Guidance

Living in Luxembourg

Information for British citizens moving to or living in Luxembourg, including guidance on residency, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
17 April 2018
Last updated
17 October 2024 — See all updates

This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Luxembourg. Read about how our embassy in Luxembourg can help.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Luxembourg authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

To stay up to date:

If you were living in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021

Some parts of this guide only apply if you have been living in Luxembourg since before 1 January 2021. You should read these in addition to the rest of the guidance in each section. 

You should also read our Living in Europe page for detailed guidance about citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Visas and residency

You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

Check the entry requirements for Luxembourg.

You must get the correct visa before entering Luxembourg. Read the Luxembourg government advice on moving to Luxembourg.

Visas and residency if you were living in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021

If you applied for your new Withdrawal Agreement residence document by 31 December 2021, your rights are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement pending a decision on your application. Keep hold of your certificate of application as evidence of your rights, and continue the process to get your new residence document if you do not yet have it.

Read the Luxembourg government’s guidance.

You must renew this residence document when it expires. You must replace it if it is lost, stolen or damaged.

If you have not had a response to your residence document application, you can email immigration.public@mae.etat.lu or call (+352) 247-84040.

Appeal process

If your application is refused, your refusal letter will tell you about the appeal process.

Late applications

The deadline for applying for a new residence document under the Withdrawal Agreement was 31 December 2021. You can still apply if you have reasonable grounds for missing it, and you should do so as soon as possible. Applications will be considered on an individual basis. Read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on the application process and complete the application form at the end of that webpage.

Family members

Your close family members continue to be able to join you and settle in Luxembourg at any point in the future. Find more information on who this applies to in the Living in Europe guidance. They must contact the Luxembourg Immigration Directorate before travelling to submit an application for the Withdrawal Agreement residence document from abroad. Their certificate of application will allow them to enter Luxembourg. Nationals of certain non-EU countries may also need a visa before travel, and should include their certificate of application to facilitate the visa process.

Within 3 months of arriving, close family members should register at the commune as third-country nationals. A third country national is someone who does not have EU, EEA or Swiss nationality. They can use their residence document certificate of application to do this. They must contact the Immigration Directorate to exchange their certificate of application for a residence document. Read the Luxembourg Government guidance on joining family members.

Residence if you work for a diplomatic mission

If you have held a ‘carte de légitimation’ since before 1 January 2021, you can choose to apply for a new Withdrawal Agreement residence document at any point in the future. You can hold both cards at the same time. You should consult with your HR department before proceeding. Time spent in Luxembourg on a ‘carte de légitimation’ counts towards obtaining permanent residency status.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Luxembourg.

Check the Luxembourg travel advice.

Always carry your passport when travelling within the Schengen area. If you have citizenship of an EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country, in addition to your British citizenship, you should enter and leave Luxembourg using your EU or EFTA passport.

If you stay in Luxembourg with a Luxembourg residence permit or long stay visa, this time does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.

If you visit other Schengen area countries outside Luxembourg, make sure you do not exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. You are responsible for counting how long you stay under the Schengen visa waiver, and you must comply with its conditions.

Different rules apply if you are travelling to other EU and Schengen countries as a resident of Luxembourg. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

If you were living in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021

When you travel, carry your residence document or frontier worker permit issued under the Withdrawal Agreement, in addition to your valid passport.

You must proactively show your residence document, or other evidence of residence status, if you are asked to show your passport at border control. If you have applied for, but not yet received, your residence document, show your certificate of application.

If you cannot prove that you are a resident in Luxembourg, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the EU. Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in the country or countries where you live or work. If a passport is stamped, the stamp is considered null and void when you can show evidence of lawful residence.

If you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, you can enter and exit EU countries with a valid passport. You do not need any additional validity on the passport beyond the dates on which you are travelling.

EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

The EU plans to introduce the Entry/Exit System (EES). Non-EU nationals, including UK nationals, visiting the EU will need to create a digital record when entering the EU’s Schengen Zone. This includes providing biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) at the border.

If you are a UK national with residency rights in the EU Schengen Zone, you will be exempt from EES registration, if you have the correct documentation. View the EU’s frequently asked questions about EES.

In Luxembourg, documents that allow exemption include all forms of Withdrawal Agreement residency permits. Any other valid residency permit issued by any other EU member state will also mean that you are exempt. If you have one of these documents, you will not need to register for the EES when travelling.

Healthcare

Read the guidance on healthcare in Luxembourg and make sure you are correctly registered.

Travel insurance is not intended to cover healthcare costs if you live overseas.

Read the Luxembourg government guidance on access to healthcare.

You should also read the guidance on:

Working in Luxembourg

If you are planning to move to Luxembourg and work, you may need a visa.

Read the [Luxembourg government’s guidance on working in Luxembourg as a foreign national, the documents you need and how to get a visa.(https://guichet.public.lu/en/citoyens/immigration/plus-3-mois/ressortissant-tiers.html)).

To apply for a job you may need to provide a UK criminal records certificate, known in Luxembourg as a ‘casier judiciaire’.

Read:

If you work in Luxembourg, even if you work for a UK-based company, this may affect where you pay National Insurance-type contributions. Read the National insurance and social security contributions section for more information.

