Luxembourgish Citizenship by Descent (2025): Step-by-Step Application Guide

A direct summary: Gaining Luxembourgish Citizenship by Descent is achieved through three distinct legal pathways: Article 7 (automatic verification for all-male lines), Article 23 (Option for children/grandchildren), or Article 89 (Reclamation for those who registered intent before 2018).

• The process requires collecting original vital records, proving a direct bloodline to a Luxembourgish ancestor, and submitting an application to the Ministry of Justice or the Civil Registrar (Bierger-Center) in Luxembourg.
• The process typically takes between 6 to 24 months, depending on the pathway and whether you are verifying existing status or acquiring new citizenship.
• Based on our analysis of successful applications, the Article 89 Deadline (December 31, 2025) is the single most critical factor for applicants who started the "Reclamation" process before 2018; they must travel to Luxembourg to sign their declaration this year or lose eligibility forever.

‍

What are the key requirements for Luxembourgish Citizenship by Descent?

The primary path depends on your ancestor's gender and your date of birth, which determines whether you are "verifying" citizenship (Article 7) or "opting" for it (Article 23).

• This lineage must be demonstrated through an unbroken chain of birth, marriage, and death certificates.
• Eligible Ancestor: A parent, grandparent, or earlier ancestor born in Luxembourg.
  
  • Article 7 (All-Male Line): Applies if your lineage is purely male (Father > Grandfather > Great-Grandfather) back to a Luxembourgish ancestor. If there is a female in the line, she must have been born after January 1, 1969 to transmit citizenship automatically.
  • Article 23 (Option): Applies if you have a parent or grandparent who was Luxembourgish, but citizenship was not passed down (e.g., due to a female ancestor born before 1969).
• Article 89 (Reclamation): Applies only to those who submitted a certificate request by December 31, 2018. These applicants must finalize their citizenship by December 31, 2025.
• Language Requirement:
  
  • Article 7 (Verification): No language requirement (Zero Luxembourgish needed).
  • Article 23 (Parent/Grandparent Option): generally Exempt from the language test (Case No. 1), unlike the spousal or residency options.
• Dual Citizenship: Luxembourg permits dual citizenship, allowing you to hold the Luxembourgish passport alongside your current nationality.

The options for obtaining citizenship vary slightly:

• The Verification (Article 7) applies to all-male lines (or post-1969 females), has no language requirement, and averages 6–12 Months.
• The Option (Article 23) applies to children/grandchildren of Luxembourgish citizens, requires Travel to Luxembourg, and averages 4–6 Months after the visit.
• The Reclamation (Article 89) is the "closing" path for distant ancestry (pre-1900), requires Travel by Dec 31, 2025, and is strictly limited to existing pre-2018 applicants.

The real advantage is that Article 7 verification confirms you have always been a citizen, while Article 23 grants citizenship effective from the date of the declaration.

‍

What is the Step-by-Step Application Process?

The application process is administrative and involves four major stages: document collection, certificate issuance, and (for Option/Reclamation) an in-person declaration.

• This process is handled by the Ministry of Justice and the Bierger-Center (Citizens' Center) in Luxembourg City.
• Remote vs. In-Person:
  
  • Article 7: Can often be started remotely by requesting a "Certificate of Nationality" from the Ministry of Justice by post, though a final passport application requires a visit.
  • Article 23 & 89: Must be filed in person. You must appear before the civil registrar to sign the declaration.
• Article 89 Deadline: If you are in the Article 89 queue, you must book your appointment at the Bierger-Center before the end of 2025. Appointments are scarce due to high demand.
• Clean Record: A criminal record check (FBI or equivalent) issued within the last 6 months is mandatory for Option and Reclamation procedures.

The application timeline consists of four key steps:

• Preparation: Document retrieval and certified translations. This takes an estimated 2–6 Months.
• Submission:
  
  • Article 7: Mailing the dossier to the Ministry of Justice.
  • Article 23/89: Attending your appointment in Luxembourg City.
• This typically takes 1 Day (for the in-person appointment).
• Processing: Administrative review.
  
  • Article 7: 2–8 months for the Certificate of Nationality.
  • Article 23/89: 4 months for the Ministry to approve the declaration.
• Finalization: Receiving the Certificate of Nationality and applying for a passport.
• This step takes approximately 1 Month after approval.

Based on our internal research, booking the Bierger-Center appointment is currently the biggest bottleneck for 2025; applicants who wait until late 2025 to book travel may find no slots available.

‍

How do I collect the necessary historical documents?

Document collection is meticulous. You must reconstruct the family tree with official long-form records linking you to the Luxembourgish ancestor.

• All foreign documents must be originals/certified copies and have a Sworn Translation (if not in English, French, or German).
• Authentication: Documents from non-EU countries typically do not require an Apostille for Luxembourg (a rare exemption among EU states), but checking with the specific commune is advised.
• Translation: Luxembourg accepts documents in English, French, or German. If your documents are in Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian, they must be translated by a sworn translator.
• Ancestor Proof: You need the ancestor's Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate from the Luxembourgish commune where they were born.

Key documents and their requirements:

• Ancestral Proof: Original Civil Certificates (Birth/Marriage/Death) from Luxembourg. You can order these online from the specific commune.
• Lineage Proof (Applicant & Parents): Original long-form Birth and Marriage certificates linking you to the ancestor.
• Personal Integrity: Original Criminal Record Check issued by the authorities of every country where you have resided for more than 12 months since age 18.
• Biographical Questionnaire: A mandatory form (Notice Biographique) detailing your life and family history.

In our analysis of cases, applicants who fail to provide proof of the ancestor's non-naturalization (if required by the specific case logic) or missing a generation's marriage certificate often face delays.

‍

What are the total costs and timelines for the process?

The official government fees for Luxembourgish citizenship are effectively zero (the procedure itself is free), but the logistics of travel and translation create the cost.

• The total time frame varies from 6 months (Article 23 Option) to 12+ months (Article 7 Verification).
• Government Fees: The application at the Ministry/Commune is free.
• Variable Costs: Sworn translations and the mandatory trip to Luxembourg (for Option/Reclamation cases) are the main expenses.
• Timeline Range: The Article 89 deadline is absolute; if you miss the 2025 window, the path closes permanently.

Estimated costs for the application include:

• Official Application Fees: $0 (Free procedure).
• Document Retrieval: $100 - $300 (Ordering new originals).
• Certified Translations: $300 - $1,000 (Only if documents are not in EN/FR/DE).
• Travel to Luxembourg: $1,000 - $3,000 (Flight + Hotel for the Bierger-Center appointment, required for Art. 23/89).
• Total Estimated Administrative Cost: $1,500 - $4,500 (Mostly travel-related).

After evaluating 83 countries in 2025, Luxembourg offers one of the most powerful "Tier A" passports (VISA-free to 172+ countries), but the in-person requirement makes it a "high-effort, high-reward" process compared to mail-in countries.

‍

Framework + Action: Choosing Your Path

The citizenship path you choose depends on three core variables: lineage gender, birth year, and 2018 status.

• The Article 7 Route is the superior path if your line is all-male (or female post-1969). It can often be done without immediate travel.
• The Article 23 (Option) Route is necessary if you are a child/grandchild claiming through a female born before 1969. Plan your trip to Luxembourg now.
• Check your archives: If you applied for an ancestor certificate before Dec 31, 2018, you are in the Article 89 queue. You must finalize this by Dec 31, 2025.
• Compare these factors inside Atlas, then use Plan to build your personalized application timeline.
• Join GlobalPassport for free and start your PassportFolio today.

‍