Luxembourg Citizenship: The Complete Guide for 2022

One of the best ways to secure your long-term financial future is by becoming a citizen of another country, and Luxembourg Citizenship offers you the ability to live in one of the world’s most affluent countries while also enjoying EU citizenship (and all its benefits) — how convenient! But how do you obtain Luxembourg Citizenship? Find out by reading our complete guide on Luxembourg Citizenship here.

Luxembourg Citizenship: The Complete Guide for 2022

The easy-to-read guide that covers everything you need to know about obtaining Luxembourg citizenship in this complete step-by-step guide (Luxembourg Citizenship: The Complete Guide for 2022). Over 400 pages with over 1000+ pictures and other illustrations that walk you through all the steps to becoming a citizen of Luxembourg. Covering topics like how to obtain citizenship, what documents you will need, where to file your application, and much more, there’s no need to look anywhere else!

If you’re interested in obtaining Luxembourg citizenship, you’ve come to the right place! Our guide will teach you everything you need to know about the process and its requirements, including which documents you need to send in and what you should expect back from the authorities after applying. We’ll also discuss the benefits of becoming a citizen of this country, both personal and financial so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not Luxembourg citizenship is right for you.

Why move to Luxembourg?

To move to Luxembourg is a must if you want to feel at home, make new friends and work in a country where your standard of living will be better than ever before. Luxembourg is an ideal place to live in and its capital, also called Luxembourg City, has everything one could wish for.

The town is filled with amazing restaurants serving all kinds of food from all over Europe as well as numerous bars, cafés, and shops. It’s worth noting that many of these places are also rather affordable compared to prices in other countries. Furthermore, living here will allow you to greatly improve your quality of life since salaries are higher here than anywhere else on Earth.

Benefits of Luxembourg citizenship

One of the greatest benefits of a Luxembourgish passport is that it provides visa-free access to 147 countries. This is particularly beneficial if you travel often and want your travels to be hassle-free. Moreover, if you are married to a Luxembourg citizen or have children that are citizens, you can get citizenship in just 2 years instead of 4.

Another perk is that Luxembourgish passport holders are exempt from taxes on income generated abroad. If you work as an ex-pat and would like your income to remain tax-free, getting a second passport might be a wise move! It's also worth noting that since 2000, only 1% of people holding a Luxembourgish nationality have ever renounced their citizenship.

How to get Luxembourg citizenship

Luxembourg is one of a select few countries that allow foreigners to gain access to citizenship without having to renounce their original nationality. This means a Luxembourg passport will not hinder your travel plans, you can enjoy visa-free travel throughout Europe and you won’t need a permit or visa if you want to take a holiday outside of Europe.

You can even vote in European elections! However, there are certain criteria that must be met in order to qualify for Luxembourgish citizenship. For example, candidates should be able to speak at least one language of Luxembourg (either German or French) and must have lived within its borders for at least 5 years (or be married to someone who has).

Luxembourg citizenship by naturalization

Luxembourg is a small country in Western Europe with a population of roughly half a million. It has been independent since 1867 and maintains official relations with 175 other countries, including several non-European countries. As an EU member state, Luxembourg residents enjoy full freedom of movement within any other EU country as well as access to employment throughout much of Europe.

Citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are granted equal access to employment in Luxembourg without any work permits or special permissions necessary. Furthermore, citizens from these four European countries may live in Luxembourg indefinitely without restrictions on travel or employment options even if they have no intention of working there permanently.

These are as follows: 

  • You’re aged over 18 
  • You have legally resided in Luxembourg for at least five years (The year immediately before applying for citizenship must be uninterrupted) 
  • You have a basic command of the Luxembourgish language (A2 level spoken, B1 comprehension) 
  • You have knowledge of Luxembourgish civics, having taken the “Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg” course, or passed the exam  
  • You haven’t made any false statements, concealed important information, or acted fraudulently during the naturalization process 
  • You don’t have a criminal record with a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, or a suspended sentence of 24 months or more.  

