Vos questions
Information for Luxembourg citizens residing in the United Kingdom
I am a Luxembourg citizen and I work/study in the United Kingdom. Will I continue to be entitled to reside and work in the United Kingdom after Brexit?
Luxembourg citizens residing temporarily in the United Kingdom are advised to visit the website of the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in London to find out about the conditions and formalities they will need to fulfil if they wish to continue living there.
After the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, what will the arrangements be for Luxembourg nationals traveling between the United Kingdom and Luxembourg?
Since 1 January 2021, Luxembourg nationalsneed to be in possession of a valid passport or identity card. No visa is required for leisure travel (such as tourist or family visits), as long as the duration of the trip is less than 6 months.
Please note that according to the UK Government's indications it will no longer be possible for citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland to enter the UK solely with an identity card from 1 October 2021. From that date onwards, Luxembourg nationals will therefore be required to carry a valid passport.
However, the possibility of using identity cards will be maintained until 2025 for Luxembourg nationals who reside in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2020 and who hold either "settled" status or "pre-settled" status.
It should be noted that specific measures have also been put in place for passengers returning from the United Kingdom following the lifting of the temporary suspension of scheduled passenger flights on 23 December 2020. These specific measures, as long as they are applicable, apply to all passengers arriving from the United Kingdom on a scheduled passenger flight, regardless of the nationality of the persons concerned.
Similarly, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, specific conditions currently apply to travelers to the United Kingdom.
For further information, interested parties may contact the competent authorities in the United Kingdom, as well as the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in London (Email: londres.amb@mae.etat.lu | Phone: (+44-20) 7235 6961).
What impact will the end of the transition period have on my mobile subscription with regard to roaming charges?
From 1 January 2021, roaming providers (i.e., the national provider of mobile communication services - voice, SMS or data calls) operating in the European Union will be entitled to charge their roaming customers additional roaming charges.
In principle, EU law on roaming services prohibits any provider of roaming services in the EU from imposing additional charges, over and above the national retail price, on customers travelling within the EU.
However, following the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, this obligation will no longer apply either to roaming providers operating in the EU when their customers roam in the UK or to roaming providers operating in the UK when their customers roam in the EU. Providers will have to inform their roaming customers of the applicable roaming charges for the services provided.
Providers will nevertheless remain free to continue to apply the current tariffs to their customers.
I hold a valid driving licence issued in Luxembourg and live in the United Kingdom. Am I still able to use my Luxembourg licence after the end of the transition period (31 December 2020)?
Your Luxembourg driving licence will have to be transcribed into a British driving licence. Please contact the British authorities to find out the details of how this transcription can be done.
I hold a valid driving licence issued in Luxembourg and I plan to travel to the United Kingdom as part of my vacation or business trip. Am I still able to use my Luxembourg licence after the end of the transition period (31 December 2020)?
Yes.
Since the United Kingdom is, like Luxembourg, a contracting party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 8 November 1968, you will be able to continue using your valid Luxembourg driving licence while traveling in the United Kingdom, also after 31 December 2020.
I reside in Luxembourg and I am covered by the Luxembourg social security scheme. I intend to go on holiday to the United Kingdom after 31 December 2020. Will I be entitled to health care treatment in the United Kingdom if I get sick or have an accident?
Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK, you will be able to receive any care you need while you are in the United Kingdom. To do this, you will need to show your European Health Insurance Card to the British health care provider. This will allow you to receive the care you require under the same conditions as someone insured under the British scheme.
I am a Luxembourg student in the United Kingdom. What about my health care coverage in the United Kingdom?
If you started your studies in the United Kingdom before 1 January 2021, you will be able to continue to receive any medical care you need while you are studying. To do this, you will need to show your Luxembourg European Health Insurance Card to the British health care provider. This will enable you to receive the necessary care under the same conditions as an insured person under the British scheme.
If you start your full-time higher education studies in the United Kingdom after 31 December 2020, you will be able to receive medical care in the United Kingdom under the same conditions. However, you should be aware that you will be required to pay an immigration health surcharge if you stay in the United Kingdom for more than 6 months. You will be able to claim reimbursement of this surcharge from the competent British authorities if you are in possession of a valid Luxembourg European Health Insurance Card and are not working in the United Kingdom.
