Company formation checklist for Luxembourg, by profile
Published on 10 October 2026 · Updated on 10 October 2026
In short
The company formation checklist for Luxembourg is the list of documents to gather, profile by profile, before the bank and the business permit. Start with the common base, then add the blocks that apply to you: resident or non-resident shareholder, corporate shareholder, manager, regulated activity. Each party may ask for more.
Common base for every formation
- Project: description of the activity, chosen legal form, amount of capital and split between shareholders.
- Name: two or three proposed company names to check against the RCS.
- Registered office: lease, shared office contract or domiciliation contract, or a letter of commitment from the landlord.
- Business plan: a few pages on the activity, customers and expected flows, often requested by the bank.
- Source of funds: evidence of where the money paid into the capital comes from.
For each individual shareholder
- Identity: valid passport or identity card.
- Address: recent proof of address, utility bill or residence certificate.
- Profile: CV or career summary, which helps the bank understand the origin of the wealth.
- Tax status: country of tax residence and tax number, for the bank’s forms.
In addition, if the shareholder is a company
- Existence: recent trade register extract of the shareholder company.
- Articles: up-to-date consolidated articles of association.
- Powers: resolution authorising the holding and appointing the signatory.
- Ownership: chart down to the individuals and ID documents of the beneficial owners.
For the manager who holds the business permit
- Criminal record: recent extract from the country of residence.
- Qualification: diplomas or proof of experience required for the activity.
- Link with the company: manager’s appointment or employment contract.
In addition, if the manager is non-resident or has lived in Luxembourg for less than 10 years
- No bankruptcy: notarised no-bankruptcy declaration.
- Foreign records: criminal record extracts from each country of residence over the last 10 years.
- Formalities: apostille or legalisation and, if the language is not French, German or English, a sworn translation.
Depending on the legal form and activity
- SARL and SA: any powers of attorney for signing before the notary, proof of payment of the capital where it is paid in at signing.
- SARL-S: confirmation that each shareholder is an individual and holds no other SARL-S.
- Craft or liberal activity: qualification certificate or registration with the relevant professional body.
- Financial activity: CSSF licensing file, prepared with specialist counsel.
- Planned hire: employment contract and employee details for the CCSS entry declaration.
A checklist, not a closed list
The bank, the notary and the domiciliation provider apply their own due diligence procedures and may ask for other documents or a specific format, for example a certified true copy. A criminal record extract less than three months old is generally expected. We tell you the exact format for each document.
Going further
The detail of each document and what it is used for is in the guide to the documents required for formation. To prepare the information the bank asks for, use the KYC questionnaire and the source of funds statement template. For foreign documents, see apostille and translation.
Next step
Get your exact checklist
Based on your legal form, residence, shareholders and activity.
Frequently asked questions
Which documents should I start with?
Start with the documents that take the longest to obtain: foreign criminal record extracts, the no-bankruptcy declaration, apostilles and source of funds evidence. These are the items that most often delay the bank and the business permit, so request them first.
Do the documents have to be translated?
A document in French, German or English is generally accepted without translation. In another language, a translation by a sworn translator is often requested, in addition to the apostille for a foreign public document. Check the format with each party before ordering.
Is the checklist the same for a SARL-S and a SARL?
The common base is the same for both. A SARL and an SA add the documents linked to the notarial deed, such as powers of attorney and proof of payment of the capital. A SARL-S requires all shareholders to be individuals, each holding only one SARL-S.
Are my answers saved?
No. This checklist is a static page, so nothing you read or tick is collected or stored. If you want a list tailored to your own case, with your legal form, residence and activity taken into account, the start journey provides it together with the quote.