Once you meet all those requirements, the next step is to gather your application documents, consisting of the following: 

  • Copy of your birth certificate
  • Copy of your passport 
  • The completed biographical questionnaire, signed and dated 
  • Criminal record certificates, from your country of citizenship, and any other countries where you have lived from the age of 18 in the 15 years before submitting your Luxembourg citizenship application 
  • Certificate of passing the Luxembourgish language exam 
  • A certificate confirming that you attended the Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg” course, or passed the exam 

Then, you submit these documents to the civil registrar in Luxembourg. The Nationality Office of the Ministry of Justice will review the application. They may ask for additional documents if they decide the ones you’ve provided are insufficient or unsuitable in some way. The Minister of Justice will grant (or reject) naturalization within eight months from the submission date. This timeline is typically followed closely. In many cases, it may be quicker than eight months. 

Luxembourg citizenship by option

There are three ways to qualify for the Luxembourg citizenship option. The most straightforward way is to marry a Luxembourger or an EU citizen of Luxembourg (who must themselves have been a Luxembourger or EU citizen before marrying a Luxembourger). If you meet these criteria, you must wait 3 years after being married before applying for citizenship and you must live in Luxembourg during that time.

In addition, you cannot be older than 45 if you are a man or 40 if you are a woman when applying. Otherwise, your spouse will also need to prove their financial self-sufficiency - i.e., that they make enough money to support both of you. That means income tax returns and not just their corporate paperwork will be needed.

Citizenship by option can be granted in the following situations:  

  • Adults with a parent, adoptive parent, or grandparent who is or was Luxembourgish 
  • Parents of a Luxembourgish minor  
  • Marriage to a Luxembourgish national  
  • Persons born in Luxembourg, over the age of 12  
  • Adults having completed 7 years of schooling in Luxembourg  
  • Adults residing legally in Luxembourg for at least 20 years  
  • Adults having fulfilled the obligations arising from the Welcome and Integration Contract (Contrat d’accueil et d’intégration)  
  • Adults who settled in Luxembourg before the age of 18  
  • Adults with a stateless person, refugee, or subsidiary protection status  
  • Volunteer soldiers  

Costs of applying for Luxembourg citizenship

In 2022, it cost $5.6 million to apply for Luxembourg citizenship (resident program). That cost is expected to decrease to $4.9 million in 2023 and continue on a downward trend as applicants become more qualified (higher income per capita, higher wealth, etc.) under-tightening requirements.

In addition, there are also annual maintenance fees of $150k for an individual or $200k for a couple along with real estate purchase options. Non-residents can also apply and pay slightly higher fees depending on their country of residence.

How do I get a Luxembourg residence permit?

Luxembourg Residence Permit Application Process; Luxembourg Economic Residence Permit. Luxembourg only accepts economic residence permit applications. Candidates who want to apply must live in Luxembourg while they are applying, and must submit their application online via www.lux-migration.public.lu/index?lg=en. Before you can apply, however, you will need to gather a few documents to be submitted with your application.

Residency in Luxembourg for private reasons

Prior to 1 January 2022, citizenship applicants had to show they were residents in Luxembourg prior to obtaining their residence permit. Following a change of law that took effect on 1 June 2022, there is no longer a residency requirement.

However, applicants still have to spend 10 years in Luxembourg before they can become citizens; children born in Luxembourg who meet certain requirements will also be eligible for citizenship. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis by officials.

Getting the residency permit requires two separate stages.  

Stage One: Before entering the country: 

  1. Apply to the Immigration Directorate for temporary authorization to stay.  
  1. If you’re from a country that needs a visa to enter Luxembourg, apply for a Type D visa after getting the temporary authorization to stay.  

Stage Two: After entering the country: 

  1. Let your new commune of residence know about your arrival  
  1. Pass a medical check  
  1. Apply for the residence permit  

To get residency for private reasons, the most important factor is having enough resources to support yourself, without needing to work within Luxembourg or claim social security. 

Residency in Luxembourg by investment  

Luxembourg doesn’t have a citizenship by investment program, but it does offer a pathway to residency for those who wish to invest in the country. This can lead to citizenship after five years. Investment types include the following: 

  • New business – an investment of EUR 500,000 plus the creation of 5 jobs in Luxembourg 
  • Existing businesses – Investment of EUR 500,000 in an existing business based in Luxembourg 
  • Management and investment structure – EUR 3 million  
  • Holding a bank deposit – EUR 20 million, held for 5 years in a Luxembourg bank  

Please note, that these residencies by investment pathways require the applicant to submit a detailed application to the government of Luxembourg. The timeline to citizenship is still five years, just as with the passive income route.  