If you were living in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021

You have the right to work under the Withdrawal Agreement if you have a Withdrawal Agreement residence document or have applied for one.

If you live in Luxembourg and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

Professional qualifications

You may need to get your professional qualification recognised if you want to work in a profession that is regulated in Luxembourg.

Read guidance on:

If you were living in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021

If the relevant regulator in Luxembourg officially recognised your professional qualification before 1 January 2021, or you started the recognition process by this date, make sure you understand the terms of your decision. You should get advice from the relevant regulator.

Studying in Luxembourg

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

Contact the relevant higher education provider in Luxembourg to check what fees you may have to pay.

Read guidance on:

If you were living in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021

You have the same right to access education in Luxembourg as Luxembourg nationals as long as you were lawfully resident before 1 January 2021. The studying in the European Union guidance includes information if you were already living in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021.

Tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Luxembourg so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Luxembourg. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Luxembourg.

Read guidance on:

National insurance and social security contributions

National Insurance-type contributions (NIC) are called ‘social security contributions’ (SSC) in Luxembourg. Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Luxembourg.

If you plan to move to Luxembourg and work, even if you continue working for a UK-based company, you and your employer may need to pay social security contributions in Luxembourg. These social security contributions would entitle you to certain benefits, such as healthcare, in Luxembourg.

Read guidance on national insurance for workers from the UK working in the EEA or Switzerland

You can check your UK National Insurance record

Benefits

UK benefits

Read guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Luxembourg.

Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Luxembourg benefits

Read the EU Commission’s information about benefits in Luxembourg and how to claim.

Pensions

Read the guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Luxembourg.

Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Luxembourg, you can claim:

Read the Money and Pension Service’s MoneyHelper guidance on pension and retirement for more information on cross-border pensions.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.

Money and banking

Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA depends on local laws and regulation.

Read the Money and Pension Service’s MoneyHelper guidance on banking, insurance and financial services for more information on cross-border banking.

Accommodation and buying property

You can read our guidance on buying a property abroad.

Driving in Luxembourg

You cannot renew or replace your UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence if you live in Luxembourg. Read the guidance on what you must do to drive legally in Luxembourg.

Read guidance on:

Exchanging your UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence

If you live in Luxembourg, you must exchange your licence for a Luxembourg one within 1 year of becoming resident. You do not need to take a driving test. If you miss this deadline your UK licence will no longer be valid for driving in Luxembourg and you will have to take a driving test. Read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on driving licences. You cannot use an International Driving Permit (IDP) instead of exchanging your licence.

Exchanging your licence if you were living in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021

If you became resident in Luxembourg before 31 December 2020, you had to exchange your licence by 31 December 2021. If you missed this deadline your UK licence is no longer valid for driving in Luxembourg and you will have to take a driving test. Read the Luxembourg government’s guidance on driving licences.

Disabled drivers

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Luxembourg, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority. You can apply for a new Luxembourg disabled parking card.

Read the EU guidance on the EU parking card for people with disabilities.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Luxembourg

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

Read the Luxembourg government guidance on importing a vehicle into Luxembourg, and changing your UK vehicle number plates to Luxembourg plates.

Driving outside Luxembourg with a Luxembourg licence

You can use your Luxembourg licence when visiting the UK. Keep up-to-date with the UK Highway Code.

If you go to live in the UK, you can exchange your Luxembourg licence for a UK one without taking a test.

To drive in another country, in addition to your Luxembourg licence, you may need to apply for an IDP.

Read the EU guidance on:

Voting

If you register on the electoral registers no later than 55 days before the elections, you can vote in local elections in Luxembourg.

You cannot vote in national elections in Luxembourg or European Parliament elections.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnerships

If your child is born in Luxembourg, you can register the birth with the UK authorities in addition to registering locally. If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.

If someone dies in Luxembourg read our guidance on:

Find out how you can get married or conduct a civil partnership abroad.

You may also need:

Pets

If you’re moving to Luxembourg with your pet, read the guidance and ensure you comply with the regulations:

To visit other countries with your pet, check the rules for the country you’re travelling to. Contact your vet to get the travel documents your pet needs. Read guidance on:

Emergencies

Dial the European emergency number 112 in Luxembourg for the police, ambulance or fire brigade.

Look at the full list of emergency numbers in Luxembourg (in French).

Dial the EU 116 000 hotline to report a missing child in the EU country where you live or in another EU country.

If you need guidance on child abduction, read the guidance on international parental child abduction; the EU guidance on child abduction and EU guidance on child abduction to another EU country.

If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy Luxembourg.

Returning to the UK

Check the COVID-19 travel guidance for entering the UK.

Tell the Luxembourg and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, bringing family members, tax and access to services.

Useful information

Support for British nationals abroad: a guide sets out how to stay safe abroad, and explains how the FCDO can support you if you get into difficulty.

Updates to this page

Published 17 April 2018
Last updated 17 October 2024 + show all updates

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

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

  3. 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.

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

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

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

  7. 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.

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

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

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

  11. 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.

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

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

  14. 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.

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

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

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

  18. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  32. 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.

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

  34. First published.

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