How to Become a Luxembourg Citizen in 10 Easy Steps

Many people think it is challenging to become a citizen of this country "Luxembourg" Although the country is the wealthiest country in the European Union, That doesn't mean it is different from other countries. In the post, we will discuss the easier one can become a citizen of Luxembourg Check below for more information.

  Immigration   Jun 26, 2022   0  Add to Reading List
How to Become a Luxembourg Citizen in 10 Easy Steps

If you want to become a citizen of Luxembourg, the first thing you need to know is that it’s relatively easy to do if you have a decent work history and you can prove that you can support yourself financially. You also need to be able to read, write and speak Luxembourgish as well as know enough about the local culture and traditions to integrate into the country and feel like you’re part of the community. 

Luxembourg Naturalization Law of 2017

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.

To become a citizen of Luxembourg, here are the 10 steps you need to take. First, let's check when the law of Luxembourg Naturalization law as of 2017.

Step 1 - Enrol in English

Enroll in English is an advanced English course for non-native speakers of English. This program, which lasts one year and runs from September through July, is geared toward adults who have completed their secondary education. There are seven different levels with students generally starting at level 1 or 2 and finishing at level 7 or 8.
The average class size is 12 students per class but could be as many as 24 students per class if there are enough applicants.
Students must complete 50 hours of classroom instruction and pass three exams during each semester to move up a level. Students can choose to take classes either in morning or afternoon sessions, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Morning sessions run from 9:00am - 12:30pm while afternoon sessions run from 1:30pm - 4:00pm.

Step 2 - Learn the local language

In order to be eligible for naturalization, you must also demonstrate your proficiency in one of Luxembourg’s three official languages: French, German, or Luxemburgish.
To apply for naturalization, you’ll need to have completed at least two years of secondary education and should be able to pass a standard language test administered by the Ministry of Justice. English, French, and German are widely spoken, but you’ll definitely get an advantage if you speak Luxembourgish too.
Even if English is your first language, learning one of these other languages is important for your professional development as well as interacting with locals. For instance, some of them might assume that you can’t speak their native tongue and use it against you when doing business deals or negotiating salaries.

Step 3 - Find your job

You can’t become a citizen of an EU country without one, and you won’t be able to find one without speaking some of its languages. Start by learning some basics. Brush up on your German or French, or pick up some English words if you want to work in English-speaking countries like Sweden, Ireland, or Malta.

Just knowing how to say hello and thank you will go a long way when it comes time for interviews. And don’t forget about LinkedIn: It has more than 150 million users worldwide, many of whom are likely looking for new employees right now.

The trick is figuring out how to make yourself stand out from all those other candidates who have similar resumes as yours.

Step 4 - Meet the Physical Residency Requirements

As an applicant, you must live in Luxembourg for at least 9 months of each year (1 April to 31 March) after obtaining your residence permit. If you are under 16, then you only need to live there for 3 years before applying for citizenship.

After meeting these residency requirements and applying at least 1 year before reaching age 18, you will become eligible for citizenship between your 18th and 23rd birthdays.

Step 5 - Get EU Health Insurance

When you apply for citizenship, you’ll need to prove that you have some form of health insurance. In other words, if something catastrophic happens while you live in Luxembourg and your financial situation suddenly changes, and hopefully, it won’t you will not be left completely high and dry.

Step 6 - Work Locally for at least 240 Days Per Year

The sixth step is one of the most controversial. To become a citizen, you must prove that you are actually employed in Luxembourg.

In order to ensure that you aren’t taking advantage of its laws and not paying taxes, there is a requirement that requires you to work for at least 240 days per year. If you have children or other family members who are also applying for citizenship, they will need to meet additional requirements.

Step 7 - Obtain the RIF ID card

The ID card, also called a Resident Identity Card (RIF), is issued by Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The RIF is similar to an American state driver’s license or an international passport and it serves as your official proof of identity within Luxembourg and with government agencies abroad.

You can obtain your RIF at any branch of Luxembourg’s national bank, Banque et Caisse d'Épargne de l'État du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (BCEE). A photo will be taken at time of application.

Step 8 - Register your car locally

After you’ve registered your car, make sure you get your local registration sticker from your town hall. You need to display it on both sides of your car windscreen – and make sure you pay any outstanding fines before doing so.