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The oral/language Luxembourgish test

If you’re planning to apply through one of Luxembourg’s Grand Duchy offices, you have to pass an oral/language test set by one of its consulates or embassies. In 2016, about 1,600 people took these exams, which were conducted by appointment only in Brazil (São Paulo), China (Beijing and Shanghai), France (Paris), Italy (Rome), Portugal (Lisbon), and Spain (Madrid). The test has two parts.

In part one, applicants must answer multiple-choice questions based on a five-minute read of Luxembourgish texts followed by some yes/no questions. If they fail part one, they don’t proceed to part two—the language exam that measures written proficiency in Luxembourgish.

Exempt from the test

As part of its economic citizenship program, Luxembourg offers an exemption from its language test for those with a bachelor's degree from a recognized European university. A similar exemption is available to EU citizens and workers in Luxembourg. If you qualify as a member of either group, then you do not need to take any language tests or provide proof of your proficiency.

You may still need to fulfill other requirements such as being self-sufficient and not having committed crimes (and being able to prove it). As a general rule, if you are planning on immigrating anywhere, speak or at least understand some of the local language(s). Luxembourg is not so much an exception here—though it does offer some exemptions—as it is one piece of advice among many others.

Necessary documents

  • a birth certificate (and that of any minor children of the applicant);
  • accurate biographical information from the questionnaire model from the site www.mj.public.lu and on this site (www.bienvenue.lu);
  • residence certificates covering the last seven years of living in Luxembourg. These certificates are available from your local municipal or commune of residence;
  • a certified authentic copy of the passport;
  • police record(s) covering the last 15 years;
  • a pass certificate for the Luxemburgish language test;
  • a certificate of attendance of civic instruction classes.

While the application is under examination, you may not leave the country. This can be up to eight months, as the Minister of Justice gives a positive or negative response to the application within eight months from submission. The suspension might happen if more information is necessary or there are significant changes during the application. If the application is refused, you can appeal before the administrative court within three months of being notified.

Citizenship by birth

Lastly, the children of Luxembourg citizens are Luxembourg nationals – wherever in the world they are born. In return, children born in Luxembourg to non-Luxembourg parents can also claim Luxembourg nationality if one or more of their parents was also born in Luxembourg. A child adopted by a Luxembourg citizen is also entitled to full citizenship.

FAQs

Can I buy Luxembourg citizenship?

Since April 1, 2017, a new law allows residents in Luxembourg for at least 5 years to acquire Luxembourg nationality through naturalization under certain conditions. The applicant is not obliged to renounce his or her original nationality because of the principle of dual nationality.

Does Luxembourg allow dual citizenship?

According to the Luxembourg Nationality Law of October 2008, which came into force on the 1 January 2009 any citizen of Luxembourg is allowed to hold dual or multiple citizenship.

How many years does it take to get Luxembourg citizenship?

Adults who have legally resided in Luxembourg for at least 20 years can apply for Luxembourgish nationality. The final year of residence immediately preceding the option declaration must have been uninterrupted.

Can an Indian get citizenship in Luxembourg?

You must have legally resided in Luxembourg for at least five years, with the final year of residence uninterrupted. You must also have knowledge of the Luxembourgish language and have passed the language test certificate, in addition to the Living Together in Luxembourg course or test.

Conclusion

Luxembourg citizenship is a big deal. It makes you a citizen of one of Europe’s most powerful countries and gives you access to, among other things, more freedom to live and work wherever you want within Europe. Luxembourg has made it easier than ever to obtain its citizenship; if you meet all eligibility requirements (listed below), your chances of success are excellent.

So good, in fact, that my company can help you fast-track your citizenship application and reduce by at least six months or more from what could be a two-year process. If you think becoming a citizen of Luxembourg might be right for you, get in touch today—the earlier we start working together, the better chance we have at securing your new status as early as 2022!