How to Get Luxembourg CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, with a test or certificate
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Luxembourg, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has resided in Luxembourg for 5 years before the application (last year preceding application without interruption).
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Person must pass a language test.
- Civic knowledge
- Required, with a test or certificate
Person must attend course 'Living together in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg' or pass the test of this course.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Absence of certain crimes on a criminal record required.
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Luxembourg, subject to the conditions below. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person must pass a language evaluation test and have attended course 'Living together in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg' or have passed the test of this course. If person is a non-resident, three years of marriage preceding the application is required.
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Luxembourg. The law of Luxembourg confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Luxembourg to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Birth in the country
For people born in Luxembourg, the rules below show when birth there leads to citizenship.
Birth in country (two generations)
Person is born in Luxembourg to a person who was also born there.
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person born in Luxembourg to foreign nationals acquires Luxembourgish nationality automatically when he/she reaches the age of 18 if 1) he/she has resided in Luxembourg for at least five consecutive years before their 18th birthday, and 2) one of their parents who is non-Luxembourgish resided in Luxembourg for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the child's birth.
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person can acquire nationality by declaration at the age of 12 if he/she has resided at least 5 consecutive years in Luxembourg (last year of which without interruption) and his/her parents resided in Luxembourg for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the child's birth.
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Luxembourg, the rules below set out what applies. The law of Luxembourg confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is a minor whose parent is acquiring citizenship.
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of Luxembourg is the basis of this route. The law of Luxembourg confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Luxembourg, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired.
Person is a former citizen 'by origin'. Other conditions: good reputation (no false statements, no criminal offences). No residence requirement until the end of 2020 (LUX 89).
A woman who lost citizenship (obtained by origin, option, or naturalisation) can reacquire it through the registrar of her last place of residence in Luxembourg (no residence required)
Residence during childhood
This route covers people who lived in Luxembourg during childhood, subject to the conditions below. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person must have had seven years of schooling in a Luxembourg public school and 1 year of residence preceding the application.
Refugees
For recognised refugees in Luxembourg, the rules below set out what applies. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person is a recognised refugee or has 'statut de protection subsidiaire'. Person has been resident in Luxembourg for 5 years before the application(last year before application without interruption). Other conditions: pass a language evaluation test and have attended course 'Living together in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg' or have passed the test of this course.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below. The law of Luxembourg confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Foundlings
Person is found in Luxembourg of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Luxembourg to parents who are stateless or unable to transfer their citizenship.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Luxembourg. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has rendered exceptional services to Luxembourg.
Public or military service
For people with public or military service for Luxembourg, the rules below set out what applies. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person is a volunteer soldier having served at least one years. Condition: certificate of good and loyal services of chief commander.
Not available in Luxembourg: Other family members of citizens, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Very long residence, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is accepted in Luxembourg for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
The period of 5 years set under the law of Luxembourg is also the most common one in Western Europe.
Check where Luxembourg sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Austria | 10 years | Test or certificate | Not accepted |
 Belgium | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 France | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Germany | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Liechtenstein | 10 years | Test or certificate | Citizens abroad only |
 Netherlands | 5 years | Test or certificate | Not accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 14.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Luxembourg Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/luxembourg/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/luxembourg/">How to Get Luxembourg Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Luxembourgish citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Luxembourg requires 5 years of residence, plus the other conditions in the law.
Does Luxembourg allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Luxembourg accepts dual citizenship in both directions, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Luxembourgish citizenship?
Applicants must provide a language test result or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Luxembourgish citizenship?
Demonstrating civic knowledge through a test or certificate is necessary for Luxembourgish citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Luxembourgish citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Luxembourgish citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Luxembourg citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Luxembourg. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get Luxembourg citizenship by descent?
Yes, Luxembourg has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Luxembourg citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Luxembourg.
Related pages
Also see: Luxembourg passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.