Students arriving in the United Kingdom between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 will have until 31 December 2022 to apply for their reimbursement. The refund will apply retroactively to the health contribution paid for a visa covering the period prior to 31 December 2021.
Students arriving in the United Kingdom from 1 January 2022 will have a year from the start date of their visa to apply for their reimbursement.
The amounts reimbursed will be proportional to the period of validity of the Luxembourg European Health Insurance Card.
Please note that the United Kingdom reserves the right, in accordance with the provisions of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, to charge students for health care received that is not covered by their Luxembourg European Health Insurance Card.
Further information on this may be requested from the relevant British authorities.
I work and reside in the United Kingdom and I am covered by the British social security scheme. My spouse, who is not employed, and my children reside in Luxembourg. How are they covered for in terms of health care in Luxembourg?
Under the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK, your spouse and children are entitled to health care in Luxembourg at the expense of the United Kingdom, provided that they register with the Luxembourg National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé – CNS) using the certificate of insurance (S1) issued by the competent British body.
If you were in this situation on 31 December 2020, the S1 portable document issued to you by the competent British body remains valid and you do not need to complete any further steps if your situation does not change.
I am receiving an old-age pension from Luxembourg only and I reside in the United Kingdom. How am I covered in terms of health care? What will happen to my health care coverage?
In accordance with the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK, you can receive health care in the United Kingdom at the expense of Luxembourg, provided you register with the competent British body using the insurance certificate (S1) issued by the Luxembourg National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé – CNS).
As of 1 January 2021, and in accordance with the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, all third-country nationals, including EU citizens, must pay an immigration health surcharge as a condition of their visa to stay in the United Kingdom for more than 6 months.
However, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for the possibility of reimbursement of this surcharge if the benefits in kind are covered by an EU country.
Holders of an EU-issued S1 document registered with the relevant institution in the United Kingdom (NHSBSA) are therefore entitled to reimbursement.
The amounts reimbursed will be proportional to the validity period of the S1 document.
Applications for reimbursement for S1 holders opened on 1 January 2021 and, unless otherwise advised by the UK authorities, should be sent to the following address:
NHSBSA
Overseas Healthcare Services
NHS Business Services Authority
Bridge House
152 Pilgrim Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6SN
Email: nhsbsa.faregistrationsohs@nhs.net
Telephone: +44 191 218 1999
If you were in this situation on 31 December 2020, the S1 portable document issued to you by the National Health Fund (CNS) and given to the relevant institution in the United Kingdom remains valid and you have no further steps to take if your situation does not change.
I am receiving an old-age pension from Luxembourg only and I reside in the United Kingdom. Can I travel to Luxembourg to receive medical treatment if I wish to?
In accordance with the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK, you can receive health care in the United Kingdom and in Luxembourg at the expense of Luxembourg.
I work and reside in Luxembourg and I am covered by the Luxembourg social security scheme. Can I travel to the United Kingdom to receive specific health care that I require for a health condition?
Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK, you can travel to the United Kingdom to receive care required for by your health condition if you have prior authorisation from the Luxembourg National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé – CNS).
I work in the United Kingdom and I am covered by the British social security scheme but I reside in Luxembourg. How am I covered in terms of health care?
In accordance with the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK, you can receive health care in Luxembourg at the expense of the United Kingdom, provided you register with the Luxembourg National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé – CNS) using the insurance certificate issued to you by the competent British body.
If you were in this situation on 31 December 2020, the S1 portable document issued to you by the competent British body remains valid and you have no further steps to take if your situation does not change.
I work in Luxembourg and I am covered by the Luxembourg social security scheme but I reside in the United Kingdom. How am I covered for health care?
In accordance with the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK, you can receive health care in the United Kingdom at the expense of Luxembourg, provided you register with the competent British body using the insurance certificate (S1) issued by the Luxembourg National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé – CNS).
