Luxembourg's Ministry of Health, together with the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs, has provided more details concerning the new health measures announced yesterday evening, namely the requirement for all travellers flying into Luxembourg (having been outside the country for 72+ hours) to carry proof a negative COVID-19 test which is less than 72 hours old, applicable from Friday 29 January until 28 February.

Anyone, regardless of nationality, aged 6+ years, wishing to travel by air transport to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, must present the negative result (on paper or electronic document) of a (PCR) test upon boarding. The negative test result must be presented, if necessary accompanied by a translation, in one of the administrative languages ​​of Luxembourg or in English. All departures to Luxembourg are therefore concerned, including those from member states of the European Union and the Schengen area.

In addition, any person traveling by air transport from a third country, namely a country that is not a member of the European Union or the Schengen area, will have to undergo an additional test (rapid - antigen test) upon arrival at Luxembourg airport. In case of refusal to submit to a test, the person will remain in quarantine for a period of 14 days. This quarantine can end at any time, upon obtaining a negative test result.

It should be noted that the obligation to present a negative test on boarding and to undergo an additional test on arrival now also applies to persons residing in one of the countries on the list of third countries whose residents are currently allowed to enter, including for non-essential travel, into Luxembourg, namely Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore and Thailand. 

Are exempt from these obligations:
• Those who are employed in the transport sector and passengers in transit through the airport;
• People who make a return trip by air, for less than 72 hours, from the Grand Duchy to a country which is a member of the Schengen area or of the European Union, and subject to not having left the Schengen area or the EU Member States during this period;
• Members of the diplomatic corps, staff of international organisations and persons invited by these international organisations whose physical presence is required for the proper functioning of these organisations, military personnel, personnel in the field of development cooperation and humanitarian aid, and civil protection personnel in the exercise of their respective functions, on condition that their stay in Luxembourg does not exceed 72 hours;
• People who have had a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection within 3 months of their trip and who have completed the applicable isolation period in the respective country with no symptoms of infection. These people can present a medical certificate attesting to these facts, which allows them to embark for Luxembourg without undergoing a new PCR or antigen test.

The testing obligations applicable to all persons wishing to enter Luxembourg from a third country are in addition to the temporary restrictions already in place for non-essential travel to the EU. 

Also, third country nationals from a third country can no longer enter the Grand Duchy until 31 March 2021 inclusive, except for certain categories of exempt persons. Details of these restrictions are available online at https://covid19.public.lu/en/travellers/visiting-luxembourg.html