Fines are charged per month, depending on how long you’ve been driving around without one (and for how many years). Since you don’t have a driving license yet, remember that having an accident will cost much more than not having one.

Step 9 - Apply for your resident permit.

After you've been in Luxembourg for five years, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. This will enable you to benefit from all of Luxembourg's advantages as well as continue your life and career here. Step 8 - Invest €125,000:

You must have invested at least €125,000 into an approved project before applying for permanent residency. Alternatively, investment can be used as part of other criteria such as employment or self-employment.

In order to invest, you need to open a bank account with one of Luxembourg's financial institutions (e.g., Banque et Caisse d'Épargne de l'Etat du Luxembourg).

The money needs to remain in that account for at least three months prior to making your application. If you plan on using investment as part of your requirements, it is best if you discuss it with an immigration lawyer beforehand so that they can help guide you through each step and ensure that everything is done correctly.

Step 10 - Attend an appointment with the police

Next, you’ll need to attend an appointment with the police at one of their offices. You’ll need your passport and proof of address with you. Bring some form of photo ids such as your driver’s license or national ID card.

The officer will make sure that your details match up against those on record and then they will enter them into their database. If everything checks out, they will print off a declaration of residence document and stamp it with approval.

Who can apply for Luxembourg nationality?

Luxembourg nationality is automatically granted to a person who is 18 years old and born in Luxembourg, provided that:

  • she has resided and lived regularly in Luxembourg for at least five consecutive years, just before her majority;
  • one of the parents has lived in Luxembourg for at least twelve consecutive months immediately preceding the birth.

If these two conditions are met, a child born in Luxembourg will be able to obtain nationality from the age of 12 via the “option procedure”.

The acquisition of Luxembourg nationality by option is possible in 10 specific cases:

  1. adult with a Luxembourg parent or grandparent
  2. a parent whose minor child is a Luxembourger
  3. a person married to a Luxembourg citizen
  4. a person born in Luxembourg over 12 years old
  5. an adult who has completed at least 7 years of schooling in Luxembourg
  6. a person of legal age who has lived in Luxembourg for more than 20 years
  7. an adult who has fulfilled the commitments of the reception and integration contract
  8. a person of legal age who settled in Luxembourg before his/her 18th birthday
  9. an adult with stateless, refugee, or subsidiary protection status
  10. volunteer soldier.

The second-generation right to land remains in force in Luxembourg. A child born in Luxembourg, whose parents or adopters were also born in the Grand Duchy, will automatically benefit from the Luxembourg nationality.

In addition to the cases of recovery of the Luxembourg nationality above, any person who meets the conditions to be naturalized can ask for the Luxembourg nationality under the following conditions:

  • be of legal age (over 18) at the time of application
  • have been legally resident in Luxembourg for more than 5 years and at least 1 year continuously at the time of filing the application for naturalization
  • meet the requirements of good character. That is, the applicant must not have made false statements, concealed material facts, or defrauded in any way in the application for naturalization. He/she must also not have been convicted of any criminal or prison sentence of 12 months or more, or a suspended sentence of 24 months or more.

The minimum period of residence in Luxembourg

Since 2017, the residence requirement under the new law has been reduced from 7 years to 5 years to apply for Luxembourg citizenship.

Application process

A written application must be submitted to the authorities of your local commune of residence. An application form is available from the Ministry of Justice as well as from the website www.MJ.public.lu. Documents must be translated into French or German by a sworn translator, and it is important to either submit the original of documents or provide a certified copy. All documents must have recent dates within the year. The Ministry of Justice may request other documents if it deems it necessary. All documents attached to the application must have a €4 stamp for civil status deeds and €2 for other documents.

Final Thought

In order to become a citizen of any country, one needs to reside within its borders. Once that is established, you will be able to apply for citizenship in Luxembourg. To do so, begin by making sure you qualify for citizenship under one of these categories:

You are married (or widowed) to a citizen of Luxembourg and have resided there with your spouse continuously for at least three years. *You were born in Luxembourg or have resided there continuously since birth.

Your parents were both citizens of Luxembourg when you were born, or they became citizens after your birth through naturalization or marriage.