Opening a restaurant or café: the HORECA permit
Published on 10 October 2026 · Updated on 10 October 2026
In short
A restaurant licence in Luxembourg is a HORECA business permit, obtained through an existing permit or through the HoReCa access exam run by the House of Training. It also covers a café or a nightclub. Serving alcohol additionally requires a cabaretage licence, issued by the Customs and Excise Administration.
Activities and conditions
| Activity | Qualification required | Authority | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Café, restaurant, bar | Previous permit or HoReCa access exam (House of Training). Liquor licence for alcohol. | Ministère de l’Économie et douanes (cabaretage) | Guichet.lu |
| Tourist accommodation (from 90 nights a year) | Previous permit or HoReCa exam; fast-track training within 6 months. | Ministère de l’Économie | Guichet.lu |
Summary of Guichet.lu pages checked on 10 October 2026. If in doubt, the business permit department decides: +352 247 74 700.
The steps
- Pass the HoReCa access exam, unless you already hold a permit.
- Obtain the business permit for the premises you operate.
- Apply for the cabaretage licence if you serve alcohol.
- For accommodation from 90 nights a year: a permit, with an accelerated course possible within 6 months.
For the cabaretage licence, a non-EU national must show 5 years of residence in Luxembourg.
Next step