Luxembourg Citizenship: How to Become a Citizen of One of the Happiest Countries in the World

Luxembourg is the smallest state in Europe (excluding the European ministates) and the only sovereign Grand Duchy in the world. The head of Luxembourg is a constitutional monarch, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri.

In 2022, Luxembourg was ranked the sixth-happiest country in the world. The passport of Luxembourg is the fourth most powerful passport in the world, offering visa-free access to 190 countries and territories. Around 650,000 people live in Luxembourg, about half of them are immigrants. Scroll down to learn how to get Luxembourg citizenship.

• Luxembourg Citizenship by Birth
• Is There Birth Tourism in Luxembourg
• Luxembourg Citizenship by Option
• Conditions of Receiving Luxembourg Citizenship
• Required Documents
• Where to Apply for Luxembourg Citizenship
• How Much It Costs
• How Long It Takes
• Naturalisation in Luxembourg
• Is Dual Citizenship Allowed in Luxembourg?

Luxembourg Citizenship by Birth

As in other countries, the easiest way to become a citizen of Luxembourg is to be born into a Luxembourgish family. It does not matter if the parents were born in Luxembourg or if they were naturalised, their children automatically become citizens of the Grand Duchy.

Moreover, children can get citizenship even if fatherhood or motherhood is established after birth. Children adopted by a local family where at least one member has the passport of Luxembourg also receive local citizenship. The same applies to non-citizens and foreign nationals living in Luxembourg who cannot pass their nationality onto their children for some reason. Their adopted children can automatically become Luxembourg citizens.

Is There Birth Tourism in Luxembourg

Just like in any other European country, birth tourism is impossible in Luxembourg. This means that children born on the territory of Luxembourg do not automatically get birthright citizenship. However, there are a few exceptions. A child receives citizenship:

• if one of their parents (biological or adoptive) was born in Luxembourg;
• if their parents are non-citizens of Luxembourg;
• if the parents live in Luxembourg but cannot pass their nationality onto the child;
• if they were born to unknown parents.

In addition, any person born in Luxembourg can get a passport upon turning 18 years old under two conditions:

• the person has lived in Luxembourg continuously since they were 13 years old;
• at least one parent lived in Luxembourg a year before the child was born. This rule applies only to those born after July 1, 2013.

Luxembourg Citizenship by Option

The cases listed above cover the ways of getting citizenship automatically. The Luxembourg nationality law describes 10 more ways to receive a local passport.

• Adults with a father, mother, an adoptive parent, or grandparents who has or had Luxembourg citizenship, but was unable to pass it at birth;
• Parents of a Luxembourgish minor. In this case, you must spend at least five years in Luxembourg without leaving it for the last 365 days.
• People married to a Luxembourgish citizen. If your partner lives outside the Grand Duchy, you can get a passport only three years after getting married to them.
• People aged 12 or older who were born in Luxembourg and lived here for five years. At least one parent must have lived in Luxembourg continuously for the 12 months prior to the child's birth.
• People who have studied for seven years or more at a Luxembourgish school (public or private) and did not leave the country in the last 12 months.
• Applicants with 20+ years of residency in Luxembourg who continuously stayed in the country 12 months prior to obtaining citizenship.
• People who have signed the Welcome and Integration Contract with the Luxembourg government and have lived here for at least five years, not leaving the country in the last 12 months.
• Adults who settled in Luxembourg before turning 18, lived here for at least five years and did not go outside Luxembourg in the last year.
• Non-citizens, refugees or people protected by the state. Five years residency and 12 months of continuous living in Luxembourg are also required.
• Soldiers who have served in the Luxembourg army for a year. By the way, Luxembourg has one of the smallest armies in Europe.

Conditions of Receiving Luxembourg Citizenship

You cannot receive a Luxembourg passport if you provided incorrect data or withheld vital information. People who are sentenced to more than a year in prison or those with a two-year suspended sentence will also be refused citizenship. It does not matter whether the crime was committed in Luxembourg or abroad.

All applicants for the Luxembourg citizenship must prove that

• they speak the Luxembourgish language (there are two more official languages, French and German, but the exam is in Luxembourgish);
• they know the basic rights of a Luxembourg citizen and understand how state and municipal institutions work. They should also prove their knowledge of Luxembourg history and its European integration (Luxembourg is one of the six original countries that founded the European Union in 1957).

All of this must be confirmed by certificates, given to applicants after the exams. People who have resided in Luxembourg for over 20 years do not have to take the language exam, though they must complete a 24-hour certified language course.

Required Documents

Apart from the application form and test certificates, you need to submit the following documents:

• a copy of your birth certificate and the birth certificates of your underage children, if they are also applying for citizenship;
• a copy of your passport and of the passports or other ID documents of your children;
• a completed questionnaire;
• a certificate of any existing criminal record;
• documents confirming the right to citizenship by option (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.)

If you are unable to provide any of these documents for any reason, you can apply to the Ministry of Justice for an exemption.

The Civil Registry Office only accepts paperwork in French, German, English, or Luxembourgish. Documents in other languages must be translated and certified.

You must submit all the paperwork in person. Underage applicants hand in and sign documents with their legal guardian.

Where to Apply for Luxembourg Citizenship

If you live in Luxembourg, you can apply at your commune. Anyone living abroad must submit the application package in Luxembourg, the capital city.

How Much It Costs

Applying for Luxembourg citizenship is free. You do not need to pay any fees. However, you will definitely spend a small fortune while preparing the paperwork.

How Long It Takes

If you did not provide some of the required documents, you can provide them within three months of the initial application. If not, the application will be annulled.

When all the application materials are gathered, they are reviewed by the Ministry of Justice. As a rule, applicants learn the final decision on their cases within four months.

Naturalisation in Luxembourg

The requirements for acquiring Luxembourg citizenship by naturalisation are the same as for citizenship by option. To become naturalised, you have to legally live in Luxembourg for five years, the last 12 months uninterrupted.

The basic set of documents is the same, but the Ministry of Justice may request additional documents if needed. The processing will be suspended if the applicant is under criminal investigation (in Luxembourg or abroad).

The Ministry should make the final decision within eight months of the date of submission. They usually send the results by mail. The applicants can file an appeal to the administrative court if their application was not accepted or was denied.

Is Dual Citizenship Allowed in Luxembourg?

Yes, it is. You do not have to renounce other citizenships if you become a citizen of Luxembourg.

In a Nutshell

Naturalisation in Luxembourg is no more difficult than acquiring citizenship any other way. Almost all applicants must learn the history of Luxembourg and the Luxembourgish language. Having lived a minimum of five years in Luxembourg is a vital requirement in most cases.

Cover photo: Cedric Letsch (Unsplash)