Guidance

Living in Luxembourg

Information about moving to, living or retiring in Luxembourg – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
17 April 2018
Last updated
28 January 2026 — See all updates

Getting help with living in Luxembourg

Help from the Luxembourg government

For any questions about moving to or living in Luxembourg, you may be able to get help from the:

The UK government and the British Embassy in Luxembourg cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Luxembourg.

Professional help in Luxembourg

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Luxembourg, including:

  • lawyers
  • translators
  • notaries
  • funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for Luxembourg to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Luxembourg. This includes the latest information on:

  • visas and entry requirements
  • laws and cultural differences
  • safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Luxembourg before you travel.

Visas and residence documents

Check which visa or residence document you need to live in Luxembourg. The Luxembourg government’s guidance on immigration explains the different options available to you. 

You can get a visa to:

  • work
  • study
  • complete training or an internship
  • live with family in Luxembourg
  • invest in Luxembourg
  • do research

For more information, read guidance on moving to Luxembourg as a third-country national.

Registering as a resident

Once you arrive, you need to register your residency in Luxembourg.

If you have any problems or questions about registering your residency, contact:

Extending or replacing your visa or residence document

Check the Luxembourg government portal for information on how to:

Permanent residency

You may be able to apply for permanent residency in Luxembourg if you have lived there legally and continuously for at least 5 years.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on long-term residence status for third-country nationals.

Citizenship

Luxembourg recognises dual citizenship with the UK. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a citizen of Luxembourg.

To find out if you’re eligible for citizenship of Luxembourg:

Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications

The British Embassy in Luxembourg cannot help with Luxembourg visa, residency or citizenship applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:

Residency if you moved to Luxembourg before 1 January 2021

If you moved to Luxembourg before 1 January 2021, and have been legally living there since then, you and your family members have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Residence documents if you moved to Luxembourg before 1 January 2021

If you moved to Luxembourg before 1 January 2021, make sure you have a Withdrawal Agreement residence document. This shows that you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. Read the Luxembourg government’s Brexit guidance for more information.

Under the new digital Entry/Exit system (EES), you’ll need a Withdrawal Agreement residence document when entering or leaving Luxembourg. If you have one, you will not have to register with the EES when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Without it, you may be wrongly identified as overstaying in the Schengen area and denied entry to Luxembourg or other Schengen countries.

If you do not have a Withdrawal Agreement residence document

If you were living in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021, but do not have a residence document, you must apply for one. You’ll need to submit evidence to prove that you met the residency criteria at the time.

Read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on applying for a Withdrawal Agreement residence document.

If your application is successful, you’ll get a biometric residence card. 

If your application is unsuccessful, you may be able to appeal. Consider getting legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Luxembourg.

For more information on how to appeal, read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on administrative and judicial appeals.

Renewing your residence document if you moved to Luxembourg before 1 January 2021

You’ll need to start the process of renewing your residence document at least 2 months before it expires. You can find Luxembourg government information about how to extend your stay beyond 90 days.    

For more information contact the Department for Foreigners (part of the General Department of Immigration).

Bringing family members to Luxembourg if you moved there before 1 January 2021

The Luxembourg government’s Brexit guidance and guidance on applying for a Withdrawal Agreement residence document explain:

  • which family members can join you in Luxembourg
  • how and when they should apply for their residence document

Passports and travel

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from abroad
  • travel urgently without your British passport

If you have a Luxembourg residence permit or long stay visa, the time you spend in Luxembourg does not count towards the 90-day visa-free period you can spend in the Schengen area.

Always carry your passport and residence permit when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. If you’re asked to show your passport at border control, make sure you also show your residence permit or other evidence of residence status. Your passport may be stamped if you do not.

If you have dual citizenship with an EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Luxembourg, you should enter and leave Luxembourg using your EU or EFTA passport.

Dual citizens travelling to the UK

When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.

Children aged 17 and under may need to carry a letter of authority if they’re travelling out of Luxembourg without their parent or legal guardian.

Read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on letters of authority.

Contact the Embassy of Luxembourg in London or the population office in your commune of residence for more information.

European Entry/Exit System (EES)

Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) there are new rules for entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Non-EU nationals will need to have their photo and fingerprints taken or verified at the border. This data will be stored in a digital record and used to monitor how long visitors have spent in the Schengen area.  

British Nationals legally resident in Luxembourg, and who have a Withdrawal Agreement residence document or other valid Luxembourg residence permit, do not need to register with the EES.

If you’re legally resident in Luxembourg but do not have a residence permit, contact the Luxembourg General Department of Immigration for information on how to get one.

For more information about the EES, read:

Healthcare in Luxembourg

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • plan your healthcare
  • take medicine abroad

To find out how to get medical treatment:

Working in Luxembourg

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in Luxembourg, you may need a work permit or work visa. Our guidance on travelling to Luxembourg for work explains the different work permits and visas available to you. For more information, read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on moving to Luxembourg as a third-country national.

You do not need a work permit or visa if you have been living in Luxembourg legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.  

To apply for a job, you may need to provide a UK police certificate. In Luxembourg, this is called a ‘casier judiciaire’.

If you live in Luxembourg and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country before 1 January 2021, read guidance for frontier workers.

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in Luxembourg, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised.

Driving in Luxembourg

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • drive abroad legally
  • take your UK vehicle abroad
  • get driving licence letters

The Luxembourg government provides information on driving in Luxembourg, including on:

For more information read guidance on:

Driving in Luxembourg using a foreign driving licence

You can drive in Luxembourg for up to 12 months using a driving licence issued in:

  • the UK
  • Gibraltar
  • Jersey
  • Guernsey
  • the Isle of Man

You cannot replace or renew any of these licences if you live in Luxembourg. 

