Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has announced the extension of temporary entry restrictions for third-country nationals in the context of COVID-19 until 15 September 2020 inclusive.

In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, Luxembourg has acted on the recommendation of the Council of the European Union concerning the temporary restriction of non-essential travel to the EU and the possible lifting of this restriction. Through a modification of a Grand Ducal regulation on freedom of movement, temporary restrictions for third-country nationals have been extended until mid-September.

However, the categories of third-country nationals authorised to enter the territory of Luxembourg have been updated. The entry of the following categories of third-country nationals is thus authorised:

  • third-country nationals who hold long-term resident status as well as any other person with a right of residence in accordance with European directives, as well as under the national law of an EU Member State and of countries associated with the Schengen area, or who hold a long-term national visa from one of the abovementioned states;
  • health professionals, health researchers and care professionals for the elderly;
  • cross-border workers;
  • seasonal workers in the agricultural sector;
  • people employed in the transport sector;
  • members of the diplomatic corps, personnel 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;
  • passengers in transit;
  • passengers travelling for urgent and duly justified family reasons;
  • sailors;
  • persons wishing to seek international protection in the Grand Duchy or for other humanitarian reasons;
  • third country nationals travelling for the purpose of study;
  • highly qualified third country workers if their employment is economically necessary and their work cannot be postponed or performed from abroad.

For any further information on this subject, third-country nationals are requested to contact the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office via email: service.visas@mae.etat.lu or via tel.: (+352) 247-88300 or the Luxembourg embassy in their country of residence. 

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has also defined a new category of exceptions in order to allow a gradual lifting of temporary restrictions. This new exception is not based on the nationality of a third-country national, but on his / her country of residence. From 1 July 2020, third-country nationals residing in one of the following countries are thus authorised to enter the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg: Algeria; Australia; Canada; China (subject to reciprocity at EU level); Georgia; Japan; Montenegro; Morocco; New Zealand; Rwanda; Serbia; South Korea; Thailand; Tunisia; Uruguay.

This list will be subject to analysis and regular updating by the Council of the EU, after close consultation with the European Commission and the relevant EU agencies and services.

In addition to the usual travel documents, travellers residing in the aforementioned countries must be in possession of additional official documents proving their residence in the third countries for which the restrictions have been lifted, such as residence permits, residence certificates and / or a work permit issued by the country of residence. These documents must be presented and accompanied by a translation into one of the administrative languages ​​of Luxembourg or into English.

EU and UK citizens as well as nationals of countries associated with the Schengen area, along with family members, are free to enter the EU regardless of the purpose of the stay. Citizens of San Marino, Andorra, Monaco and the Vatican / Holy See, as well as members of their families, are also exempt from temporary travel restrictions.