Luxembourgish Citizenship by Descent
Luxembourg has one of Europe's most generous grandparent routes. If a parent or grandparent ever held Luxembourg nationality — even one who later naturalised in the United States — you can claim Luxembourg citizenship by a free 'option' declaration under Article 23 of the 2017 nationality law, keep your current citizenship, and skip any language test. The older recovery route for descendants of 1900-era emigrants closed on 31 December 2025.
Michael Soucek·Last reviewed: October 2026
Educational information only — not legal advice. Always verify requirements with the relevant government authority, consulate, or registry office.
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Who qualifies for Luxembourgish citizenship by descent
There are two live routes. A child of a Luxembourg citizen is Luxembourgish from birth. For grandchildren — and children whose parent never passed it on — Article 23 of the Law of 8 March 2017 lets an adult opt for Luxembourg nationality if a parent or grandparent possesses or has possessed it, provided it was not already attributed to them (or, for the grandparent case, to their parent). It applies through either side of the family, has no deadline, needs no language test or residence, and is free. The catch is practical: the declaration is made in person before a civil registrar, which for people abroad in practice means a trip to Luxembourg. The separate Article 89 recovery route for descendants of an ancestor who was Luxembourgish on 1 January 1900 closed on 31 December 2025.
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Article 23: the grandparent option
Luxembourg's 2017 nationality law gives adults a right to opt for Luxembourg nationality if a parent possesses or has possessed it and it was not attributed to them, or if a grandparent possesses or has possessed it and it was not attributed to their parent. It works through either the mother's or the father's side, and there is no deadline.
The wording matters: 'has possessed' means the grandparent only needs to have been a Luxembourg national at some point. A grandmother born in Luxembourg who emigrated and later became an American citizen still counts. That makes this one of the most accessible grandparent routes in Europe.
What it costs you: a trip, not a test
There is no Luxembourgish language test, no citizenship course and no residence requirement for the option. The declaration is free. The one practical burden is that you sign it in person before a civil registrar; for people living abroad that in practice means an appointment in Luxembourg, typically at the civil registry in Luxembourg City.
The key document is a certificate of Luxembourg nationality for the parent or grandparent, alongside their complete Luxembourg birth record. Luxembourg civil records are well kept, and many older ones can be traced through the National Archives (ANLux) and Luxembourg genealogy portals.
Further back: Article 7, and the route that closed
Article 7 can reach more distant ancestors, but historically Luxembourg nationality passed mainly through fathers; a mother could transmit it to a child born on or after 1 January 1969. An ancestor who naturalised in France, Italy, Austria or the Netherlands between about 1971 and 2008 may also have lost Luxembourg nationality automatically under the 1963 Strasbourg Convention. These cases need specialist advice.
The widely publicised recovery route for descendants of an ancestor who was Luxembourgish on 1 January 1900 (Article 89) was temporary. The deadline to sign the recovery declaration was 31 December 2025, and it is no longer available.
Dual nationality and what you get
Luxembourg has allowed multiple nationality since 2009, so you keep the citizenship you already hold. Once the option is registered you are a Luxembourg and EU citizen, with the right to live and work anywhere in the EU and a Luxembourg passport.
Luxembourgish requirements at a glance
- A parent or grandparent who possesses or has ever possessed Luxembourg nationality — on either side of the family
- You are an adult (the option is made in your own name)
- Declaration signed in person before a Luxembourg civil registrar
- No language test, no residence requirement, dual nationality allowed
- Note: the Article 89 route for descendants of 1900-era Luxembourgers closed on 31 December 2025
Documents for a Luxembourgish claim
- 1Your full birth certificate
- 2Complete birth certificate of the Luxembourg parent or grandparent
- 3Certificate of Luxembourg nationality for that parent or grandparent
- 4Birth and marriage records linking you to them
- 5Your valid passport
- 6Apostilles on foreign documents, and translations into French, German or Luxembourgish where required
Luxembourgish processing times
Gathering the parent's or grandparent's Luxembourg birth record and a certificate of Luxembourg nationality usually takes the longest. Once the declaration is signed before the civil registrar, processing typically takes around four months.
Where Luxembourgish claims go wrong
- Assuming a grandparent who naturalised abroad no longer counts — 'has possessed' Luxembourg nationality is enough
- Following old guides that describe the Article 89 (1815–1943 emigrant) route as open — it closed on 31 December 2025
- Not budgeting for the in-person declaration in Luxembourg
- Name variants across French, German and Luxembourgish records
- Border-region families whose ancestor was in fact Belgian, French or German
Official Luxembourgish government sources
Luxembourgish citizenship FAQ
Can I get Luxembourg citizenship through my grandparent?
Yes, if your grandparent possesses or has ever possessed Luxembourg nationality and it was not attributed to your parent. You opt for it by a free declaration under Article 23, with no language test or residence requirement.
My grandfather became an American citizen. Does that matter?
Not for Article 23. The law asks whether the grandparent possesses or has possessed Luxembourg nationality, so a grandparent who later naturalised elsewhere still counts.
Do I have to go to Luxembourg?
In practice, yes. The option declaration is signed in person before a civil registrar, which for people abroad usually means an appointment in Luxembourg.
Is the 1900-ancestor recovery route still open?
No. The Article 89 recovery procedure ended on 31 December 2025.
Will I lose my US citizenship?
Luxembourg does not require you to give up another nationality, and US law does not take away US citizenship for acquiring Luxembourg nationality.
Luxembourgish nationality law
Luxembourg nationality is governed by the Law of 8 March 2017 on Luxembourg nationality. Article 23 sets out the option for adults with a Luxembourg parent or grandparent; Article 7 covers attribution by descent. The temporary Article 89 recovery procedure for descendants of an ancestor who was Luxembourgish on 1 January 1900 ended on 31 December 2025.
Dual citizenship in Luxembourg
Luxembourg has allowed multiple nationality since 1 January 2009. You do not have to give up your current citizenship to opt for Luxembourg nationality, and Luxembourg citizens who acquire another nationality keep their Luxembourg citizenship.
Luxembourgish application costs
The option declaration itself is free. Expect costs for Luxembourg civil records and the nationality certificate (usually small), apostilles on your own documents (€15–€40 each), any translations, and travel to Luxembourg for the in-person declaration.
Where to find Luxembourgish records
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Start the CheckerAbout the author
Michael Soucek— Claimed Hungarian citizenship by descent firsthand
Founder & Researcher, Heritage Passport Finder
I built Heritage Passport Finder after going through the process of claiming Hungarian citizenship by descent myself. Tracing my family's records and working out what actually qualified turned into a genuine obsession with how citizenship-by-descent law works across Europe, so I started gathering what I learned in one place. I'm not a lawyer, and I don't treat these guides as the final word — citizenship law changes constantly and differs by country, so every page points to official sources and I recommend confirming your own case with the relevant consulate or an immigration attorney. What I can offer is a clear map of the landscape, drawn from official sources and the experience of someone who has actually been through it.