Luxembourg
ISO2: LU
Luxembourg citizenship by naturalisation through residence: minimum residence period, qualifying lawful residence, required documents, commune submission workflow, official sources, and dual citizenship policy (as of 2026).
Passport
Citizenship by residence
- Minimum years of residence
- 5.0
- Requires permanent residence
- No
- Last updated
- Feb. 18, 2026
- Notes
- Standard naturalisation requires at least 5 years of lawful (legal) residence in Luxembourg. The final 12 months immediately preceding the application must be uninterrupted. You must pass the Luxembourgish language test (Sproochentest; speaking A2 and listening B1) and obtain the "Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg" course certificate or pass the associated test. Good repute applies (serious criminal sentences can lead to refusal). Applications are filed in person with the civil registrar (état civil) of your commune of usual residence; the commune forwards the file to the Ministry of Justice (Nationality Office). The Minister of Justice decides by ministerial order within 8 months (per Guichet). Note: If you do not meet naturalisation conditions, Luxembourg law also provides alternative routes (e.g., nationality by option in specific cases such as marriage to a Luxembourger, long residence, schooling in Luxembourg, etc.).
- Dual citizenship
-
Dual citizenship: Allowed
Renunciation required: No
- Notes for dual citizenship
- Luxembourg accepts dual/multiple citizenship and does not require renunciation as a condition imposed by Luxembourg authorities. Applicants should still verify whether their other country/countries of nationality permit dual citizenship.
Qualifying residence permits
EU Blue Card / highly qualified worker residence permit
Counts as lawful residence while valid; must meet the 5-year rule and have uninterrupted last 12 months before application.
Counts
EU/EEA/Swiss free-movement residence right (registration / right of residence)
Guichet frames eligibility as "legal residence" for 5 years; EU/EEA/Swiss reside under EU free movement rules.
Counts
Long-term resident (EU) status in Luxembourg
Counts as lawful residence; not required but typically strengthens proof of stable legal residence.
Counts
Permanent residence (EU/EEA/Swiss) / permanent residence card
Counts as lawful residence; not required for naturalisation (legal residence is the criterion).
Counts
Residence permit – family member (third-country national)
Counts as lawful residence while valid; must meet the 5-year rule and have uninterrupted last 12 months before application.
Counts
Residence permit – researcher
Counts as lawful residence while valid; must meet the 5-year rule and have uninterrupted last 12 months before application.
Counts
Residence permit – salaried worker (third-country national)
Counts as lawful residence while valid; must meet the 5-year rule and have uninterrupted last 12 months before application.
Counts
Residence permit – self-employed (third-country national)
Counts as lawful residence while valid; must meet the 5-year rule and have uninterrupted last 12 months before application.
Counts
Residence permit – student / trainee
Guichet does not exclude student residence from the "legal residence" concept for naturalisation; the key requirement is lawful residence and the uninterrupted last year.
Counts
Unlawful / overstayed residence (no valid right of stay)
Does not qualify: naturalisation requires "legal residence".
Doesn’t count
Required documents
| Document | Mandatory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Biographical questionnaire (notice biographique) signed
Guichet-required biographical details questionnaire, completed honestly and signed/dated.
|
Mandatory | Required signed biographical questionnaire (notice biographique). |
|
Foreign criminal record certificates (nationality + last 15 years residence countries)
Criminal record certificates or similar documents from countries of nationality (current/former) and countries of residence since age 18 during the 15 years before application.
|
Mandatory | Criminal record certificates from (a) country/countries of nationality (current/former) and (b) countries where the applicant resided since age 18 during the prior 15 years. |
|
Full copy of birth certificate (and children under 18 if applicable)
Full copy of the applicant’s birth certificate; include children under 18 where required by the procedure.
|
Mandatory | Guichet lists a full copy of the birth certificate; include children under 18 where applicable. |
|
Luxembourgish language test pass certificate (Sproochentest)
Proof of Luxembourgish language knowledge; Guichet describes the nationality exam as speaking A2 and listening B1.
