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Luxembourg Nationality Certificate: How to Apply
A Luxembourg nationality certificate, also known as a Heimatschein, confirms that you already hold Luxembourgish nationality. It is issued by the Ministry of Justice's Nationality Office and does not grant citizenship.
Luxembourg citizens living in Luxembourg can request the certificate through MyGuichet.lu. Citizens living abroad must use email, post or an in-person application. Issuance is free, and the completed certificate is sent by post—even when you apply online.
Before starting, check whether the receiving authority needs this particular certificate. A valid Luxembourg passport or identity card will often provide the proof of nationality it needs.
Do you actually need a nationality certificate?
Under the official Guichet.lu procedure, a valid Luxembourg passport or identity card generally establishes Luxembourgish nationality unless there is evidence to the contrary.
A separate certificate is required when a foreign public authority specifically asks for it, or when there is doubt or a dispute about a person's Luxembourgish nationality. It can be used for administrative, judicial or international formalities that require this form of proof.
There is also an important distinction for citizens abroad: the official procedure expressly allows Luxembourg nationals without a valid Luxembourg passport or identity card to prove their nationality through a certificate. The Nationality Office can explain which supporting records are needed in their circumstances.
A useful question to ask the receiving organisation is: “Do you require a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality, or will you accept my valid Luxembourg passport or identity card?”
Choose the right application route
Your residence determines whether the online route is available. It does not prevent you from using the other application channels.
| Application route | Who can use it? | Main requirement or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| MyGuichet.lu | Luxembourg citizens residing in Luxembourg, applying for themselves and/or their minor children | Authentication and electronic signature using LuxTrust or a Luxembourg eID; no applications for another adult or third party. |
| Residents and non-residents | Send the request and supporting documents to the Nationality Office. | |
| Post | Residents and non-residents | Send the required information and supporting documents to the Nationality Office. |
| In person | Residents and non-residents | Apply at the Nationality Office. A trusted representative must bring a power of attorney and a copy of your identity document. |
Applying online through MyGuichet.lu
The September 2026 government announcement introduced the online option for Luxembourg citizens residing in the country.
Start from the online service linked on the official certificate procedure page. You must authenticate and electronically sign the request using either a LuxTrust product or a Luxembourg electronic identity card (eID).
An eIDAS identification method issued by another country cannot provide the electronic signature required for this procedure. Do not assume that an electronic identity accepted by another public service will work here.
You may apply for yourself and/or your minor children, but not for another adult. For example, the online procedure does not allow you to submit a request for your spouse.
Applying by email, post or in person
These routes remain available whether you live in Luxembourg or abroad. They are also alternatives for residents who cannot use the required electronic signature.
For email or postal applications, prepare the information and documents below. Check the Nationality Office's current contact details before sending your request. As a practical precaution, do not send irreplaceable originals unless the office specifically requests them.
For an in-person application, check the office's opening arrangements before travelling. If someone submits for you, prepare both the power of attorney and the copy of your identity document.
Prepare the information and supporting documents
The certificate is issued on a reasoned request: you need to explain why you require it and identify the organisation that will receive it.
Your application must include:
| Information | Details to provide |
|---|---|
| Your identity | Surname, first name or names, date of birth and place of birth. |
| Your address | Current address in Luxembourg or abroad. |
| Your parents' details | Each parent's surname, first name or names, date of birth and place of birth. |
| Purpose and recipient | Intended use of the certificate and the name of the receiving organisation. |
Provide the corresponding information for your children if they also need a certificate.
Identity copy and additional evidence
Include a copy of your passport or identity card. You must also be able to establish your Luxembourgish nationality through supporting evidence; the documents needed depend on your circumstances.
The Nationality Office may request additional records, including birth, marriage or death certificates, court decisions or copies of foreign identity documents. These are examples, not a checklist requiring every applicant to supply every document.
For a complex civil-status history, contact the office before submitting. Do not assume that an identity copy alone will establish nationality in every case.
How to explain the reason for your request
Name the procedure and the organisation rather than writing only “for administrative purposes”. The following wording is an example you can adapt, not an official application form:
I am requesting a certificate of Luxembourgish nationality in the name of [full name] for [procedure or purpose]. The certificate will be submitted to [name of the receiving authority or organisation] in [country].
This explanation is only one part of the request. You still need to provide the identity, address, family information and supporting documents described above.
Check these points before submitting
- The document and person are correct. Confirm that the recipient requires a nationality certificate and that the request names the person whose nationality must be proved.
- The details are complete. Check names, birth details, parental information and the address where you will receive the certificate.
- The purpose is specific. Identify both the intended use and the receiving organisation.
- The request meets the channel's requirements. Include the identity copy and any additional documents requested. For MyGuichet.lu, complete the required electronic signature; for a representative's in-person submission, include the power of attorney.
Cost, delivery and processing time
The Nationality Office does not charge an issuance fee for the certificate.
The certificate is sent to your address by post. Online filing does not change that delivery method, so check your postal address carefully before submitting.
The official certificate procedure does not publish a fixed processing time. Do not treat an estimate from an unofficial website as a guaranteed deadline. If the certificate is needed for a time-sensitive formality, contact the certificate unit and explain the deadline.
What the certificate confirms
The certificate states that you hold Luxembourgish nationality and that the Minister of Justice is not aware that you have lost that nationality. It serves as proof until evidence to the contrary is produced.
You can also ask for the date and method by which you acquired Luxembourgish nationality to appear on the certificate. Mention this in your request when the receiving organisation needs that information.
Requesting the certificate is not a naturalisation, option or recovery application. Questions about whether your records establish Luxembourgish nationality should be addressed to the Nationality Office rather than treated as routine document requests.
Nationality Office contact details
For questions about certificates of Luxembourgish nationality, contact the Ministry of Justice's dedicated certificate unit:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (+352) 247 84 532
In-person address: 13, rue Erasme, L-1468 Luxembourg
Check the Ministry of Justice's Nationality Office information for current opening arrangements. Before posting documents, confirm the postal address using the official contact information or with the office directly.
Sources checked on October 9, 2026: Guichet.lu's certificate procedure, its September 23, 2026 announcement, and the Ministry of Justice's Nationality Office information. This guide covers the certificate request, not an individual assessment of entitlement to Luxembourgish nationality.