Prerequisites for voluntary acquisition of nationality
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Before acquiring Luxembourgish nationality by naturalisation, and in certain cases by option declaration, applicants 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.
Adults who have resided in Luxembourg for at least 20 years and who wish to acquire Luxembourgish nationality by way of option declaration must only take 24 hours of Luxembourgish 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.
Adults who have resided in Luxembourg for at least 20 years and who wish to acquire Luxembourgish nationality by way of option declaration must only take 24 hours of Luxembourgish language lessons.
Costs
Registration for this 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.
Upon request to the Ministry of Justice and subject to certain conditions, applicants for Luxembourgish nationality may be refunded the registration fees (see 'Online services and forms' below) for:
- the Luxembourgish language test (Sproochentest Lëtzebuergesch);
- the Luxembourgish language course, organised by the National Institute for Languages Luxembourg (INLL) or another provider whose curriculum has been approved by the Ministry of Education.
How to proceed
"Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg" certificate
Applicants for Luxembourgish nationality must submit the "Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg" certificate when applying for Luxembourgish nationality.
This certificate confirms that the applicant:
- 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 local 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.
If the physical or psychological state of the person applying for Luxembourgish nationality prevents them from learning about the topics taught, a request for exemption from attending the "Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg" course and test may be sent to the Minister of Justice, accompanied by a medical certificate from a medical specialist.
Holders of a certificate of participation in the citizenship courses to be taken as part of the conclusion of a Welcome and Integration Contract, respectively a certificate of participation for at least 6 hours in the module on life in Luxembourg, organised as part of the citizens' pact for intercultural living together, are exempted from taking the module 'History of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and European integration' (L’histoire du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg et l’intégration européenne). The exemption is recognized automatically, there is no procedure to carried out.
If the applicant does not attend the necessary courses and just wants to take the exam, they will not be exempted from taking the module "History of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and European integration".
In this case, special exam sessions will be organised.
Registration to the course
The course "Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg" is open to all adults.
Registrations must be made online (see 'Online services and forms' below);
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 spoken test (A2 level);
- a listening test (B1 level).
In order to pass the Luxembourgish language test, applicants must get a score of at least 50 % on the spoken test.
A score of less than 50 % on the spoken test may be offset by the score received on the listening test.
In this case, applicants can 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 full score.
The registration form (see the section 'Online services and forms' below) must be submitted to the INLL together with the supporting documents, before the registration deadline.
If the physical or psychological state of the person applying for Luxembourgish nationality prevents them from learning Luxembourgish, a request for exemption from taking the Luxembourgish language test may be sent to the Minister of Justice, accompanied by a medical certificate from a medical specialist.
Spoken test
The level required to pass the spoken test is A2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages:
- ability to introduce oneself and use simple language to talk about one's family and other people, one's living conditions and training or occupation;
- ability to use simple language to describe and compare people, objects and activities.
The spoken test consists of two parts:
- an interview between the examiner and the applicant;
- description of a visual aid.
Listening test
The level required to pass the listening comprehension test is B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages:
- understanding of the main points of clear standard speech on familiar topics;
- understanding of the main points of radio or TV programmes on current affairs or matters of personal or professional interest to the applicant.
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 track, applicants will answer the multiple-choice test paper by ticking their answer on the answer sheet.
24-hour Luxembourgish language course
People who have resided in Luxembourg for at least 20 years, and for a period of 12 consecutive months immediately prior to their application, may acquire Luxembourgish nationality by way of option declaration.
However, they must prove that they have attended a Luxembourgish language course.
This course, which lasts 24 hours, aims to offer an introduction to speaking and listening skills.
The courses are organised by the Department for adult education (Service de la formation des adultes) and by other providers whose programmes have been approved by the Ministry of Education (schools, communes or approved non-profit organisations), or by the National Institute for Languages Luxembourg (INLL) .
Once the applicant has completed the course, they must send the certificate of participation and a stamped envelope mentioning their address to:
- the National Institute for Languages if they attended courses there;
- the Department of Adult Education (Service de la formation des adultes) if the course attended was offered by another provider approved by the Ministry of Education.
The organiser will document course attendance on the attendance certificate sent by the applicant.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
Nationality Office
-
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
- 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
- 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
Monday to Friday (except on public holidays) from 8.30 to 11.30 and 14.30 to 16.00 / Special opening hours during Christmas and the summer holidays.
Institut national des langues Luxembourg - Belval - Maison du savoir
-
National Institute for Languages Luxembourg National Institute for Languages Luxembourg - Belval - Maison du savoir
- Address:
- 2, avenue de l'Université L-4365 Esch-sur-Alzette Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 46 66 44 - 9491
- Website:
- http://www.inll.lu/en/
Closed ⋅ Opens at 8.00
- Friday:
- 8.00 to 12.30, 13.30 to 16.00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 8.00 to 18.00
- Tuesday:
- 8.00 to 18.00
- Wednesday:
- 8.00 to 18.00
- Thursday:
- 8.00 to 18.00
From Monday to Thursday from 8.00 to 18.00 / Friday from 8.00 to 12.30 and from 13.30 to 16.00. Opening hours may vary during school holidays. You can contact the INLL via the following link: http://www.inll.lu/en/contact/formulaire-de-contact/
Department of Adult Education
-
Ministry of Education, Children and Youth Department of Adult Education
- Address:
-
15, rue Léon Hengen
L-1745
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2926 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 8002-4488
- Email address:
- sfa@men.lu
- Website:
- http://www.men.public.lu
Closed ⋅ Opens at 8.30
- Friday:
- 8.30 to 12.30, 13.30 to 16.30
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 13.30 to 16.30
- Tuesday:
- 8.30 to 12.30, 13.30 to 16.30
- Wednesday:
- 8.30 to 12.30, 13.30 to 16.30
- Thursday:
- 8.30 to 12.30, 13.30 to 16.30
Monday from 13.30 to 16.30 and Tuesday-Friday from 08.30 to 12.30 and from 13.30 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
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