|
Mandatory | Must provide proof of Luxembourgish language knowledge (Sproochentest). |
|
Luxembourg naturalisation application – filing via commune civil registrar (état civil)
Naturalisation request submitted in person to the civil registrar of the commune of usual residence; commune forwards file to the Ministry of Justice (Nationality Office).
|
Mandatory | Filed in person with the commune civil registrar (état civil) of your usual residence; commune forwards to the Ministry of Justice (Nationality Office). |
|
Valid passport or other identity/travel document (and children under 18 if applicable)
Copy of a valid passport; if no passport, another identity or travel document may be provided.
|
Mandatory | Guichet requires a copy of a valid passport; alternative identity/travel document may be accepted if no passport. |
|
"Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg" course certificate or test pass
Certificate confirming attendance of the course or passing the exam on civic knowledge/history/institutions.
|
Mandatory | Must provide the course certificate or proof of passing the exam covering the course topics. |
|
Guardianship judge authorisation (if applicable)
Authorisation of the judge supervising guardianship to initiate the naturalisation procedure (where applicable).
|
Optional | Only if applicable (e.g., guardianship situations). |
|
Minister decision granting exemption from certain documents (if applicable)
Minister of Justice decision granting an exemption from submitting one or more required documents, upon reasoned request.
|
Optional | Only if an exemption has been granted by the Minister of Justice, upon reasoned request. |
Submission offices
Commune (municipality) – Civil registrar / Registry office (État civil) of usual residence
Municipal / Civil Registry
Primary submission point: you must appear in person before the civil registrar of your commune of usual residence to file the naturalisation application. The commune records the file and forwards it to the Ministry of Justice.
Guichet.lu – Naturalisation procedure page (official guidance)
Online
Official government information portal describing requirements, documents, and workflow for naturalisation.
Ministry of Justice – Nationality Office (Service de la nationalité)
NATIONAL
Competent authority reviewing naturalisation files; decides by ministerial order (Guichet indicates a decision period of 8 months from submission).
Official sources
Guichet.lu – Acquiring Luxembourgish nationality by naturalisation (requirements + documents + process)
Government
Primary official procedure page: 5 years legal residence (last year uninterrupted), good repute, required supporting documents, commune filing, and Ministry of Justice decision timeframe.
en
Guichet.lu – Acquiring Luxembourgish nationality by option (alternative routes)
Government
Official option routes (e.g., marriage to Luxembourger, schooling, long residence, etc.) and filing rules.
en
Guichet.lu – Prerequisites for voluntary acquisition (language test A2/B1 + "Vivre ensemble")
Government
Official prerequisites page: Sproochentest details (speaking A2, listening B1), course/test content and exemptions.
en
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs – Dual citizenship (Luxembourg accepts dual citizenship)
Government
Official MFA/consular guidance stating Luxembourg accepts dual citizenship and advising applicants to check their other nationality’s rules.
en
Legilux – Loi du 8 mars 2017 sur la nationalité luxembourgeoise (consolidated text)
Law / Regulation
Primary consolidated legal text for Luxembourg nationality law (Legilux).
fr
Latest ranking snapshot
As of Feb. 22, 2026
- Travel freedom185.00
- Residency rights31.00
- Quality of life211.90
- Economic freedom79.50
- Tax friendliness20.00
Methodology (as of 2026-02-22): composite ranking uses weighted, min-max normalized scores across (1) Travel freedom 25% from Henley Passport Index 2026 (visa-free/visa-on-arrival count), (2) Economic freedom 25% from Heritage Index of Economic Freedom 2025 (overall score), (3) Residency rights 20% proxy based on free-movement blocs (EU+EEA+Switzerland highest; Mercosur medium; others baseline), (4) Disposable income after taxes 20% from Numbeo Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax), USD, (5) Quality of life 5% from Numbeo Quality of Life Index 2026, (6) Tax friendliness 5% from Nomad Passport Index (Taxation column only). Raw indicator values are stored in this table; composite scoring is computed externally.