Establish a Subsidiary in Luxembourg

From the beginning, it is important to know that a subsidiary is a form of business which can be established by a foreign company in Luxembourg whose majority of capital is owned by the foreign stockholders. If you would like to know the incorporation procedures of a subsidiary in Luxembourg, it is best to get in touch with our team of company formation specialists in Luxembourg and find out more about the conditions imposed in this matter. Our team is able to provide you with the necessary support and guidance, in order for you to skip any errors in terms of registration and get straight to business without thinking of harsh formalities related to starting a company in Luxembourg. 

How can I open a subsidiary in Luxembourg in 2026?

A subsidiary is Luxembourg is a legal and independent entity, compared to a branch whose actions are managed by the parent company. Likewise, a subsidiary is incorporated as a company with a legal entity in Luxembourg. There are two forms of business through which a subsidiary can operate: the private limited liability company and the joint stock company.

SARL is the best option for subsidiaries in Luxembourg due to simplified procedures, formalities and structure. The incorporation of such a business might take around 3 weeks and one of our local agents can help.

Subsidiaries in Luxembourg must have a business license before operating in the market. As such, applicants, respectively the business owners should present proof of knowledge to the Ministry of the Economy (General Directorate for SMEs), which issues the business permit for a Commercial Activity in Luxembourg.

Registering a subsidiary as a private limited liability company

The private limited liability company is normally suggested for small or medium foreign companies, and it can be registered by at least 1 founder and a maximum number of 100 members. Many business activities choose the private limited liability company because it provides limited liability and has lower registration costs compared to a public limited company which is subject to higher expenses. Such an entity requires a minimum share capital of EUR 12,000 which needs to be contributed at the time of the registration.

Are you planning to open a company in Luxembourg? The recommendation is to also take into account the accounting aspects. So, in this endeavor, you can collaborate with our accountants in Luxembourg who have vast experience. Tax advice and planning are important aspects, as well as various types of audits, for which you can receive the support of our specialists.

Registering a subsidiary as a public limited liability company

The public limited company or the joint stock company is a preferred business form by big companies from abroad willing to expand in Luxembourg. It is good to know that the shareholders have limited liability which is an important benefit. Even the minimum share capital for this business structure is larger and established at EUR 30,000. It is good to know that contributions can be made in cash or in kind and it can be increased later on. Like in the case of a private company, a single founder is sufficient for establishing a subsidiary in 2026.

A subsidiary with operations in Luxembourg is based on a decision of opening it which a document signed by the foreign company. The foundation deeds containing the name and the address of the subsidiary, the name of the shareholders and their identification details, plus the contribution to the capital and the articles of association containing provisions regarding the good function of the company need to be submitted by the founders. After the incorporation process is complete, a certificate of registration is issued for the new company, in order for you to start the activities.

How long does it take to register a subsidiary in Luxembourg?

In Luxembourg, the company formation process takes around 19 days or 3 weeks if all the documents are accepted. A bank account must be opened for the company in order to start the incorporation procedure and deposit the minimum share capital. It is good to know that businesses in Luxembourg will activate only if special permits and licenses are obtained if they operate in certain business fields.

The next thing to do is to register with the relevant tax authorities in order to obtain a tax identification number and a VAT number. Our company formation specialists in Luxembourg can help foreigners open a subsidiary in this country and make all the necessary preparations to register the new company. International investors who choose to establish their presence on the Luxembourgish market can also benefit from the big number of double tax treaties signed by Luxembourg with countries worldwide. 

If you want to open a special limited partnership in Luxembourg, our company formation specialists can help you. 

Why establish a subsidiary instead of a branch?

The reasons why foreign investors decide on expanding their businesses with the help of subsidiaries are determined by the independent status of this kind of entity compared to a branch. It is good to know that a subsidiary has limited liability for the parent company, it has an easy incorporation, however, you might want to observe the costs for establishing such an entity, a little bit expensive compared to a branch.

As for a mutual condition, the foreign company will have to prepare the decision of opening a branch or a subsidiary in Luxembourg as part of the necessary documents for registration. If you would like to know more about how you can establish a subsidiary in Luxembourg and about the requirements in this matter, do not hesitate to get in touch with our team of consultants. Also, you might be interested in accounting services (tax advice, consultancy and management accounting, personnel administration, payroll, financial and management accounting) for your company in Luxembourg, a matter where our team of advisors can help.

