Prerequisites for voluntary acquisition of nationality
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Before you can acquire the Luxembourgish nationality by naturalisation, and in certain cases by option declaration, you must be able to demonstrate knowledge in the following areas:
- the Luxembourgish language, as evidenced by a Luxembourgish language test pass certificate or a certificate confirming participation in a Luxembourgish language course;
- the fundamental rights of citizens, the state and local institutions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, as well as the history of Luxembourg and European integration, as documented by a 'Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg' certificate.
If you have reached the age of majority and have been resident in Luxembourg for at least 20 years and you wish to acquire Luxembourg nationality by option, you only need to take part in 24 hours of Luxembourg language lessons.
Who is concerned
Any person applying to acquire Luxembourgish nationality:
- by way of naturalisation;
- by way of option declaration in the case:
- of a parent of a Luxembourgish minor;
- of marriage to a Luxembourger;
- the adult who has fulfilled the obligations arising from the Welcome and Integration Contract, respectively the introductory modules to life in Luxembourg, organised as part of the citizens' pact for intercultural living together;
- of an adult settled in Luxembourg before the age of 18;
- of an adult with stateless person status, refugee status or subsidiary protection status.
If you have reached the age of majority and have been resident in Luxembourg for at least 20 years and you wish to acquire Luxembourg nationality by option, you only need to take part in 24 hours of Luxembourg language lessons.
Costs
Registration for the course or for the 'Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg' test is free.
The registration fee for the Luxembourgish language test is set at EUR 75.
There is no fixed registration fee for the 24-hour Luxembourgish language course for persons residing in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for more than 20 years. Each organiser is free to set their own fee.
If you apply to the Ministry of Justice, and subject to certain conditions, as a candidate for Luxembourg nationality, you may be reimbursed your registration fees relating to:
- the Luxembourgish language test (Sproochentest Lëtzebuergesch);
- the course organised by the department for adult education and whose course programme is approved by the minister responsible for national education.
If you meet the conditions, you can only send your claim for reimbursement after you have submitted your application for Luxembourg nationality to the civil registrar of the relevant commune.
How to proceed
'Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg' certificate
You must present the ‘Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg’ certificate when you apply to acquire Luxembourg nationality.
This certificate confirms that you:
- either attended the 'Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg' course (course length: 24 hours);
- or passed the 'Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg' test without attending the course.
The course and the test cover the following topics:
- fundamental rights of citizens (course length: 6 hours);
- state and communal institutions in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (course length: 12 hours);
- the history of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and European integration (course length: 6 hours).
The test papers may contain multiple- or dual-choice questions.
Exemptions
If your physical or mental state does not allow you to acquire knowledge in the subjects taught, you may apply to the Minister of Justice for exemption from attending the 'Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg' course and examination. You must submit a medical certificate from a specialist doctor together with your application.
You are exempt from taking the module ‘The history of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and European integration’ if you have:
- a certificate of attendance at the civic education courses to be taken as part of the welcome and integration contract; or
- a certificate of participation in the minimum 6-hour module providing an overview of Luxembourg, organised as part of the citizens' pact for intercultural living together.
In these 2 cases, the exemption is recognised automatically, there is no procedure to be carried out.
If you do not wish to attend the modules taught in the course and just want to take the exam, you will not benefit from the exemption and will be obliged to take and pass the test for the module ‘The history of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and European integration’.
In this case, special exam sessions will be organised.
Registration to the course
The 'Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg' course is open to all adults.
The registration can be made online.
The registration is definitive and cannot be modified. In the event of being unable to attend, a new registration is only possible when the dates of the course or the exam already passed.
Luxembourgish language test
The National Institute for Languages Luxembourg (INLL) organises the Luxembourgish oral exam taken as part of the process to acquire Luxembourgish nationality.
The exam consists of:
- a speaking test (A2 level);
- a listening test (B1 level).
In order to pass the Luxembourgish language test, you must obtain a score of at least 50 % in the speaking test.
A score of less than 50 % in the speaking test may be offset by the score obtained in the listening test.
In this case, you still pass the exam if the arithmetic average, rounded up to the next whole number if applicable, of the scores received in the 2 tests is equal to or higher than 50 % of the final score.
