Integration and living together policy in Luxembourg
Every year, Luxembourg's population increases significantly due to a growing economic situation, which is favourable to positive net migration.
As a result, the integration of these newcomers is a major challenge for the Grand Duchy. These many immigrants from other European countries, or from other continents, must be able to integrate easily and quickly, in order to participate concretely in the development of the country.
In addition, the issue of living together is crucial for Luxembourg. The aim is not only to integrate newcomer foreigners, but also to promote social cohesion and allow different cultures to live together in harmony.
In Luxembourg, the state, local authorities and civil society work together to ensure the successful integration of new arrivals.
Resources for integrating new arrivals
Education and learning Luxembourgish
Foreign children arriving in Luxembourg benefit from a specific system allowing them to integrate quickly and easily. A specific reception system for newcomer pupils has been set up at the Ministry of Education.
In addition, Luxembourg's primary school system offers personalised language support to foreign pupils entering a new local school.
In addition, a 200-hour training leave is granted to employees throughout their working life in Luxembourg in order to enable them to learn Luxembourgish and thus integrate more easily into economic life.
The National Action Plan for Integration in Luxembourg
Implemented by the Ministry of Family Affairs, the National Integration Action Plan provides for the integration of all non-Luxembourg residents. More specifically, applicants for international protection benefit from social support. This support is achieved through easy access to information, the quality of the services offered, coordination and cooperation in Luxembourg and abroad.
Reception and Integration Contract - CAI
In addition, the Luxembourg government has developed innovative integration measures for newcomers (over 16 years of age). Brought together within the framework of the "Contrat d'Accueil et d'Intégration" (CAI), these measures aim to discover or become more familiar with the history, customs, languages and values of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Beneficiaries of the CAI benefit from:
- language courses at a reduced rate (Luxembourgish, French and/or German) in order to reach at least level A.1 in one of the 3 reference languages in Luxembourg,
- civics classes. The signatory of the Reception and Integration Contract can thus learn about the modalities for living together in a multicultural Luxembourg: Luxembourgish traditions and customs, the basis of Luxembourg's rich history and the political organisation of the country in order to integrate into the Grand Duchy more easily,
- a free orientation day to get acquainted with the official organizations, in a friendly atmosphere.
Find out more about CAI on guichet.lu.
This basic knowledge of Luxembourg is necessary to acquire Luxembourg nationality.
Diversity Charter and Diversity Day Lëtzebuerg
Every year since 2015, the Diversity Charter Lëtzebuerg has organized Diversity Day Lëtzebuerg. For this national diversity day, the various economic players mobilize around concrete actions to promote diversity and campaign for inclusion.
Diversity Day Lëtzebuerg is a reminder of the importance of diversity in modern companies and societies. Everyone must have the chance to achieve the career they want, whatever their individual characteristics.Diversity values to defend
In 2016, during Diversity Day in Luxembourg, Just Arrived and the JAA Club were present at the Casino de Mondorf-les-Bains to sign the Diversity Charter, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere! It was an opportunity not only to exchange ideas, but also to meet new people around a common theme: diversity.
Acting for diversity means recognising the difference of others and integrating different human profiles, regardless of their origin, culture, generation, gender, physical appearance, disability, sexual orientation, etc.
These differences will give rise to the diversity and richness of a company and/or a company.
Organizations working to integrate immigrants
The Luxembourg government has set up a number of organisations to welcome new residents and integrate them as quickly as possible.
ONA - Office National de l'Accueil
Created in 2019, the National Reception Office (ONA) is an administration under the authority of the Ministry of Family, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception. It is responsible for organising the reception of applicants for international protection. It also manages temporary accommodation facilities for applicants for international protection, refugees and persons eligible for subsidiary protection.
You can find out more about the ONA 's remit and the reception arrangements in place in Luxembourg on the ONA website.
The offices of the Office national de l'accueil (ONA) are open to the public from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00. They are located at 5, rue Carlo Hemmer L-1734 Luxembourg-Kirchberg.
ONA offers telephone answering services in several languages (German, English, French, Serbo-Croatian, Russian, Albanian, Tigrigna, Arabic and Farsi). Tel: +352 247-85700
ASTI - Association for the Support of Immigrant Workers
ASTI provides information on immigration and international protection: work permits, residence permits, visas, etc. It also offers language courses.
