Living in Luxembourg

EU Exit updates

To keep up to date with information about the EU Exit you should:

• read UK nationals in the EU essential information
• sign up for email alerts on living in Luxembourg
• follow your local British Embassy on Facebook
• attend a citizens outreach event

Visas and residency

You may want to check entry requirements for Luxembourg in our travel advice.

You are required to register at the local town hall (“commune”) in Luxembourg when you arrive.

If you plan to stay in Luxembourg for more than 90 days, you must make a declaration of arrival (déclaration d’arrivée) at the local town hall (Commune) in your locality within 8 days. Within 3 months of arrival, you must get an address registration certificate (déclaration d’enregistrement) from the Commune. The Luxembourg government has more information on registering in Luxembourg

If you are applying for nationality or residency and require a “casier judiciaire”, you will need to apply for a police certificate from the ACRO Criminal Records Office.

If you have never resided in the UK, please record this in the “additional information” section on the application form.

If you have lived in Luxembourg legally for a continuous period of 5 years. you automatically acquire the right of permanent residence in Luxembourg. You can get an “attestation de séjour permanent” from your local commune or fill out this form and send to the address on the form.

You can look at our travel advice for Luxembourg and sign up for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies You can also read our guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

Residency and visas after the UK leaves the EU

For the latest information on residency rules and registration processes in Luxembourg after the UK leaves the EU, look at the Luxembourg government’s information on the UK’s departure from the EU.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport online from Luxembourg. If you cannot get a passport in time for your trip, you may need to get an emergency travel document or ‘emergency passport’.

Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU

You must check you have enough time left on your passport to travel.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you will need at least 6 months left on your passport to travel to most countries in Europe. If you renewed your passport early, you may need more than 6 months left.

Find out more about passport rules for travel to Europe after the UK leaves the EU.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the European Commission has said you may not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the Schengen area or the EU. You may be able to stay for up to 90 days in any EU country, within a 180 day period.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

Healthcare

You should read the NHS guidance on who is able to able to access healthcare in Luxembourg and how to register

You can find English-speaking doctors in Luxembourg. You can also check your prescriptions are legal.

If you are resident in Luxembourg, you should not be using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Luxembourg.

• you may use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland
• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
• for more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

If you live in Luxembourg and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate. You can apply for one by calling +44 (0)191 218 1999.

If you are an S1 form holder and are travelling within the EU, you should apply for a UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You can read the NHS guidance about the EHIC and how to apply. You should also look at the Luxembourg government’s information on the UK’s departure from the EU.

Working in Luxembourg

If you are registered as a resident in Luxembourg, you have the right to work in Luxembourg. You can read our guidance on working in another EU country.

You may need to apply for a UK criminal records certificate, known in Luxembourg as a ‘casier judiciare.’

Working in Luxembourg after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves with a deal, your right to work will not change until the end of implementation period.

You should read the Luxembourg government’s information about EU Exit

If you are planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after the UK leaves the EU, you should read our further guidance.

Money and tax

The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Luxembourg to make sure that people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. You should direct individual taxpayer questions about double-taxation relief to the relevant tax authority.

You can read:

• our guidance on tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• our guidance on tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• guidance on paying income tax in Luxembourg

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Luxembourg.

You may be able to pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

Money and tax after the UK leaves the EU

The UK’s exit from the EU will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Luxembourg.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in the EU. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you should read our guidance on using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU.

Pensions

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

If you retire in Luxembourg, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Please contact the International Pensions Centre to claim
• your Luxembourg and UK State Pension if you worked in Luxembourg
• if you have worked in other EU countries, check with the International Pensions Centre

Life certificates

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 don’t.

Pensions after the UK leaves the EU

The UK government will continue to pay the UK state pension to those eligible after the UK leaves the EU. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on pensions.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Luxembourg, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Luxembourg pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

You can also read the Luxembourg government’s information on the UK’s departure from the EU.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Luxembourg. You should:

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim if you live abroad
• use our tool to check which benefits you can claim while your abroad

If you are abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid to you.

You may be eligible to claim some Luxembourg social security benefits – see Luxembourg social security benefits.

You can request proof of the time you have worked in the UK from HMRC and any social security contributions made if you are asked for this.

Benefits after the UK leaves the EU

The UK government will continue to pay child benefits and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Luxembourg, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Luxembourg contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario.

Driving in Luxembourg

You should exchange your UK licence for a Luxembourg driving licence before the UK leaves the EU, as your UK licence may no longer be valid after the UK leaves the EU. You can still use your Luxembourg licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

For information on driving in Luxembourg, read our guidance on:

• what you need to drive abroad
• driving advice Luxembourg

You can also read the European Union’s guidance on exchanging or renewing your driving licence.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Luxembourg

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK. You can also find out how to change your UK vehicle licence plates to Luxembourg plates.

You can read the EU’s guidance on vehicle registration abroad and importing a vehicle into Luxembourg. You may be exempt from some taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.

Driving in Luxembourg after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, you will continue to be able to drive in Luxembourg with a UK driving licence until the end of 2020.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you will need to exchange your UK licence for a Luxembourg one.

You should read our guidance on driving in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

You can look at the Luxembourg government’s guidance on the UK’s departure from the EU for more information.

Voting

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

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter.) if you would like to vote

If you’re resident in Luxembourg, you can vote in local municipal and European parliamentary elections.

If you are resident in Luxembourg, you can vote in local elections if you meet the relevant criteria. You should read the Luxembourg Government’s guidance on voting

Voting after the UK leaves the EU

You will still be able to vote in local elections in Luxembourg after the UK leaves the EU.

Births, deaths and getting married or civil partnership

If your child is born in Luxembourg, you will need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Luxembourg, you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
• read guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Luxembourg
• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Luxembourg

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

You may also need:

• notary services for Luxembourg
• English-speaking lawyers in Luxembourg
• English-speaking translators and interpreters in Luxembourg

Accommodation and buying property

You can read our guidance on buying a property abroad.

Pets

When the UK leaves the EU, you will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret but the rules will change. You can read guidance on pet travel to Europe after UK leaves the EU.

While the UK is still an EU Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport. If you are travelling with your pet for the first time you’ll have to visit your vet to get a pet passport.

Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK. For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number on 112 or you can dial 113 in Luxembourg for the police.

Look at the full list of emergency numbers in Luxembourg.

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

Returning to the UK

You should tell the Luxembourg and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

You should read our guidance on:

• returning to live in the UK
• returning to live in the UK in the case of no-deal
• bringing your family to the UK
• access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding
• importing vehicles back to the UK
• bringing your pet back to the UK
• checking your tax status after returning to the UK

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

If you receive healthcare in Luxembourg through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Luxembourg authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information