Hiring a Japanese Chef in Luxembourg: Permits and Minimum Wage

Luxembourg is small, multilingual and well paid, and its rules for hiring a chef from outside the EU are laid out step by step on the government's Guichet.lu portal. The process has a built-in labour market check through the national employment agency, ADEM, and it can take months. What makes Luxembourg unusual for employers is the minimum wage: it is high, and it is 20 percent higher for a skilled worker, which can apply to an experienced chef.

1. How Luxembourg's two-step process works

A third-country national coming to work in Luxembourg for more than three months follows two consecutive steps. Before entering, they obtain a temporary authorisation to stay from the General Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs. After entering, they declare their arrival at the commune and apply for a residence permit for salaried workers. Before either step, the employer needs a certificate from ADEM.

2. Step 0: the ADEM vacancy declaration

1. Declare the vacant position to ADEM. This lets the agency check whether a suitable candidate is available on the local or EU job market.
2. If ADEM does not present a suitable candidate within three weeks, you may conclude a contract with a person of your choice, including a non-EU national, under certain conditions.
3. Apply on plain paper to ADEM's director for a certificate giving you the right to hire a third-country national.
4. Give the original certificate to the chef, who attaches it to the authorisation application.

3. Step 1: the temporary authorisation to stay

The chef applies from their country of origin, either to the General Department of Immigration or through a Luxembourg (or representing) diplomatic mission. Applications submitted from inside Luxembourg are inadmissible. The file includes:

• a full copy of the valid passport;
• a criminal record extract or sworn declaration from the country of residence;
• copies of diplomas or professional qualifications;
• a dated employment contract signed by both sides and compliant with Luxembourg law (it may state that the start depends on the chef obtaining the authorisation);
• the original ADEM certificate;
• a power of attorney if you, the employer, file on the chef's behalf.

Documents not in German, French or English need a sworn translation. The ministry normally responds within a maximum of four months, and if no reply arrives in that time the applicant should consider the application refused. A favourable decision is a temporary authorisation valid for 90 days.

4. Step 2: arrival and the residence permit

1. Within the 90 days, the chef enters Luxembourg. A chef who needs a visa applies for a type D visa first; a chef who does not can enter with the authorisation and passport.
2. Within three days of arrival, the chef declares arrival at the commune where they will live. The declaration and the authorisation together serve as work permit until the residence permit is issued.
3. The chef completes a medical check (examination and TB screening) as soon as possible.
4. Within three months of entry, the chef applies for the residence permit online via MyGuichet.lu or by post, with proof of housing and a EUR 80 fee.

5. Minimum wage: unskilled or skilled?

From 1 June 2026 the monthly social minimum wage for an unskilled worker aged 18 or over is EUR 2,771.33 (EUR 16.0192 an hour). For a skilled worker it is 120 percent: EUR 3,325.59 a month (EUR 19.2231 an hour).

Skilled status is not automatic. Guichet.lu lists several ways to qualify, including an official certificate equivalent to a Luxembourg CATP or DAP for the trade, or, without a certificate, at least ten years' practical experience where a certificate exists for the qualification. The worker has to provide the proof, through diplomas or documented work experience. For a chef with a long career in Japanese kitchens, get the evidence together before you set the salary, and assume the skilled rate may apply. A collective agreement, where one covers your restaurant, can set higher scales.

6. Employer duties and renewals

• Check the chef's authorisation or residence permit before work starts, and keep a copy for the whole contract.
• Notify the start of employment to the immigration authorities in writing within three working days.
• The first residence permit is valid for up to one year, for one profession and one sector, with any employer. The sector and profession appear on the card as an ISCO code.
• From the first renewal, the permit can last up to three years and covers any sector and profession, provided the chef has actually worked during the previous permit. Renewal is requested within two months before expiry, again with an EUR 80 fee.
• After five years of lawful, uninterrupted residence, the chef can apply for long-term residence.

Plan the first year carefully: a one-year permit tied to one profession means the chef's role should be clearly defined from day one. See our contract checklist and onboarding guide.

7. Working holiday and the local pool

Luxembourg and Japan have had a working holiday programme since 2024, with a cap of 100 places according to Japan's foreign ministry. Guichet.lu describes a 12-month visa for 18 to 30 year olds that allows work for a limited period, and says working holiday participants do not need to apply for a residence permit. A working holiday cook is useful for a season but not a substitute for a permit hire.

Japan's foreign ministry counted 848 Japanese nationals in Luxembourg as of 1 October 2025, most of them (647) long-term rather than permanent residents. That is a very small local pool, so it is worth knowing the rules across the border too. Our guides to Germany, France and Belgium cover the neighbouring countries. To reach Japanese chefs directly, you can post a job on WashokuJob.

General information gathered from official sources in September 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Luxembourg's minimum wage is indexed and can change during the year; confirm the current rates and procedure on Guichet.lu before applying.