ASTI's "Connections" project, developed with the financial support of the Oeuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte (Mateneen call for projects), prepares refugees for the Luxembourg labour market in order to promote their employment. Based on a skills and career assessment, participants benefit from:
- Information sessions on the history and make-up of Luxembourg, the right of asylum and the RMG, family reunification, social assistance, basic information on labor law in Luxembourg, the Welcome and Integration Contract (CAI), etc.
- Workshops on practical rights and duties at work, how to write a CV, how to present yourself for an internship, etc.
- Unpaid internships in companies (up to 240 hours over a 6-month period) with a specialized mentor and evaluation of internship skills.
A certificate attests to the efforts made by the asylum seeker. The ADEM (Agency for the Development of Employment) will thus be able to work for its integration into the labour market, once the international protection status has been obtained.
With its Coach4Work project, ASTI offers individualised coaching carried out by volunteers to help newcomers find a job in Luxembourg.
Le CLAE - Liaison Committee for Foreigners' Associations
In 1985, the CLAE asbl platform for reception, information, cultural and linguistic mediation was created. It is contracted by the Ministry of the Family.
The CLAE welcomes migrant families in Luxembourg about their rights and informs them on topics such as:
- entry into the country and stay in Luxembourg according to migrant status
- family reunification
- international protection and asylum
- acquiring Luxembourg nationality
- historical landmarks
- help with certain administrative procedures
- referral to the appropriate structures,
- listening adapted to personal and family situations,
- invitations to take part in associative projects and intercultural events,
- French courses, beginner to intermediate level
- internetstuff.
In addition, the CLAE organises the annual Festival of Migrations, Cultures and Citizenship, an unmissable event in the social, political and cultural life of Luxembourg.
Rencontres sans Frontières is one of the annual events organized by the City of Luxembourg in collaboration with CLAE. Every year in June, this sporting and cultural event offers a varied program: beach volleyball and soccer tournaments, and a variety of activities designed to bring together multi-national teams to promote integration. The atmosphere is guaranteed!
For more information on this event, visit www.rsf.lu.
Luxembourg Accueil Asbl
Created in 1977, the Luxembourg Accueil association welcomes families of all nationalities to Luxembourg. With more than 1,000 members and 50 nationalities, the association works thanks to volunteers and the City of Luxembourg.
The association organises opportunities to meet other people and create links between members in order to facilitate the integration of newcomers and residents in Luxembourg. Families can participate in a wide range of activities, designed for all ages and tastes, and taught in French. These include:
- Artistic or creative activities : sewing, cooking, decoration, floral art, photography, theatre, drawing, painting, calligraphy
- cultural visits,
- sports activities, hikes to discover the Luxembourg landscapes,
- language courses in German, French, Luxembourgish, English, Italian
- conferences,
- visits to exhibitions,
- Yoga, Sophrology, Flexibility workshops,
- themed coffee-meetings.
Registration for the activities is to be done at the association's office from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. An annual membership fee of about 20 euros.
What can I do to integrate in Luxembourg?
Your integration will depend above all on yourself and your ability to participate in the various traditional and cultural events. Find our agenda here.
In addition, your integration will also depend on the relationships you have with your neighbours. Don't hesitate to take part in the Neighbours' Day or ring their doorbell directly to introduce yourself when you arrive in Luxembourg.
If you invite them over for a drink, don't necessarily expect to be invited back. Invitations to your home are truly a cultural affair.
You will also find here our tips for successful expatriation in Luxembourg.
The Higher Council for Intercultural Living Together
A new organisation has been created in 2024 in Luxembourg: the Conseil Supérieur du Vivre-ensemble intercultural. By replacing the former National Council for Foreigners, this new body aims to go further than simple integration. Created in 1993, the National Council for Foreigners excluded foreigners who had obtained Luxembourg nationality.
However, in a country where nearly 50% of the resident population is foreign, the challenge is to create social cohesion through intercultural coexistence for all people living or working in Luxembourg, regardless of their nationality or degree of integration in Luxembourg.
The Conseil Supérieur du Vivre-ensemble interculturel therefore welcomes all Luxembourg residents, but also cross-border commuters, provided that they join the working groups created at the level of the 100 Luxembourg municipalities.
The 30 members of the CSVI will thus have between 1,000 and 1,200 voters to help them fulfil the general missions of this new body: to give its opinion and support the implementation of policies for living together, to fight against discrimination.
Fourteen of the 30 members will be appointed by the Minister of Family, Solidarity and Living Together and Reception. The other sixteen are elected by the Communal Commissions for Living Together.
