Setting up a Luxembourg company as a non-resident
Mickaël LOC
Corporate law expert ·
Setting up a Luxembourg company as a non-resident
Setting up a company in Luxembourg as a non-resident is entirely possible and common. The Grand Duchy welcomes entrepreneurs from around the world thanks to an open legal framework, competitive taxation and a multilingual environment. However, specific requirements apply regarding KYC, notarial power of attorney and domiciliation.
Enhanced KYC requirements for non-residents
Non-residents must provide enhanced identification documents: certified passport (apostilled or legalised depending on the country of origin), recent proof of address translated if necessary, criminal record extract from the country of residence, and for associated legal entities, an extract from the foreign commercial register with apostille. The KYC verification process can take 2 to 4 weeks depending on the original jurisdiction. Countries on sanction lists or high AML risk are subject to additional enhanced controls.
Power of attorney and remote representation
If you cannot travel to Luxembourg to sign the articles of association at the notary's office, you can grant a notarial power of attorney to an agent who will sign on your behalf. This power of attorney must be drawn up by a notary in your country of residence, apostilled (Hague Convention) or legalised, and if necessary translated into French, German or English by a sworn translator. The agent can be a lawyer, a firm or any trusted person residing in Luxembourg.
Domiciliation and bank account
Every Luxembourg company must have its registered office in the Grand Duchy. A domiciliation contract with an approved provider is the standard solution for non-residents. For bank account opening, Luxembourg banks require an interview (in person or by video conference depending on the bank), a business plan, and complete KYC documents. Some banks such as Spuerkeess, BGL BNP Paribas or ING accept non-residents under certain conditions. The opening process generally takes 2 to 6 weeks.
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