VAT registration for your subsidiary in Luxembourg

The registration for VAT is the next step after you have received the certificate of incorporation related to the subsidiary in Luxembourg in 2026.  Companies dealing with import and export activities, selling goods on the internet, in Luxembourg, organizing live events, or holding goods with resale purposes must register for VAT. Here are the main conditions for VAT registration for your subsidiary in Luxembourg:

1. An initial declaration for legal persons must be provided to the competent authorities.
2. The constitutional documents (in French or German) of the company are necessary.
3. The identification documents of the owners and the managers of the subsidiary are needed.
4. Information about the bank account of the subsidiary and about the date the company was registered.

The successful registration for VAT comes with a VAT identification number of 8 digits and a certificate showing the company is a taxpayer in Luxembourg. Please feel free to solicit support for tax registration from our company formation specialists in Luxembourg. You can watch the following video about opening a subsidiary and the process of company formation in Luxembourg for more information:

What are the main procedures for opening a subsidiary in Luxembourg?

It is important to know that there are no harsh formalities for establishing a subsidiary in Luxembourg, however, it is best to observe the main steps in this matter and ask for help from our team of consultants:

1. If you decide on a SARL, you need to prepare EUR 12,000 as minimum share capital.
2. EUR 30,000 is necessary for a public limited liability for your subsidiary in Luxembourg.
3. The declaration of the parent company showing the intention of opening a subsidiary in Luxembourg is mandatory.
4. Your subsidiary will need a business address in Luxembourg and a legal representative.
5. The Articles of Association and the Memorandum of Association are the company’s main documents.

Luxembourg provides varied business structures to local and international entrepreneurs. In the case of subsidiaries, these can be wholly-owned or partially-owned, depending on the business nature, operations, budget and other aspects.

Accounting conditions for subsidiaries in Luxembourg

Whether you want to open an accounting department in your firm or hire the services of a specialized accounting company, it is important to have a clear picture of the accounting matters for a subsidiary in Luxembourg. The first thing to do is to register for VAT with the Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority (AED), the institution that will issue the VAT number. Additionally, it is important to know that the annual accounts can be filed electronically via the eCDF platform and the Luxembourg Business Registers (RCS).

As for the VAT returns, a subsidiary in Luxembourg has the possibility of filing them monthly, quarterly or annually, depending on annual turnover (annual returns up to EUR 112,000, quarterly up to EUR 620,000, monthly above). A subsidiary can be easy to register in Luxembourg, however, you should know that our company formation representatives in Luxembourg can help you with all the requirements in this matter, like drafting the needed documents, opening a bank account, and registering for tax purposes, all in a proficient and cost-effective manner. You may collaborate with our accountants in Luxembourg when forming a company here.

The advantages of a subsidiary in Luxembourg

A subsidiary has certain advantages that differentiate it from the branch or representative office. Although it has larger incorporation costs because the foreign company needs to register a new company in Luxembourg, the subsidiary offers a greater degree of maneuverability and less liability for the foreign company. The advantages of the subsidiary include the limited liability for the parent company and the legal independence from the foreign company. It is important to know that the administrative and operational procedures needed to run a subsidiary in Luxembourg will be more complex compared to a branch. However, the foreign company can enjoy a complete lack of liability towards the actions and debts of the subsidiary in Luxembourg.  

Facts about the economy of Luxembourg

If you want to open a subsidiary in Luxembourg, you will find good economic conditions here in the current and following years. According to the European Commission, increased investment and consumer expenditure will contribute to Luxembourg’s Gross Domestic Product growth of 1.9% in 2026. The Commission stated that economic growth is expected to accelerate in 2026 and 2027, supported by continuing favorable financing conditions, which should boost investment and private consumption.

Low interest rates stimulate investments and private spending while supporting the exports of financial services. However, due to the renewed contraction in energy prices (electricity fees) and lower food inflation, prices are expected to rise at a slower rate of 1.7% in 2026.

Our agents in company incorporation in Luxembourg can give you further details about the requirements for company incorporation and management in the country as well as tax compliance. Do not hesitate to contact us for more details about how you can open a subsidiary in Luxembourg in 2026.