Communication from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs concerning temporary immigration restrictions

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs wishes to inform that the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has acted on the recent decision amending the Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction. Thus, 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, removing, with effect from 31 January 2022, Argentina, Australia and Canada from the list.

Third country citizens with residence in Argentina, Australia or Canada will no longer be allowed to enter the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for non-essential travel as of 31 January 2022.  

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
  • Bahrain
  • Chile 
    
  • China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity at EU level)
  • Colombia
  • Indonesia
    
  • Kuwait
  • New Zealand
  • Peru
  • Qatar  
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia 
  • South Korea
  • 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 that is not on the above-mentioned list are not allowed to enter the Grand Duchy, except in one of the following cases: 

• If they are in possession of a residence permit or a residence permit for family members of a Union citizen, including persons falling under the provisions of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, as well as any other person holding a right of residence or a national long term visa in accordance with the national law of a Member State of the European Union or of the countries associated with the Schengen area

• Or if they meet one of the following conditions: 
  • If they hold a certificate proving a complete vaccination and considered as equivalent in Luxembourg. The general validity period of the vaccination certificates is set at 9 months from the date when the vaccination is considered complete. The validity of the certificate for the booster vaccination is unlimited (see link below)
  • or if their travel is considered essential or if they fall under one of the exceptions provided for family members of Luxembourg residents (see link below)

Furthermore, it is recalled that additional health measures are applicable for all travel by air transport 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:

• a vaccination certificate attesting to a complete vaccination [1] against COVID-19. Provided that the vaccine administered is accepted in the Grand Duchy, vaccination certificates issued by a Member State of the European Union or the Schengen area (EU27 + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland), as well as certificates issued by a number of third countries (see link below), are accepted. The general validity period of the vaccination certificates is set at 9 months from the date when the vaccination is considered complete. The validity of the certificate for the booster vaccination is unlimited.
• a recovery certificate issued by a physician or national authority of an EU Member State or Schengen Area Member State (EEU27 + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) for persons 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
• 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 48 hours before the flight or of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test[3] carried out less than 24 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, including the definition of essential travel and the derogations in place, the list of third countries whose residents are authorised to enter the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the list of certificates of vaccination accepted, 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) 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