Certificate of nationality

Last update

Summary:

The certificate of Luxembourgish nationality is issued, on reasoned request, by the Nationality Office of the Ministry of Justice (Service de la nationalité luxembourgeoise du ministère de la Justice).

This certificate attests that a person holds Luxembourgish nationality until proof is provided to the contrary.

In general, a person’s Luxembourgish nationality is established, unless proven otherwise, by their possession of a valid Luxembourg ID card.

In certain cases, proof of a person's Luxembourgish nationality must be provided via a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality.

Demande de certificat de nationalité luxembourgeoise auprès du ministère de la Justice

Unless proven otherwise, a person is generally deemed to be a Luxembourg national if they possess:

  • a valid Luxembourg passport; or
  • a valid Luxembourg ID card.

A certificate of Luxembourgish nationality (Heimatschein) also serves as proof that the person holds Luxembourg nationality.

Who is concerned

You are required to provide a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality:

  • in the event of any doubt or claim regarding a person’s Luxembourgish nationality; or
  • if a foreign public authority demands that you provide this certificate.

A Luxembourg national who resides abroad and who is not in possession of a valid Luxembourg passport or a valid Luxembourg ID card can provide proof that they hold Luxembourgish nationality by producing a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality.

As part of the procedure for acquiring Luxembourgish nationality, an applicant for Luxembourgish nationality may be required to provide a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality issued in the name of:

  • their parent or grandparent (Option 1);
  • their minor child who is a Luxembourg national (Option 2);
  • their Luxembourgish spouse (Option 3).

In the event of a procedure to renounce Luxembourg nationality, the applicant seeking to renounce their Luxembourgish nationality must produce a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality dated on the day on which the declaration of renunciation is signed.

Costs

Certificates of Luxembourg nationality are issued free of charge.

How to proceed

Filing an application

Online via MyGuichet.lu (for residents only)

If you are a Luxembourg resident, you can submit your application for a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality online via MyGuichet.lu.

This is a procedure that requires authentication and an electronic signature with an authentication certificate contained in:

  • a LuxTrust product; or
  • a Luxembourg electronic identity card (eID).

The electronic signature cannot be affixed with an eIDAS means of identification issued by another country.

This procedure can only be carried out on your own behalf and/or on behalf of each of your minor children. It is not possible to carry out this procedure for a third party.

Our tutorial below uses screenshots to provide a step-by-step guide on how to sign and submit a procedure with authentication.

By post or email (for residents and non-residents)

You can submit your application for a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality by post or email to the Nationality Office.

In person (for residents and non-residents)

You can apply for a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality in person at the reception desk of the Nationality Office of the Ministry of Justice.

If you are unable to attend in person, you may appoint a trusted person to submit the application on your behalf. This person must bring a power of attorney and a copy of your identity document.

Mandatory information and supporting documents

Information to be provided

On the application, you must state:

  • your surname, first name(s), date and place of birth;
  • your address in Luxembourg or abroad;
  • the surname, first name(s), date and place of birth of each of your parents;
  • the intended use and the organisation receiving the certificate of Luxembourgish nationality.

The same information must be provided for your children if they also need a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality.

Supporting documents

You must provide proof with supporting documents that you hold Luxembourgish nationality.

To this end, you must also enclose the following documents with your application:

  • a copy of your passport; or
  • a copy of your ID card.

The Nationality Office may ask you to provide other supporting documents, such as:

  • birth certificates;
  • marriage certificates;
  • death certificates;
  • court rulings;
  • copies of foreign identity documents;
  • the enforcement in Luxembourg of an adoption decision handed down by a foreign court:
    • it is compulsory for the establishment of a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality in the name of a minor child who has been adopted in a foreign country and whose adopter has acquired or re-acquired Luxembourgish nationality;
    • it is recommended with a view to the transcription into the Luxembourg civil status registers of the adoption pronounced by a foreign court when the adoptee initiates a procedure for the acquisition or recovery of Luxembourgish nationality.

The enforcement of a foreign ruling falls within the jurisdiction of the District Court of Luxembourg or Diekirch. The enforcement procedure (exequatur) must be initiated by a court lawyer.

As the documents to be provided when applying for a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality differ depending on the circumstances, interested parties are encouraged to contact the Nationality Office beforehand.

Delivery of the certificate

The Nationality Office will send you the certificate of Luxembourgish nationality by post to your address. The same applies for an online application.

Information on the certificate

The certificate of Luxembourgish nationality states that:

  • the applicant holds Luxembourgish nationality; and
  • the Minister of Justice is not aware that the interested party's nationality has been taken away from them.

This certification constitutes proof until proof is provided to the contrary.

On request, the date and means by which you received Luxembourgish nationality can be specified on the certificate.

Tutorials

Online services and forms

Online services

Demande de certificat de nationalité luxembourgeoise auprès du ministère de la Justice

Who to contact

2 of 6 bodies shown

Related procedures and links

Procedures

Your opinion matters to us

Tell us what you think of this page. You can leave us your feedback on how to improve this page. You will not receive a reply to your feedback. Please use the contact form for any specific questions you might have.

Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.

Did you find what you were looking for?*
How would you rate this page?*
Very poor
Very good

Leave a comment to help us improve this page. Do not provide any personal information such as your email address, name, telephone number, etc.

0/1000

Please rate this page

Your opinion has been submitted successfully!

Thank you for your contribution. If you need help or have any questions, please use the contact form.

Would you like to help us make digital public services more user-friendly by submitting your suggestions for improvement?

Then visit Zesumme Vereinfachen, the online participation platform dedicated to administrative simplification in Luxembourg.

Let's simplify things together

An error occurred

Oops, an error has occurred.