As of 1 January 2021, and in accordance with the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, all third-country nationals, including EU citizens, must pay an immigration health surcharge as a condition of their visa to stay in the United Kingdom for more than 6 months.
However, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for the possibility of reimbursement of this surcharge if the benefits in kind are covered by an EU country.
Holders of an EU-issued S1 document registered with the relevant institution in the United Kingdom (NHSBSA) are therefore entitled to reimbursement.
The amounts reimbursed will be proportional to the validity period of the S1 document.
Applications for reimbursement for S1 holders opened on 1 January 2021 and, unless otherwise advised by the UK authorities, should be sent to the following address:
NHSBSA
Overseas Healthcare Services
NHS Business Services Authority
Bridge House
152 Pilgrim Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6SN
Email: nhsbsa.faregistrationsohs@nhs.net
Telephone: +44 191 218 1999
If you were in this situation on 31 December 2020, the S1 portable document issued to you by the National Health Fund (CNS) and given to the relevant institution in the United Kingdom remains valid and you have no further steps to take if your situation does not change.
Health care obtained in Luxembourg will continue to be paid for directly by the National Health Fund (CNS).
I am receiving an old-age pension from Luxembourg and I reside in the United Kingdom. Will my pension continue to be paid to me after 31 December 2020?
Yes, your Luxembourg pension will continue to be paid to you after 31 December 2020.
I have worked in Luxembourg and in the United Kingdom. Will my periods of employment in the United Kingdom be taken into account for the calculation of my Luxembourg pension?
Yes.
In accordance with the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK, your periods of work in the United Kingdom will be taken into account in the calculation of your Luxembourg pension.
I have worked in Luxembourg and in the United Kingdom. Will my periods of employment in Luxembourg be taken into account for the calculation of my old-age pension in the United Kingdom?
Yes.
In accordance with the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK, your periods of work in Luxembourg will be taken into account in the calculation of your old-age pension in the United Kingdom.
I am receiving an old-age pension from Luxembourg only and I reside in the United Kingdom. How am I covered in terms of health care?
In accordance with the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK, you can receive health care in the United Kingdom at the expense of Luxembourg, provided you register with the competent British body using the insurance certificate (S1) issued by the Luxembourg National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé – CNS).
As of 1 January 2021, and in accordance with the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, all third-country nationals, including EU citizens, must pay an immigration health surcharge as a condition of their visa to stay in the United Kingdom for more than 6 months.
However, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for the possibility of reimbursement of this surcharge if the benefits in kind are covered by an EU country.
Holders of an EU-issued S1 document registered with the relevant institution in the United Kingdom (NHSBSA) are therefore entitled to reimbursement.
The amounts reimbursed will be proportional to the validity period of the S1 document.
Applications for reimbursement for S1 holders opened on 1 January 2021 and, unless otherwise advised by the UK authorities, should be sent to the following address:
NHSBSA
Overseas Healthcare Services
NHS Business Services Authority
Bridge House
152 Pilgrim Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6SN
Email: nhsbsa.faregistrationsohs@nhs.net
Telephone: +44 191 218 1999
If you were in this situation on 31 December 2020, the S1 portable document issued to you by the National Health Fund (CNS) and given to the relevant institution in the United Kingdom remains valid and you have no further steps to take if your situation does not change.
I bought products online from a company based in Luxembourg. This company transmits my purchase history to one of its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom for the purpose of its stock management. Is the Luxembourg company authorised to transfer my personal data to its UK subsidiary after the United Kingdom’s withdrawal?
Yes.
Until the end of the transition period, the European regulation continues to apply.
In addition, the data subject has certain rights under the General Data Protection Regulation, including the right to information. As such, anyone who decides to process a data subject’s personal data, is obliged to inform the data subject of :
- their identity;
- the purpose of collecting data and whether the provision of the data is mandatory or optional;
- the recipients of the data;
- the rights granted to the data subject under the General Data Protection Regulation;
- any transfers of data to a country outside the European Union.
The controller must provide these elements in plain and clear language when personal data are collected or, at the latest, within one month following the data collection, if the data are not collected directly from the data subject.
