If you are moving from the United States to Luxembourg, then there is a pretty decent possibility that you are interested in obtaining citizenship in Luxembourg, especially if you are planning on making Luxembourg your home.
As is the case with any other country, there are requirements which must be met before you can qualify and apply for citizenship in Luxembourg. In Luxembourg, there are two different routes that you can take towards gaining that citizenship. They are the option route and the naturalization route. If gaining citizenship is one your priority list, it is important to know what the specific details are from the beginning of your arrival in Luxembourg so that you can make sure that you are following and meeting the requirements. This way, there will not be any surprises down the line when you are ready to make your application for Luxembourgian citizenship. Before you prepare to apply for citizenship in Luxembourg, you should know that some countries require you to renounce your current citizenship in order to be granted citizenship in their country and Luxembourg is one of those countries. It is also important to note that by gaining citizenship in Luxembourg, you will become a European Union national.
As a foreigner wishing to obtain citizenship in the country of Luxembourg by means of naturalization, you will first need to be at least 18 years of age by the time that you make your application for citizenship. Also, you must have made your primary residence within the borders of Luxembourg for the last ten years before your application is submitted. You will also have to be able to show that you are fluent in the three national languages. The national languages are French, German and Luxembourgian. You should know that the procedure for testing your language proficiency has not been standardized and tends to vary by commune. This means that your experience may differ from others you have spoken with that have already completed the process. And you will have to renounce your previous citizenship.
Remember that you will need to have copies of all of the required documents in a translated form to go with your application for citizenship. You will need to remember to have the original copies of your birth certificate, proof of residency, proof of employment, proof of financial means, and anything else that is requested. The requirements change often, so make sure you check before you submit your application to avoid any delays.
The option route to citizenship is where you opt for nationality if you meet a set of requirements. The option route is reserved to select categories of foreign nationals that have ties with the country through birth, adoption or marriage. You will need to have resided in Luxembourg got the past 5 years before applying and be prepared to renounce your current citizenship. Citizenship through this route is granted by declaration and approved by the Minister of Justice. Birth within the country does not automatically confer citizenship, and it must be obtain by opting for nationality.
In late 2006, a law change was proposed to allow for dual citizenship. If this law passes, you will not have to renounce your citizenship any longer. However, the new law also contains a provision that changes the residency requirement for the option route from five to seven years.
