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Onboarding and integrating international talent in Luxembourg 

International hires are not just changing jobs — they are also relocating to a new country, often with partners and children. A structured onboarding process helps them perform sooner, integrate faster and stay longer. Below, we outline how employers in Luxembourg can support new international team members from pre-arrival through to cultural integration. 

Preparing your international hire before arrival

The weeks between accepting a job offer and arriving in a new country often have a big impact on whether a new hire will start off successfully. Having a smooth international recruitment process in place is often helpful. As a next step, you can consider providing pre-arrival support in three key areas:  

Administrative and visa support  

Begin with immigration and possible visa specifications. It can be helpful to create a clear timeline working backward from the intended start date, accounting for document processing times and any in-person appointments needed. For detailed guidance on work permits and the EU Blue Card, see our page on preparing to hire international talent. 

Financial planning and the impatriate tax exemption 

Help your new hire understand Luxembourg's cost of living and plan their transition financially. Many employers offer relocation allowances or temporary housing to ease the financial burden of the move. Luxembourg also offers an impatriate tax exemption for qualifying employers who bear a significant share of relocation costs — including moving expenses, housing, travel and children's education. Under certain conditions, up to 50% of these benefits can be exempted from income tax for a period of up to 8 years. This exemption can make international recruitment packages considerably more competitive.  

Building connections before day one

Offer your new hire the opportunity to start building connections in Luxembourg already before they arrive. Practical ways to build early connections include: 

  • granting access to internal communication channels before the start date
  • sending a welcome package with practical information about Luxembourg
  • introducing the new hire to other international colleagues
  • sharing staff-sourced recommendations for things to do in and around Luxembourg

Helping international employees settle in Luxembourg

People relocating to Luxembourg often face practical challenges in their first weeks and months. Providing support in the following areas can ease the transition and help new hires settle into their role more quickly. 

  • Housing support for international employees

    Finding suitable housing can be very challenging. Supportive guidance during this process significantly impacts the candidate’s transition experience. If you plan to hire internationally for many of your positions, it could be worth building relationships with real estate agencies and relocation providers who understand international clients’ needs and can offer priority access to suitable properties.

  • Supporting partners and families

    It is much easier to retain international employees when their partner can also find a job and build a social network. To help with this, you can provide resources to your international employees on everything from reskilling and volunteer opportunities to popular associations, clubs, language courses and other social opportunities.

  • Schools and education options in Luxembourg

    Luxembourg has a diverse international schooling system with a wide choice of languages and teaching approaches. The Luxembourg Ministry of Education has set up the School Integration and Welcoming Service that assists newly arrived families with information and counselling on all questions related to the Luxembourg school offer and provides individual monitoring for two years.

  • Childcare and extracurricular activities

    Luxembourg has numerous childcare and activity options as well, though availability can be limited. This includes public and private childcare facilities, homework help, after-school programmes and holiday activities and camps organised by local communes. The aim is to integrate children into life in their municipality and prepare them for Luxembourgish society and its schools.

  • Navigating cultural differences in Luxembourg

    Luxembourg’s multicultural environment is both an advantage and a challenge. While our diversity creates a welcoming atmosphere, new arrivals still need help navigating cultural nuances. Key areas to address with new international employees include local business culture, work-life balance expectations, social norms, common misunderstandings that can arise in Luxembourg’s multicultural workplaces

Our Relocation Guide provides further information on many of these points.  

Relocation guide for living and working in Luxembourg.

Download the international recruitment onboarding checklist 

Our Employer’s Toolkit includes detailed information on how to ease the integration process for international recruits in various areas. An onboarding checklist outlines key actions to ensure a smooth transition to Luxembourg. 

Get the Employer’s Toolkit