The Immigration Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs recently announced that residence permits and permanent residence permits for third-country nationals, family members of a EU citizen, issued in the form of a card printed on secure paper with photo affixed cease to be valid on 3 August 2023.
Pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 of the European Parliament and of the European Council of 20 June 2019 on strengthening the security of identity cards of EU citizens and residence documents issued to EU citizens and family members exercising their right to free movement, the format of residence documents for third-country nationals family members of a EU citizen has been adapted. Therefore, since 1 June 2021, residence cards and permanent residence cards have been issued in Luxembourg in the form of biometric smart cards.
In accordance with the aforementioned regulation, cards issued before June 2021 in the old format (secure paper printed with photo attached) can still be used during a transitional phase, as long as they have not yet reached their expiry date. This transitional phase ends on 3 August 2023, so cards issued before June 2021 in the old format cease to be valid on this date even if they have an expiry date later than 3 August 2023.
Holders of such a residence card in the old format must imperatively exchange their card for a new card before 3 August to continue to have a valid residence document and to avoid possible problems in the event of travel abroad and in the event of administrative procedures. All persons concerned have been informed by mail of the procedure to be followed.
As the date of 3 August 2023 approaches, and because it takes a certain time to produce new cards, the Foreign Ministry asked people who have not yet started exchanging their card to proceed as soon as possible by following the exchange procedure indicated in the letter sent or by contacting the Directorate of Immigration.