Consequently, and subject to compliance with the general principles of the General Data Protection Regulation, including the right to information detailed above, the Luxembourg company is able to continue to transfer the data subject’s personal data to its UK subsidiary, at least until the end of the transition period.
For further information:
- Protection of privacy and electronic data on Guichet.lu;
- Filing a claim with the National Commission for Data Protection;
- Your rights on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection;
- The right to information on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection;
- Asserting your rights on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection.
I bought products online from a company established in the United Kingdom. Will I have the same rights as currently under the General Data Protection Regulation after the United Kingdom’s withdrawal?
Yes.
The European regulation continues to apply until the end of the transition period. Therefore, the data subject will have the same rights as currently, at least until the end of the transition period.
In addition, the data subject has certain rights under the General Data Protection Regulation, including the right to information. For example, anyone who decides to process a data subject’s personal data, is obliged to inform the data subject of :
- their identity;
- the purpose of collecting data and whether the provision of the data is mandatory or optional;
- the recipients of the data;
- the rights granted to the data subject under the General Data Protection Regulation;
- any transfers of data to a country outside the European Union.
The controller must provide these elements in plain and clear language when personal data are collected or, at the latest, within one month following the data collection, if the data are not collected directly from the data subject.
For further information:
- Protection of privacy and electronic data on Guichet.lu;
- Filing a claim with the National Commission for Data Protection;
- Your rights on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection;
- The right to information on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection;
- Asserting your rights on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection.
I am employed in Luxembourg and regularly travel to the UK for professional reasons. In this context, my Luxembourg employer systematically sends my personal data (name, first name, telephone number, etc.) to an entity based in the United Kingdom, which is responsible for managing my work-related journeys. Will my employer have the right to continue to transfer my data after the United Kingdom’s withdrawal?
Yes.
The European regulation continues to apply until the end of the transition period.
In addition, the data subject has certain rights under the General Data Protection Regulation, including the right to information. For example, anyone who decides to process a data subject’s personal information, is obliged to inform the data subject of :
- their identity;
- the purpose of collecting data and whether the provision of the data is mandatory or optional;
- the recipients of the data;
- the rights granted to the data subject under the General Data Protection Regulation;
- any transfers of data to a country outside the European Union.
The controller must provide these elements in plain and clear language when personal data are collected or, at the latest, within one month following the data collection, if the data are not collected directly from the data subject.
Consequently, and subject to compliance with the general principles of the General Data Protection Regulation, including the right to information detailed above, the Luxembourg employer can continue to transfer the data subject’s personal data to its UK entity, at least until the end of the transition period.
For further information:
- Protection of privacy and electronic data on Guichet.lu;
- Filing a claim with the National Commission for Data Protection;
- Your rights on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection;
- The right to information on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection;
- Asserting your rights on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection.
I am a natural person holding shares in a Luxembourg investment fund. The financial institution which set up the investment fund, is established in the UK and wishes to receive my personal data for statistical purposes. Is the Luxembourg investment fund authorised to transfer my personal data to the UK financial institution after the United Kingdom’s withdrawal?
Yes.
The current European regulation continues to apply until the end of the transition period.
In addition, the data subject has certain rights under the General Data Protection Regulation, including the right to information. For example, anyone who decides to process a data subject’s personal information, is obliged to inform the data subject of :
- their identity;
- the purpose of collecting data and whether the provision of the data is mandatory or optional;
- the recipients of the data;
- the rights granted to the data subject under the General Data Protection Regulation;
- any transfers of data to a country outside the European Union.
The controller must provide these elements in plain and clear language when personal data are collected or, at the latest, within one month following the data collection, if the data are not collected directly from the data subject.
Consequently, and subject to compliance with the general principles of the General Data Protection Regulation, including the right to information detailed above, the investment fund can continue to transfer the data subject’s personal data to the financial institution, at least until the end of the transition period.
For further information:
- Protection of privacy and electronic data on Guichet.lu;
- Filing a claim with the National Commission for Data Protection;
- Your rights on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection;
- The right to information on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection;
- Asserting your rights on the website of the National Commission for Data Protection.