Exchanging a UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man driving licence

To continue driving after 12 months, you must exchange your driving licence for a Luxembourg licence.

You should apply for the exchange before the 12 months is over. Applications may take time to process, and you’ll need your Luxembourg licence to drive legally. 

Applying for a Luxembourg driving licence

If you do not exchange your licence within 12 months, you must apply for a Luxembourg licence as a non-EU national.

You will need to pass theory and practical driving tests.

Disabled drivers

You may be able to apply for:

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Luxembourg, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.  

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Luxembourg so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Contact Luxembourg Inland Revenue for any questions about double taxation relief.

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Luxembourg. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Luxembourg.

National Insurance

Check if you need to pay National Insurance if you’re going to work in the EU, Gibraltar, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • how to claim your UK State Pension
  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Your UK state pension is calculated differently if you’ve previously lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and now live in the EU.

Claiming a Luxembourg pension

Contact the Luxembourg National Pension Insurance Fund to find out whether you can claim an old-age pension in Luxembourg.

You can also read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on preparing for your retirement in Luxembourg.

Benefits

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.  

You can also read guidance on benefits and pensions for UK nationals in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

Claiming Luxembourg benefits

You may be entitled to some Luxembourg benefits.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to claim:

Buying and renting property in Luxembourg

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.  

You can also read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on:

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Luxembourg if you’re considering buying property or land.

Voting in Luxembourg

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • vote in UK elections from abroad
  • register as an overseas voter

Luxembourg elections

You can vote in local elections in Luxembourg if you register on the electoral roll at least 55 days before the election date. 

You cannot vote in national elections unless you are a citizen of Luxembourg.

You also cannot vote in European elections unless you hold citizenship of an EU country. 

Studying in Luxembourg

If you plan to study in Luxembourg, you must meet all visa and residency requirements before you travel.

You do not need a student visa if you have been living in Luxembourg legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

For more information, read guidance on:

You can also contact:

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

  • getting permission to take your child abroad
  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

The European Commission provides information about the school system in Luxembourg.

From the start of the 2026/2027 school year, all children aged 4 to 18 must attend school or home school in Luxembourg.

For more information, read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on:

Childcare

The Luxembourg Ministry of Education, Children and Youth is responsible for childcare services in Luxembourg.

Read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on:

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Luxembourg, register the birth with the Luxembourg authorities.  

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
  • apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Luxembourg, read guidance on:

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.  

The Luxembourg government provides information on:

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.   

The Luxembourg Government offers guidance on separation and divorce in Luxembourg.

Consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Luxembourg.

Documents for British people in Luxembourg

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers: 

  • legalising and certifying UK documents
  • marriage and civil partnership documents
  • affirmations and affidavits
  • witnessing signatures

Lawyers, translators and notaries

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Luxembourg, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to Luxembourg, read:

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

If the NHS funds your healthcare in Luxembourg through the S1 form, contact the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team to cancel it.   

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only.  For definitive information, contact the Luxembourg authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 17 April 2018
Last updated 28 January 2026 show all updates

  1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK ('Passports and travel' section).

  2. The exact date that EES will be introduced has not been confirmed

  3. Added information about the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES).

  4. Deleted paragraph related to information for Coronavirus. Corrected broken links in the following sections: Visas and residency, Visas and residency if you were living in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021, Working in Luxembourg and National insurance and social security contributions.

  5. Updated a broken link in the 'Exchanging your licence if you were living in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021' section.

  6. Updated election information including a link to register on the electoral registers

  7. Edited "Voting", to reflect an update to voting rights for non-Luxembourg nationals.

  8. Important information in the Working in Luxembourg, and National insurance sections if you work in Luxembourg, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.

  9. Visas and residency guidance updated, following the 31 December 2021 residency deadline for people with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

  10. Guidance reviewed for Money, tax and banking, Benefits, Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships, and Useful information sections.

  11. Guidance reviewed for Passports and travel, Healthcare, Working in Luxembourg, Studying in Luxembourg, Emergencies, and Returning to the UK sections.

  12. Professional qualifications section updated for British citizens who are moving or moved to Luxembourg after 1 January 2021 and those living there since before 1 January 2021.

  13. Working in Luxembourg section updated: new guidance for frontier workers

  14. Visas and residency section updated: the deadline to apply for residence under the Withdrawal Agreement has been extended to 31 December 2021.

  15. Healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; working in Luxembourg section updated with link to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on working or providing services and link to DIT guidance on recognition of professional qualifications.

  16. Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines

  17. Updated as the transition period ends with new information on pet travel and moving to Luxembourg.

  18. Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling.

  19. Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers.

  20. Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021

  21. Visa and residency section updated with information about how to apply for the new residency document

  22. Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

  23. Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement

  24. Brexit Update: Update to guidance on exchanging driving licenses

  25. Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.

  26. EU Exit update: added new information to the "Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU" section

  27. EU Exit update: added in new information in healthcare, passports and returning to the UK section

  28. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.

  29. EU Exit update: Updated information on passports. You must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip.

  30. EU Exit update: Added website link to Luxembourg government´s FAQ about Brexit in EU Exit section

  31. EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare.

  32. EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving.

  33. EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section.

  34. Updated how UK nationals should register at the local town hall under the ´visas and residency´ section

  35. First published.

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