Luxembourgish citizenship: requirements, procedure and timescales
Naturalisation or option: the requirements for becoming Luxembourgish, the role of the Sproochentest and the Vivre ensemble course, the procedure at the commune and the timescales.
To become Luxembourgish by naturalisation, you must be an adult, have been legally resident in Luxembourg for at least 5 years (the last year without interruption), pass the Sproochentest, attend the Vivre ensemble course or pass its exam, and meet the conditions of good repute. Other people can use the option procedure, available in 10 cases, sometimes with lighter requirements. The procedure is free of charge.
In short: naturalisation = 5 years’ legal residence, Sproochentest and Vivre ensemble. Option = 10 specific cases (marriage, parent of a Luxembourgish child, 20 years’ residence, schooling in Luxembourg, etc.). The application is submitted in person at the commune. The Minister of Justice decides on a naturalisation within 8 months; for an option, nationality is acquired after 4 months if no objection is raised.
The different routes to nationality
The basic rule is the amended Law of 8 March 2017 on Luxembourgish nationality, amended in particular by the Law of 23 August 2023 on intercultural living together. Guichet.public.lu distinguishes between:
- automatic possession, by operation of law alone (for example by birth);
- naturalisation, open to any foreign adult who meets the conditions;
- option, reserved for specific situations;
- reclaiming nationality, for certain people who have lost Luxembourgish nationality or who descend from a Luxembourgish ancestor.
Naturalisation: the requirements
According to guichet.public.lu’s naturalisation page, you must:
- be an adult;
- have been legally resident in Luxembourg for at least 5 years, with the last year before the application uninterrupted;
- pass the Luxembourgish language assessment test (Sproochentest);
- attend the “Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg” course or pass the corresponding exam;
- meet the conditions of good repute.
Good repute
The application is refused in the event of a false statement, fraud or concealment of material facts. It is also refused in the event of a conviction, in Luxembourg or abroad, to a criminal sentence, to an unsuspended prison sentence of at least 12 months or a suspended prison sentence of at least 24 months, if the sentence was fully served less than 15 years ago (unless the person has been rehabilitated).
Option: 10 cases
Guichet.public.lu’s option page lists 10 cases. Here is a summary; the details matter, so always check the page.
| Case | Residence | Sproochentest and Vivre ensemble |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Luxembourgish parent, adoptive parent or grandparent | No requirement stated | Not listed |
| 2. Parent of a Luxembourgish minor | 5 years, last year uninterrupted | Yes |
| 3. Marriage to a Luxembourgish national | If you do not live in Luxembourg: 3 years of marriage immediately before the declaration (with exceptions) | Yes |
| 4. Born in Luxembourg (aged 12 or over) | 5 consecutive years immediately before the declaration, plus a condition concerning a parent | Not listed |
| 5. 7 years of schooling in Luxembourg | 12 consecutive months immediately before the declaration | Not listed |
| 6. Legal residence of at least 20 years | 20 years, last year uninterrupted | Replaced by a 24-hour Luxembourgish language course |
| 7. Welcome and Integration Contract or citizens’ pact modules completed | 5 years, last year uninterrupted | Yes (history module exempted) |
| 8. Settled in Luxembourg before the age of 18 | 5 years, last year uninterrupted | Yes |
| 9. Stateless person, refugee or beneficiary of subsidiary protection | 5 years, last year uninterrupted | Yes |
| 10. Volunteer soldier | At least 1 year of good and loyal service | Not listed |
The Sproochentest and the Vivre ensemble course
The Sproochentest is organised by the INLL: speaking at A2 level and listening at B1 level. Registration costs €75. You pass with at least half the points in the speaking test, or if the average of the two parts reaches half the points (preliminary conditions).
The Vivre ensemble course lasts 24 hours; the exam has 40 questions. Everything is explained in our guide The Vivre ensemble exam: format and preparation. Some people are exempt from one or the other: see Who is exempt from the Sproochentest?
Vous préparez l’examen ? 500 questions au format officiel · €25
Voir la préparationThe procedure, step by step
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Gather the certificates
Sproochentest pass certificate and Vivre ensemble certificate, unless you have an exemption or fall under an option case that does not require them.
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Prepare the documents
Full copy of your birth certificate, copy of your passport, completed and signed notice biographique (biographical questionnaire), criminal record extracts from the countries concerned. Documents that are not in French, German, English or Luxembourgish must be translated by a sworn translator or a foreign public authority.
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Go to the commune
You submit the application in person to the civil registrar of the commune where you usually reside. Signing by proxy is not possible. For an option, people living abroad apply to the City of Luxembourg.
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Transmission to the Ministry of Justice
The civil registrar forwards the complete file to the Ministry of Justice, which may request additional documents.
Timescales and costs
| Step | Time limit |
|---|---|
| Providing missing documents | 3 months, otherwise the application is not examined |
| Decision on a naturalisation | 8 months after the application; takes effect on the date of the ministerial order |
| Acquisition by option | 4 months after the Ministry receives the file, if no objection is raised |
| Appeal against the civil registrar’s refusal to record the application | 1 month, to the Minister of Justice |
| Appeal against a refusal of naturalisation | 3 months, before the administrative tribunal, through a court lawyer (avocat à la Cour) |
Both the naturalisation and the option procedures are free of charge. Some documents may have a cost (copies of civil status records, foreign documents). Sproochentest fees and the fees for certain courses can be reimbursed under certain conditions, after the nationality application has been submitted (guichet.public.lu).
What about reclaiming nationality?
Reclaiming nationality concerns adults who have lost Luxembourgish nationality, certain women who lost it through marriage, and descendants of an ancestor who was Luxembourgish on 1 January 1900. For these descendants, the page gives a deadline of 31 December 2025 for signing the declaration. Check your situation on the page.
A special case? Check with the source
This article is for information only and does not replace legal advice. For your situation, consult guichet.public.lu or the Service de la nationalité luxembourgeoise, the Luxembourgish nationality department (nationalite@mj.public.lu, +352 247 84 547).
Ready to prepare for both tests? The Vivre ensemble pack is available now; the Nationality pack (Sproochentest + Vivre ensemble, €65) will open at the same time as the Sproochentest pack. Discover our packs or try the free mini-quiz.
Frequently asked questions
How many years do you have to live in Luxembourg to be naturalised?
At least 5 years of legal residence, with the last year before the application uninterrupted.
Can you obtain Luxembourgish nationality without the Sproochentest?
Yes, in certain option cases that do not require it, or with an exemption. For example, after at least 20 years of residence, a 24-hour Luxembourgish language course replaces the Sproochentest and the Vivre ensemble course.
How much does a nationality application cost?
The procedure is free of charge. You need to allow for the cost of certain documents and the Sproochentest registration (€75), which can be reimbursed under certain conditions.
Where do you submit the application?
In person, to the civil registrar of your commune of residence. For an option from abroad, to the City of Luxembourg.
La préparation complète à l’examen Vivre ensemble et le Sproochentest
€25
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