes hand-in-hand with company formation, so you usually apply right after (or alongside) your company registration.

You’ll need a permit if you plan to engage in:

• Commercial trading (e.g., wholesale, retail, e-commerce, import/export).
• Industrial activities (manufacturing, logistics, assembly plants).
• Crafts and skilled trades (construction, renovation, plumbing, electricians).
• Certain professional services (consultancy, brokerage, management).
• High-risk/regulated activities such as:
• • Crypto & Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) — under CSSF & AML rules.
  • iGaming / online betting operators — under Gaming Commission.
  • FinTech, payment institutions, EMIs — under CSSF or ECB.
  • Financial services (fund management, investment firms, FX brokers).

Activities that don’t require a permit:

• Purely holding or passive SOPARFI companies (but they may still need other authorisations like CSSF for funds).
• Freelancers in certain liberal professions (lawyers, doctors, architects) – regulated separately by professional chambers.

The Ministry checks four main pillars:

1. Professional qualifications & experience –
2. • Managers/UBOs must demonstrate relevant diplomas or at least 3 years’ professional experience in the activity.
   • For example: a construction company manager must have recognised building trade experience or equivalent education.
2. Professional honourability / Clean criminal record –
3. • A criminal record extract (Bulletin N°3) from the founder’s home country and from Luxembourg if resident.
   • No record of fraud, financial crime, or bankruptcy mismanagement.
3. Substance & establishment in Luxembourg –
4. • A registered office in Luxembourg (not just a virtual mailbox).
   • For many permits, you’ll need proof of suitable premises or lease agreement.
4. Financial reliability –
5. • Must show no personal or corporate bankruptcy in the past and, in some cases, a financial capacity statement or share capital proof.

Typical timeline:

• Document preparation: 1–3 weeks (depends on notarisation, translations, police records).
• Filing & review by Ministry: usually 3 weeks to 2 months for standard commercial/craft permits.
• Regulated activities (finance, crypto, iGaming): 3–6+ months due to enhanced due diligence, CSSF/Gaming Commission approvals, and AML audits.

Binderr’s Fast-Track Concierge helps reduce back-and-forth delays by submitting a complete, compliant file upfront and following up with authorities.

Yes—most foreign founders first register a legal entity, such as:

• SARL (Société à responsabilité limitée) – most popular, min. capital €12,000.
• SA (Société anonyme) – good for raising capital, min. capital €30,000.
• Branch of a foreign company – allowed if the parent is established abroad.
• SOPARFI (holding) – not always needing a permit unless trading.

The permit is tied to the legal entity’s manager (gérant), so the company and responsible manager must be named in the application.

Absolutely. Luxembourg actively welcomes foreign investors.
However:

• If you’re an EU/EEA/Swiss national, you can apply directly after forming the company.
• If you’re a non-EU national, you’ll usually need a business visa/residence permit in addition to the business permit.
• The business permit is a prerequisite for your business residence card application.

A standard commercial permit application requires:

• Valid passport or ID of the manager.
• Recent criminal record certificate (Bulletin N°3) – translated and apostilled if foreign.
• CV and proof of professional experience/diplomas.
• Articles of Association of the company.
• Proof of share capital deposit.
• Lease agreement or proof of physical establishment in Luxembourg.
• Application form signed by the manager.

For high-risk sectors (crypto, payments, iGaming):

• Detailed AML/CFT policies.
• Business plan and projected financial statements.
• Risk & IT security frameworks.
• UBO disclosure & enhanced KYC pack.

Yes. A real local address is mandatory:

• Can be a registered office in a business centre for light-substance activities.
• Certain activities (craft, industrial) need operational premises or warehouses.
• Virtual offices or P.O. boxes are not accepted for most permits.

Binderr partners with trusted Luxembourg office providers to secure compliant, inspection-ready premises.

Luxembourg’s banks require:

• Approved business permit (or at least proof of application).
• Company KYC pack, Articles, UBO details.
• AML/CFT policies for high-risk businesses.

We match you with the right option:

• Local banks: BGL BNP Paribas, Spuerkeess, Banque Raiffeisen.
• International banks: ING, Société Générale, HSBC Luxembourg.
• EMIs / FinTech banks: Airwallex, Payoneer for quick global accounts.

Binderr’s Bank Match helps reduce rejections and long onboarding times.

No, the permit is personal to the appointed manager and the specific entity.

• If the manager changes, you must re-apply or amend the permit.
• For M&A deals, buyers often negotiate that the existing manager stays until a new permit is approved.

• Crypto / VASP: must first register with the CSSF as a virtual asset service provider, with strong AML and IT frameworks.
• iGaming & Betting: regulated by the Luxembourg Gambling Commission; require specific gaming operator licences.
• Payment & FinTech: need PSD2 or EMI authorisation via CSSF & ECB.

Binderr provides sector-specific compliance roadmaps and matches you with vetted legal & regulatory partners.

Yes, e-commerce and SaaS platforms can run online provided:

• They have a Luxembourg company and local registered office.
• They comply with EU e-commerce VAT, data protection (GDPR), and AML if applicable.
• Some online platforms (e.g., marketplaces, gaming, FX) need sectoral licences.

Binderr acts as your corporate concierge, not a direct service provider. We:

• Assess your activity & risk profile.
• Prepare a KYC-ready application pack.
• Match you with vetted Luxembourg lawyers, notaries, accountants, and permit consultants.
• Bundle company formation, business permit, banking, visas, accounting, and ongoing compliance.
• Provide a single dashboard to track approvals, much like tracking a delivery order.

 Bottom line: Binderr speeds up your Luxembourg market entry, reduces rejection risk, and gives you one trusted point of contact for all corporate steps.