After having legally resided for an uninterrupted period of 5 years in Luxembourg with a national of an EU Member State or from a country treated as such (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland), a third-country national who is a family member of an EU citizen has the right, under certain conditions, to permanent residence and may be granted a permanent residence permit.

Who is concerned

The following family members from third countries are permitted to accompany or join an EU citizen or a national of a country treated as such (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) and live with them in Luxembourg:

• the spouse or registered partner of the EU citizen (or a national of a country treated as such) or the partner whose lasting relationship has been duly acknowledged although the relationship is not officially registered.
  The lasting nature of the relationship is acknowledged if the third-country national and the EU citizen have lawfully lived together for an uninterrupted period of at least one year prior to the application, or if they have a child together;
• the direct descendants (children) of the EU citizen, or those of their spouse/partner, who are under 21 years of age or are dependent on the EU citizen;
• the direct ascendants (parents) of the EU citizen, or those of their spouse/partner, who are dependent on the EU citizen or their spouse/partner.

If the EU citizen (or national of a country treated as such) is a student, the family members that can join them are limited to:

• the spouse/registered partner;
• any children under their care.

Prerequisites

A third-country national who is a family member of an EU citizen must be able to prove that they have been legally residing in Luxembourg for an uninterrupted period of at least 5 years with the EU citizen.

Certain third-country nationals who are family members of an EU citizen may, however, be granted the right of permanent residency in Luxembourg before the end of their mandatory 5-year period of permanent residency:

• if the EU citizen with whom they reside has acquired a permanent right of residency before having been resident for 5 years himself;
• if the EU citizen (in paid employment or self-employed) dies before being granted a right of permanent residency and if one of the following conditions is met:
  • on the date of the EU citizen's death, the worker had been living in Luxembourg for an uninterrupted period of 2 years;
  • their death is due to an occupational accident or an occupational illness;
  • the surviving spouse lost their Luxembourgish nationality following marriage to the worker.

How to proceed

Application for a permanent residence permit

Third-country family members of an EU citizen may request a permanent residence permit for a family member of an EU citizen from the Immigration Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MAEE).

The application for a permanent residence permit must be submitted through a special application form together with the following documents:

• a copy of the valid passport, in its entirety.

The permanent residence permit is issued within 6 months of the application being submitted. The receipt attesting that the residence permit application has been made is valid as a residence permit for 6 months maximum.

Period of validity and renewal

Validity period

The permanent residence card is valid for 10 years and is automatically renewable every 10 years.

Renewal procedure

In the event of renewal of the permanent residence permit, the family member of the EU citizen must submit an application for renewal together with:

• a copy of the valid passport, in its entirety.

Loss, theft or damage to the permanent residence card

In case of loss, theft or damage to the permanent residence permit, a specific procedure needs to be followed.

Forms / Online services

Who to contact