Communication by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs concerning temporary immigration measures

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs wishes to inform that the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has acted on the Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/1782 of 8 October 2021 amending Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction.  

The list of third countries whose residents are not affected by a temporary restriction at the external borders on non-essential travel to the Grand Duchy has therefore been updated, adding, with effect from 29 October 2021, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to the list. 

Consequently, as of 29 October 2021, third-country nationals residing in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are once more allowed to enter the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, including for non-essential travel.

Proof of residence is the responsibility of the third-country national.

The updated list of third-countries whose residents are authorised to enter the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, including for non-essential travel, thus reads as follows: 

• States
  • Australia
  • Bahrain
  • Canada
  • Chile 
    
  • China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity at EU level)
  • Jordan 
    
  • Kuwait
  • New Zealand
  • Qatar  
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia 
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uruguay
• Special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China
  • Hong Kong SAR 
  • Macao SAR 
• Entities and territorial authorities not recognised as States by at least one Member State of the European Union
  • Taiwan 

Third-country nationals residing in a country which does not appear on the aforementioned list, are not authorised to enter the territory of the Grand Duchy, with the exception of third country nationals holding a certificate proving a complete vaccination pattern considered as equivalent in Luxembourg.

Are considered equivalent: the certificates issued by a Member State of the European Union or the Schengen Area, or if it is issued by a third country, the certificates which are seen as equivalent either, on the basis of a bilateral recognition by Luxembourg or, by an implementing act of the European Commission. 

Following the decision by the European Commission today, the certificates issued by the authorities of Armenia and the United Kingdom are to be considered as equivalent from 29 October 2021.

Hence, from the aforementioned date, third-country nationals holding a certificate proving a complete vaccination pattern issued by Armenia or the United Kingdom will be authorised to enter the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, including for non-essential travel. 

The updated list of certificates proving a complete vaccination pattern issued by a third country and considered equivalent by Luxembourg, thus reads as follows:  

• Albania
  
• Andorra
• Armenia
• Faroe Islands
• Israel 
• Morocco
• Monaco
• Panama
• Republic of North Macedonia
• San Marino
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• Vatican

Are also autorised to enter the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, third country nationals if their travel is considered essential. To this end, an express request is to be sent by e-mail (service.visas@mae.etat.lu) to the Passport, Visa and Legalization Office, in order to be issued the relevant document.

Furthermore, it should be recalled that additional health measures are applicable to all air travel to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Any person aged 12 years and 2 months or above, is required to present, before boarding a flight to Luxembourg:

• either a vaccination certificate attesting to a complete vaccination pattern[1] against COVID-19, established in accordance with article 3bis of the amended law of 17 July 2020 on measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Namely a vaccination certificate issued by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a Member State of the European Union or the Schengen Area. Certificates issued by certain third countries are also accepted (see above for the relevant third countries);
  
• or a recovery certificate established in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2021/953, for people who have had a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection within 6 months prior to travel and who have completed the applicable isolation period in the respective country with resolution of all symptoms of infection;
• or the negative result (on paper or electronically) of a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA (PCR, TMA or LAMP methods[2]) carried out less than 72 hours before the flight or of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test[3] carried out less than 48 hours before the flight, by a medical analysis laboratory or any other entity authorised for this purpose. The negative result of the test must be presented, if necessary accompanied by a translation, in one of the administrative languages of Luxembourg or in English, Italian, Spanish or Portuguese.

The details of the applicable rules and the exemptions in place, as well as the exact procedures to be carried out beforehand can be consulted by following the link below:

https://covid19.public.lu/en/travellers/visiting-luxembourg.html

[1] a) A complete vaccination pattern means any pattern that defines the number and interval of injections necessary to achieve sufficient protective immunity and is complete upon administration of the required doses if multiple doses are given or, for single-dose vaccines, after a 14-day interval. b) For persons who have recovered and have been vaccinated within 180 days of the first positive NAAT test result, the vaccination pattern is complete 14 days after the administration of the single dose of any vaccine administered.

[2] PCR: polymerase chain reaction; TMA: transcription-mediated amplification; LAMP: loop-mediated isothermal amplification

[3] In accordance with the World Health Organization criteria: Antigen-detection in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection using rapid immunoassays, Interim Guidance, 11 September 2020, and listed in the list of rapid antigen tests established on the basis of Recommendation 2021/C24/01 of 22 January 2021.

Press release by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs