Circulation of goods and people between the United Kingdom and Luxembourg

Circulation of people

As from 30 March 2019, British nationals will no longer benefit from the European Agreements. They will need a passport and may be subject to a visa requirement to enter Luxembourg.
However, provided that the United Kingdom grants reciprocity to nationals of the Schengen area, it would appear that a visa waiver could be introduced for British nationals. This measure would only apply to stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Traffic of goods

All goods circulating between Luxembourg and the United Kingdom will have to be declared. Any customs duties and other taxes will have to be paid. This will apply also to packages shipped between the 2 countries, for example parcels sent to family members or friends, but also for online purchases. Your service providers will therefore have to invoice you for the corresponding amounts.

For further information, you can contact the customs administration: brexit@do.etat.lu.

Status of British residents in Luxembourg

The British community represents 6,000 people in Luxembourg. Preventively, and in order to prevent the British from being in an illegal situation, British residents in uxembourg will have a period of one year from 30 March 2019 to regularise their situation in the country. They are required to have a valid residence permit by 30 March 2020 at the latest. Applications for residence permits must be submitted before 31 December 2019, according to a simplified procedure to be specified later.

On the other hand, any British national wishing to settle in Luxembourg after 29 March 2019 will have to complete the formalities for nationals of non-EU countries. They will have to apply for a residence permit from the competent authorities before entering Luxembourg territory.

British nationals with dual nationality luxembourgish or european, are of course not affected by Brexit. This is also the case for British nationals with a diplomatic card, for example.

Social security coverage

The transfer of social security coverage in the event of a European national moving from one country to another theoretically applies only between European countries and exceptionally Cape Verde. This transfer should therefore no longer apply to British nationals moving to Luxembourg.

However, Luxembourg legislation provides that anyone working in Luxembourg is entitled to Luxembourg social security. British nationals working in Luxembourg prior to Brexit will therefore continue to benefit from social security coverage. This coverage includes health care, sickness, dependency, accidents at work and other occupational diseases, pensions,< family benefits. Family allowances will continue to be paid provided that the child concerned is legally and continuously domiciled in Luxembourg.

Working in Luxembourg

British nationals living in Luxembourg at the time of Brexit will be able to continue to exercise their professional activity. They benefit from an employment contract for employees or an establishment permit for the self-employed.
However, in the same way as third-country nationals, they will now have to be in possession of a valid residence permit to continue their activity, whether they are employed or self-employed.

British cross-border workers will require a specific work permit, details will be specified later.

After Brexit, British nationals wishing to work in Luxembourg will have to have an appropriate residence permit allowing them to do so in the same way as third-country nationals.

Validity of the driving licence

In the lack of agreement on the conditions for leaving the European Union, British driving licences will be condsidered in the same way as driving licences issued by third countries to the European Union.

Consequently, holders of a British driving licence will have to transcribe their driving licence into a Luxembourg driving licence. They will have 12 months from 30 March 2019 to comply.

If this regularization of the permit is carried out before March 30, all categories will be recognized by the authorities. Otherwise, only categories A and B will be transcribed. Categories C and D will require a practical test. More information on the guichet.lu website.

On the contrary, driving licences from countries that are signatories to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 8 November 1968 are still valid for occasional trips to the United Kingdom after 29 March 2019. 

Recognition of diplomas and validation of professional experience

As from 29 March 2019, British nationals wishing to have their foreign higher education diplomas homologated or their professional experience validated in order to exercise a regulated profession must first have a valid residence permit as provided for by law.

Financial assistance for graduate studies

British students will only be eligible for Financial Aid for Higher Education if they have long-term resident status.

For any further information, you can consult the specific FAQ about Brexit set up by guichet.lu.