DUAL CITIZENSHIP AND RECOVERY OF CITIZENSHIP

The Act of 23 October 2008 on the Luxembourg nationality, which came into force on January 1st, 2009, introduces the principle of dual (or multiple) citizenship.

1. WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM DUAL CITIZENSHIP OR RECOVERY OF CITIZENSHIP?

- Persons who were Luxembourgers and had lost their citizenship because they acquired a foreign citizenship can recover their initial Luxembourg citizenship – you must be 18 years or older;

- Persons whose lineal ancestors were Luxembourgers on January 1st 1900 can recover their ancestors Luxembourg citizenship – see Ministry of Justice in Luxembourg to request a certificate stating that such is the case.;

- Luxembourgers who wish to acquire a foreign citizenship without losing their Luxembourg citizenship;

- Persons holding a foreign citizenship who wish to acquire Luxembourg citizenship without losing their present foreign citizenship.

2. IMPORTANT:

- Applicants should always verify with the competent authorities (embassy, consulate) of their country of citizenship whether the law of this first country also accepts the principle of dual (or multiple) citizenship.

- Applicants who would like to recover Luxembourg citizenship need to provide either proof of former Luxemburg citizenship before acquiring a foreign nationality or proof of lineal Luxembourg ancestry going back to January 1st, 1900.

- Documents accompanying the applications must be transmitted in one of the official languages (French or German) and translations need to be made by certified translator.

- Children of applicants will automatically receive Luxembourg citizenship.

3. MORE:

• In case of recovery you need to request a criminal record from the police department where you live.
• You need to fill in the form ‘Notice biographique-questionnaire – Recouvrement’ that you can find under the following webpage http://www.mj.public.lu/nationalite/Imprimes_et_formulaires.html
• The documents have to be delivered in person by the applicant to the commune* where he/she resides. In case of residency abroad, the documents must be delivered to the commune* of his/her last place of residence in Luxembourg or, by default, to the commune* of Luxembourg.
* The city hall of your municipality

• The Applicant has to sign the recovery declaration in front of the officer of the civil state (officier de l’etat civil).
• If the legal conditions are met and all required documents are in the file the officer will forward it without delay to the Ministry of Justice.
• The Ministry of Justice in Luxembourg will make the final decision whether to approve the applicant’s citizenship or not.

For more information on the specific conditions and the applicable procedures (the different cases mentioned above are subject to different conditions and procedures) please visit the following website: http://www.mj.public.lu/nationalite/index.html or call the info line +1-352-247- 88588