Business licence in Luxembourg: the permit to run your activity.
The business licence (autorisation d'établissement) is the permit allowing you to carry on a commercial, craft, industrial or certain liberal activities in Luxembourg. It is issued by the Ministry of the Economy and rests on four conditions: professional standing, qualification, a fixed establishment and an effective manager. We prepare and file your application via MyGuichet and follow it through to issuance.
The business licence (autorisation d'établissement, or business permit) is the prior administrative authorisation required to carry on a commercial, craft, industrial or certain liberal activities in Luxembourg. It is issued by the General Directorate for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises of the Ministry of the Economy and attached to an effective manager who genuinely runs the business and has a real link with it; it cannot be the subject of a name-lending (prête-nom) arrangement.
Law of 2 September 2011 governing access to the occupations of craftsman, trader, industrialist and certain liberal professions. Application filed with the General Directorate for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises of the Ministry of the Economy via guichet.public.lu / MyGuichet.
Key takeaway
- A business licence is mandatory before carrying on a commercial, craft, industrial or certain liberal activities in Luxembourg.
- Four conditions: professional standing, professional qualification (where required), a fixed establishment in Luxembourg and an effective manager.
- The manager must genuinely run the business and have a real link with it: name-lending (prête-nom) is strictly prohibited.
- The application is made to the Ministry of the Economy (General Directorate for SMEs) via MyGuichet.
What is a business licence?
The business licence (autorisation d'établissement), often called a trading permit, is the prior administrative authorisation for carrying on a commercial, craft, industrial or certain liberal activities in Luxembourg. It is issued by the General Directorate for SMEs of the Ministry of the Economy.
Without this licence, the activity cannot legally start. We usually handle it in parallel with incorporation, so the company is operational as soon as it is registered.
The four conditions to meet
The licence rests on four cumulative conditions: the manager's professional standing (no serious breaches, no fraudulent bankruptcies), professional qualification where required for the activity (diploma or experience), a fixed and stable establishment in Luxembourg, and an effective manager who genuinely runs the business.
Each activity has its own requirements: some craft trades or liberal professions require a specific diploma, others mere experience. We check the applicable requirement before building the file.
The effective manager and the ban on name-lending
The licence is attached to a person, the effective manager, who must genuinely and permanently run the activity, be present in the business and maintain a real link with it (ownership, contract, effective presence).
Using a prête-nom, someone lending their name and qualification without genuine involvement, is strictly prohibited and exposes the company to withdrawal of the licence. We structure governance so that the designated manager meets these requirements.
How does the application work?
The application is filed with the General Directorate for SMEs of the Ministry of the Economy, online via guichet.public.lu / MyGuichet, together with supporting documents and the fee. The Ministry reviews the file and may request additional information.
We prepare the entire file, file the application and handle the dialogue with the administration through to issuance, in coordination with RCS registration.
Licence and company formation: one single chain
For most of our clients, the business licence is part of a wider journey: choosing the form (SARL, SA, SARL-S), incorporation, licence, RCS registration, RBE entry, VAT registration and accounting set-up.
We orchestrate this chain with a single point of contact, so you obtain an operational, compliant company without scattered procedures.
Who this is for
- Entrepreneurs forming a commercial or craft company in Luxembourg
- Foreign companies opening a branch or establishment
- Self-employed people in an activity subject to authorisation
- Managers needing to prove standing and qualification
What we do
- Eligibility and required-qualification analysis for the activity
- Building the file (standing, diplomas, fixed establishment)
- Filing the application via MyGuichet with the Ministry of the Economy
- Following the review and answering requests for further information
- Coordination with company incorporation and registration
Estimated timelines
Pricing indication
Indicative ranges, excluding disbursements and taxes. Firm quote after scoping.
Ready to structure your business licence?
Free first call within 24 hours. Dedicated adviser, NDA from first contact.
Preparation checklist
Get the list of documents and steps to start without friction.
The process, step by step
Activity scoping
Identifying the activity (commercial, craft, liberal), any required qualification and the effective manager.
Building the file
Gathering documents: standing (criminal record extract, non-bankruptcy declaration), diplomas or experience, proof of a fixed establishment.
MyGuichet filing
Submitting the application to the General Directorate for SMEs via guichet.public.lu / MyGuichet and paying the fee.
Follow-up & issuance
Answering any further requests from the Ministry until the business licence is issued.
Frequently asked questions
How do I obtain a business licence in Luxembourg?
Who needs a business licence?
What conditions must be met?
Do I need a diploma to obtain the licence?
Is name-lending allowed?
How much does business-licence assistance cost?
Request a quote
Reply within 24 business hours. NDA from first contact.