Luxembourg is a small country in the heart of Europe, where citizens enjoy all the benefits of a high quality of life, a stable economy, and a unique cultural environment. No wonder more and more people are now becoming interested in the possibility of becoming citizens of Luxembourg. Did you know that if you have ancestors from this country, you also have the opportunity to obtain a Luxembourgish passport, which grants the right to free movement, work, and study throughout Europe?
Do you want to understand who is eligible for citizenship by descent, what rules and procedures apply, and how the Luxembourg citizenship process looks in real life? That is exactly why this article was created: to explain everything in simple terms, without complicated legal jargon.
Can a passport depend not on where you live today, but on who your ancestors were? Our answer is clear—yes! If you have Luxembourgers in your family, even generations back, you may be entitled to citizenship. This is explicitly stated in Luxembourg’s national legislation.
The principle of “citizenship by blood” is known as jus sanguinis. In Luxembourg, it is codified in the Law of 23 October 2008 on Luxembourgish Nationality, as amended in 2017. Article 1 states: “Est Luxembourgeois l’enfant né d’un parent luxembourgeois”—“A child born to a Luxembourgish father or mother is Luxembourgish.”
Interestingly, after the 2017 reform, thousands of people worldwide submitted applications for Luxembourg ancestry citizenship. According to the Luxembourg government, in 2022 alone, more than 20,000 applicants confirmed their right through ancestry, even if their families had emigrated more than a century earlier.
Confused about the difference between types of citizenship acquisition? Let us break it down into three main paths:
The main question therefore is: Can I find and confirm documents proving that my ancestor was a citizen of Luxembourg? If yes, you already have a strong basis to apply.
So, who is actually eligible to obtain a Luxembourgish passport thanks to family lineage? The law may seem complex, but simply put: citizenship is passed from parents to children and may “travel” across generations if this connection is properly documented in time.
The easiest case is when at least one of your parents was Luxembourgish. In this case, you automatically qualify for Luxembourgish citizenship by descent. You only need to provide your birth certificate and a document proving the nationality of your mother or father.
What if your parents already lost their citizenship or never confirmed it? Then you look at earlier generations. If your grandparent was Luxembourgish, you can use your right to Luxembourg citizenship grandparent. However, the process is more complex: you must collect documents linking your grandparent to you, forming an unbroken “chain.”
One unique feature of Luxembourg law is that you may confirm Luxembourg ancestry citizenship even through great-grandparents. But there are conditions:
Still unsure where to start if you discovered Luxembourgish roots? The process is logical and follows these steps:
Now you know how to get Luxembourg citizenship by descent, and the process should no longer seem intimidating.
Be prepared to present:
These papers are the foundation of Luxembourg citizenship by ancestry.
Can the process be completed without travelling to the country? Yes—consulates exist for this purpose. However, in practice, things often move faster within Luxembourg itself. If you live outside Europe, applying through a consulate may be the only realistic option.
Luxembourg citizenship is a gateway to a new life full of opportunities within the European Union. Why? For starters, the Luxembourgish passport is ranked among the top five in the world for visa-free travel. Through the Luxembourg citizenship process, you automatically become an EU citizen and gain these advantages:
And that is not all—being a citizen of an EU country is a huge asset today.
Here is another important point: with Luxembourg ancestry citizenship, your children can study at European universities under the same conditions as local students—meaning lower tuition fees and a higher chance of scholarships. For adults, citizenship opens the legal job market across the EU without visas or permits.
The greatest value lies in the fact that once you obtain citizenship, it is automatically passed to your children. Securing it once lays the foundation for future generations of your family. Thus, Luxembourg citizenship by descent is not only an investment in your own future but also in that of your descendants.
Can you obtain citizenship if your ancestry goes back to great-grandparents? Or what about deadlines for registration? Let us clarify these complex cases.
Unlike many countries, Luxembourg allows applications even when the ancestor was a grandparent or great-grandparent, provided the status can be documented. This is the basis for Luxembourg citizenship grandparent.
For instance, a 2017 reform enabled thousands in Brazil, the USA, and Canada to apply through great-grandparents—a rare opportunity among EU states.
Pay close attention to deadlines. Some applications had to be filed before December 31, 2022 (the so-called “descendants of emigrants program”). Missing it meant losing eligibility under that route.
Current rules are listed in the Luxembourg citizenship by descent requirements. For standard cases (parents or grandparents), no strict deadline applies, but specific programs may still impose limits. Always check official information from the Ministère de la Justice Luxembourg. This way, you open the door to outstanding EU opportunities and the privileges of a Luxembourgish passport.
Obtaining citizenship by descent is not a simple legal formality, but a chance to reconnect with your family’s history. If you are considering this step, start with reliable sources. On the geteucitizenship.com, you will find useful details about rules, required documents, and current procedures to help you move forward with confidence.
Yes. If your grandparent held citizenship and maintained it until your parent’s birth, you have the right to apply.
Typically, birth, marriage, and death certificates, along with archival records proving nationality.
It depends on your documents and the workload of authorities. On average, from several months up to two years.
Yes. Once you obtain citizenship, it automatically passes to your children.
Yes. Luxembourg officially permits holding multiple passports at the same time.
Yes. If your grandparent held citizenship and maintained it until your parent’s birth, you have the right to apply.
Typically, birth, marriage, and death certificates, along with archival records proving nationality.
It depends on your documents and the workload of authorities. On average, from several months up to two years.
Yes. Once you obtain citizenship, it automatically passes to your children.
Yes. Luxembourg officially permits holding multiple passports at the same time.