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 temporary restriction on entry into territory of the Grand Duchy for third-country nationals residing outside the EU or the Schengen Area has been extended until 30 June 2021 inclusive.

Furthermore, following Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and the deterioration of the security situation in Ukraine, it is urgent to support the evacuation of Ukrainian nationals who are forced to flee their country and to facilitate their access to the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg by exempting them from the temporary restrictions at the external borders linked to COVID-19. Thus, Ukraine has been added to the list of third countries whose residents should not be affected by a temporary restriction at the external borders on non-essential travel to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.[1]

As a result, third country nationals residing in Ukraine are now allowed to enter the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, without being subject to the temporary travel restrictions to Luxembourg put in place in the context of public health measures. However, they are still subject to the health measures that apply to entry by air (see below).

In addition, the Ministry informs that following the recent decisions by the European Commission on equivalence, the vaccination certificates issued by the authorities of Benin and Jordan are now to be considered as equivalent. Consequently, third country nationals holding a certificate proving a complete vaccination pattern issued by the authorities of Benin or Jordan will be authorised to enter the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, including for non-essential travel, provided that the vaccine administered is accepted by the Grand Duchy.[2]

Furthermore, on the basis of an amendment to Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction, Luxembourg will now also allow third country nationals holding a recovery certificate to enter the territory of the Grand Duchy, including for non-essential travel. Accepted in this context are recovery certificates issued by a Member State of the European Union or the Schengen Area (EU27 + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland), or by a number of third countries (see Annex C for the complete list of recovery certificates accepted by the Grand Duchy).

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Ministry of Health wish to inform of the extension of the sanitary measures applicable for all persons entering the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg by air travel until 30 April 2022 included.

For any person, aged 12 years and 2 months or older, authorised to enter Luxembourg (regardless of nationality), it is compulsory to present, before boarding a flight to Luxembourg:

• Either a vaccination certificate attesting to a complete vaccination 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 are accepted (see Annex B for the third countries concerned);
• Or a recovery certificate issued by a physician or national authority of an EU Member State or Schengen Area Member State (EU27 + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland), as well as certificates issued by a number of third countries (see Annex C fir the third countries concerned), 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;
• 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) carried out less than 48 hours before the flight or of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test 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.

Details of the applicable rules as well as the derogations in place and the exact steps to be taken in advance can be found by clicking the following link: https://covid19.public.lu/en/travellers/visiting-luxembourg.html.

Annex A - List of third countries whose residents are allowed to enter the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, including for non-essential travel

• States
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Bahrain
  • Chile
  • China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity at EU level)
  • Colombia
  • South Korea
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Indonesia
  • Kuwait
  • Peru
  • Rwanda
  • New Zealand
  • Qatar
  • Ukraine
  • 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

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

Annex B - Vaccination certificates accepted by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

In order to have a vaccination certificate recognised in Luxembourg, 3 cumulative conditions must be fulfilled:

• the vaccine administered must be accepted in the Grand Duchy (see list below);
• the vaccination must be considered complete (see definition below)[3];
• The certificate must be issued by a Member State of the European Union or the Schengen Area (EU27 + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland), or by one of the following third countries:
  • States
    • Albania
    • Andorra
    • Armenia
    • Benin
    • Brazil
    • Cabo Verde
    • Canada
    • South Korea
    • United Arab Emirates
    • El Salvador
    • United States of America
    • Georgia
    • Faroe Islands
    • India
    • Israel
    • Japan
    • Jordan
    • Lebanon
    • Morocco
    • Moldova
    • Monaco
    • Montenegro
    • New Zealand
    • Panama
    • Republic of North Macedonia
    • United Kingdom
    • San Marino
    • Serbia
    • Singapore
    • Thailand
    • Togo
    • Tunisia
    • Turkey
    • Ukraine
    • Uruguay
    • Vatican
  • Entities and territorial authorities not recognised as States by at least one Member State of the European Union
    • Taiwan

In this context, the 4 vaccines that have obtained marketing authorisation at European level, as well as 3 vaccines considered as bio-similars, are accepted in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg:

• BioNTech Pfizer / Comirnaty
• Moderna / Spikevax
• AstraZeneca / Vaxzevria
• Janssen / Vaccine Janssen
• Covishield [Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd (SII)]
• R-Covi (R-Pharm)
• Covid-19 vaccine (recombinant) (FIOCRUZ)

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.

It is noted that any person, regardless of nationality and place of residence, holding a vaccination certificate issued by one of the aforementioned states, can use their certificate to meet the additional health measures applicable for all travel by air to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Annex C - Recovery certificates accepted by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

In order for a recovery certificate to be accepted in Luxembourg, it must be issued by a Member State of the European Union or the Schengen Area (EU27 + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland), or by one of the following third countries:

• Albania
• Andorra
• Armenia
• Benin
• Cabo Verde
• El Salvador
• Georgia
• Israel
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Panama
• Republic of North Macedonia
• United Kingdom
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• Uruguay

It is noted that any person, regardless of nationality and place of residence, holding a recovery certificate issued by one of the aforementioned states, can use their certificate to meet the additional health measures applicable for all travel by air transport to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The validity of the recovery certificate is 180 days, i.e. 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 disappearance of all symptoms of infection.

[1] See Annex A for the detailed list of third countries whose residents are allowed to enter the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, including for non-essential travel

[2] See Annex B for the list of vaccination certificates accepted by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

[3]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. For those who have recovered and have been vaccinated within 180 days of the first positive NAAT test result, the vaccination pattern is complete after 14 days after the single dose, regardless of the vaccine administered.

Press release by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs