International: Luxembourg

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Establishment Authorisation for International Road Goods Transport

Yes

Required where applicable. Luxembourg issues a separate establishment authorisation for international road goods transport, which also covers national transport. A mover that operates its own vehicles on international moves needs it. The conditions are those of the domestic authorisation (a fixed place of business in Luxembourg and a manager who meets good repute and professional competence conditions and genuinely runs the company), plus financial standing. Since 21 May 2022, EU rules have also brought vans used for international carriage of goods for others within operator licensing, and Luxembourg issues a corresponding authorisation for them.

Financial Standing

Required where applicable. International operators must provide a guarantee from an authorised bank or financial institution. For heavy goods vehicles, the amount is EUR 9,000 for the first vehicle and EUR 5,000 for each additional vehicle. Lower amounts apply to vans.

EU Community Licence

Required where applicable. Under EU Regulation 1072/2009, international carriage of goods for hire or reward within the EU requires a Community Licence issued by the country where the carrier is established. In Luxembourg it is issued by the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works (Département de la mobilité et des transports) after the establishment authorisation has been granted. It allows carriage throughout the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. It is issued for up to ten years and is renewable. The original stays at the company’s registered office, a certified copy is issued for each vehicle at the company’s disposal (owned or leased), and a certified copy must be carried in each vehicle. The licence is not transferable.

Driver Attestation

Required where applicable (the mover uses non-EU drivers on international carriage). If the mover employs or uses a driver who is neither an EU national nor a long-term resident under EU law, it needs a driver attestation for that driver for international carriage, issued by Luxembourg as the country of establishment. It is valid for up to five years and must be returned if the conditions for issuing it no longer apply.

Moves Within Other EU Countries (Cabotage)

Restricted. “Cabotage” means a domestic move carried out inside another country by a foreign carrier. A Luxembourg Community Licence holder may do this only temporarily: after delivering an incoming international load, up to three cabotage operations with the same vehicle within seven days, followed by a four-day pause before that vehicle can do cabotage again in the same country. The mover must be able to show evidence of the incoming international trip and of each cabotage operation. Where the mover subcontracts the road leg, these limits apply to the carrier performing it.

Moves to or From Countries Outside the EEA

Depends on the destination. For transport to or from a country outside the EEA and Switzerland, a road move also needs a bilateral or multilateral permit, such as a permit of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (CEMT), unless Luxembourg has an agreement with that country that removes the requirement. The Ministry of Mobility and Public Works handles these permits. The destination country’s own rules are covered on that country’s page.

Staff and Vehicles

Luxembourg-registered vehicles operated under the licence may be driven only by legally employed staff, declared to the Luxembourg social security centre (CCSS) or covered by an A1 certificate if insured abroad. Vehicles must be registered and technically inspected in Luxembourg before they operate under a copy of the licence.

Liability on International Moves

The CMR convention (the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road), to which Luxembourg is a party, governs most international road freight but does not apply to the carriage of household removal goods. Liability on an international household move therefore depends on the law that governs the contract and on its terms, rather than on a uniform international regime, so customers should read the liability terms in the contract.

Insurance

The domestic compulsory motor insurance applies to the mover’s own vehicles, and in practice movers carry motor insurance valid in every country the vehicle enters. Motor insurance is not cover for the customer’s goods; customers should ask what protection, if any, the mover offers.

OverviewOverview & Scope

A household goods mover operating only within Luxembourg needs the authorisation and other requirements on the Luxembourg page. International road moves add a tier. The mover needs an establishment authorisation that covers international transport, which brings a financial guarantee per vehicle, and then an EU Community Licence from the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works, with a certified copy carried in each vehicle. Drivers from outside the EU need a driver attestation. These licences attach to whichever company operates the vehicles. Where a mover books an international move but hands the road leg to another carrier, the carrier’s own licences cover the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold the licences that transport requires. Because Luxembourg is small and most moves cross a border, many Luxembourg removal firms will fall within this tier. A mover that also performs moves entirely inside another EU country is limited by the EU cabotage rules, and moves to some non-EEA countries need permits. Because the CMR convention excludes removal goods, liability on international moves is set by the contract and its governing law.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers that operate their own vehicles on international moves must:

1. Hold an establishment authorisation for international road goods transport from the Ministry of the Economy, meeting and maintaining the establishment, good repute, professional competence, and management conditions.
2. Provide and maintain the bank guarantee for financial standing, adjusting it when vehicles are added.
3. Hold an EU Community Licence from the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works and keep a certified copy in every vehicle used for international carriage, renewing it before it expires.
4. Obtain a driver attestation for each driver from outside the EU who performs international carriage.
5. Observe the EU cabotage limits when carrying out moves inside another EU country, and keep evidence of the incoming international trip and each cabotage operation.
6. For non-EEA destinations, obtain any bilateral or multilateral permit the route requires.

Movers that subcontract the road leg must:

7. Use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Establishment authorisation for international road goods transportWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles on international moves)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Bank guarantee for financial standing in placeWhere applicable (mover holds the international road goods transport authorisation)Verified by DocumentRequired
• EU Community Licence heldWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles on international carriage for hire or reward)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• Certified copy of the Community Licence carried in each vehicle used for international carriageWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles on international carriage)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Driver attestation held for each non-EU driver on international carriageWhere applicable (mover uses drivers who are neither EU nationals nor long-term residents)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Bilateral or multilateral permit (such as CEMT) held for non-EEA routes that require oneWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles on those routes)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Cabotage limits observed (three operations in seven days, then a four-day pause) and evidence of the incoming trip and each operation keptWhere applicable (mover performs moves inside another EU country)Verified by AffirmationRequired