You must register online for the exam, on the INLL website
If your physical or mental state does not allow you to learn Luxembourgish, you may apply to the Minister of Justice for exemption from taking the Luxembourgish language test. You must submit a medical certificate from a specialist doctor together with your application.
Speaking test
The level of the speaking test corresponds to level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. You must be able to:
- introduce yourself and talk in simple terms about your family, other people, your living conditions, your education or your profession;
- describe and compare people, things and activities in a simple way.
The speaking test consists of two parts:
- a conversation with the examiner; and
- the description of a picture.
Listening test
The level required to pass the listening test is level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: You must be able to understand:
- the main points of clear standard speech on familiar topics;
- the main points of radio or TV programmes on current affairs or matters of personal or professional interest.
The listing test consists of 3 tracks:
- a radio news item;
- an everyday conversation between 2 people;
- a discussion or presentation on a specific topic.
After each listening session, you will be asked to answer a multiple-choice questionnaire.
24-hour Luxembourgish language course
If you have been resident in Luxembourg for at least 20 years and without interruption for the last 12 months, you can acquire Luxembourg nationality by option.
However, you must provide proof of participation in a Luxembourgish language course.
This course, which lasts 24 hours, aims to offer an introduction to speaking and listening skills.
The Department of Adult Education (Service de la formation des adultes - SFA), its organising institutions in the approved sector (communes and non-profit organisations) and training organisations with approved course programmes organise 'Courses aimed at providing an introduction to the Luxembourgish language in terms of oral expression and comprehension', in accordance with Article 28 of the amended law of 8 March 2017 on Luxembourg nationality.
Once you have completed the course, you must send the course attendance certificate, together with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the Department of Adult Education.
The Department of Adult Education certifies participation in the course by affixing its stamp for this purpose.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
Ministry of Justice Nationality Office
- Address:
-
13, rue Erasme
L-1468
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2934 Luxembourg
- Fax:
- (+352) 26 20 27 59
- Email address:
- Nationalite@mj.public.lu
Closed ⋅ Opens at 8.30
- Tuesday:
- 8.30 to 11.30 , 14.30 to 16.00
- Wednesday:
- 8.30 to 11.30 , 14.30 to 16.00
- Thursday:
- 8.30 to 11.30 , 14.30 to 16.00
- Friday:
- 8.30 to 11.30 , 14.30 to 16.00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 8.30 to 11.30 , 14.30 to 16.00
National Institute for Languages Luxembourg (INLL) Belval
- Address:
- 14, Porte de France L-4360 Esch-sur-Alzette Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 28 57 69 1
- Website:
- http://www.inll.lu/en/
Closed ⋅ Opens at 8.00
- Tuesday:
- 8.00 to 17.00
- Wednesday:
- 8.00 to 17.00
- Thursday:
- 8.00 to 17.00
- Friday:
- 8.00 to 16.00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 8.00 to 17.00
Ministry of Education, Children and Youth Department of Adult Education
- Address:
- 14, porte de France L-4360 Esch-Belval Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 8002 4488
- Email address:
- sfa@men.lu
- Website:
- http://www.men.public.lu
Closed ⋅ Opens at 8.00
- Tuesday:
- 8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.30
- Wednesday:
- 8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.30
- Thursday:
- 8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.30
- Friday:
- 8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.30
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.30
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
National Institute for Languages Luxembourg (INLL)
Website
-
Courses and exams to obtain Luxembourg citizenship
on the website of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth
-
llo.lu
Platform for learning Luxembourgish
-
Icanvote.lu
Website
Legal references
-
Loi du 23 octobre 2008
portant révision de l'article 9, alinéa 1er de la Constitution
-
Loi du 23 octobre 2008
portant révision de l'article 10 de la Constitution
-
Loi modifiée du 8 mars 2017
sur la nationalité luxembourgeoise
-
Règlement grand-ducal du 22 juillet 2019
relatif à l’examen d’évaluation de la langue luxembourgeoise organisé dans le cadre des procédures d’acquisition de la nationalité luxembourgeoise
