Getting Married in Luxembourg: Procedures, Documents, Matrimonial Property Regime, and Taxation

Are you planning to get married in Luxembourg? A civil marriage requires several administrative steps before the ceremony: eligibility requirements, documents to provide, filing the application with the municipality, publication of the banns, choosing a matrimonial property regime, and, for international couples, the possible recognition of foreign documents.

For expats and newcomers, these procedures can seem complex, especially when the future spouses are of different nationalities, a previous marriage took place abroad, or certain documents need to be translated or legalized.

This guide explains the requirements for getting married in Luxembourg, the timeframes to expect, the documents to prepare, the formalities with the local municipality, as well as the implications of marriage on your name, taxes, assets, and the recognition of a foreign marriage.

Who can get married in Luxembourg?

In Luxembourg, civil marriage is permitted between two people of the opposite sex or the same sex. Since the enactment of marriage equality, same-sex and opposite-sex couples have enjoyed the same rights and obligations under civil marriage.

To get married in Luxembourg, prospective spouses must generally meet the following requirements:

• be at least 18 years old;
• not already be married;
• not be related by blood or marriage in a way that prohibits marriage;
• give free and informed consent;
• at least one of the prospective spouses must be officially domiciled in Luxembourg.

In exceptional cases, a minor may be authorized to marry with the consent of the guardianship judge.

Civil or Religious Marriage: What’s the Difference in Luxembourg?

In Luxembourg, only a civil marriage performed before a civil registrar has legal effect. It must take place before any religious ceremony.

A religious marriage alone is not recognized as a legal marriage in Luxembourg. Couples who wish to hold a religious ceremony must therefore first get married in a civil ceremony at the appropriate municipality.

To organize a religious ceremony, the prospective spouses must contact their place of worship or religious community directly.

To learn more about religious denominations and religious practice in Luxembourg, visit our page: Religion in Luxembourg.

Where can you get married in a civil ceremony in Luxembourg?

A civil marriage must be performed in the municipality where one of the prospective spouses resides, provided that this residence is legally established in Luxembourg.

Who should you contact to get married in a civil ceremony?

The municipality is your primary point of contact for:

• preparing the marriage application;
• verifying the required documents;
• setting the date and time of the ceremony;
• arranging the publication of the banns;
• conducting the civil marriage ceremony.

The future spouses should therefore contact their municipality of residence well in advance.

Can you get married somewhere other than the town hall?

Since 2022, some municipalities may authorize civil marriage ceremonies to be held outside the town hall, in approved public or historic venues.

These venues must be solemn, accessible to the public, non-religious, and located within the municipality’s boundaries. Each municipality determines its own authorized venues and practical arrangements.

If you’d like a civil ceremony at a specific location, check directly with your municipality as soon as you begin the process.

How much time should you allow to get married in Luxembourg?

Planning a civil marriage requires advance preparation. The timeframes depend, in particular, on the nationality of the future spouses, the country of origin of the documents, and the complexity of the case.

Situation	Recommended Timeframe	Allow for
Two Luxembourg residents or a straightforward case	At least 2 months before the desired date	Recent civil status documents, proof of residence, and identification
Binational or expatriate couple	At least 3 months before the desired date	Foreign documents, translations, certificates of no impediment to marriage
Documents issued outside the EU	Plan even further in advance	Translation, legalization, or apostille, depending on the country

It is recommended that you contact the local municipality as soon as you are considering a wedding date. Some documents may take time to obtain, particularly foreign documents.

How do you put together the marriage application?

The marriage application must be filed with the appropriate local municipality. One of the future spouses must generally visit the municipality in person to obtain the exact list of required documents and learn the filing procedures.

The application is generally submitted in person, by appointment. The date and time of the wedding are set once the application is complete.

Documents Generally Required

The future spouses must provide, in particular:

• a valid form of identification;
• a recent birth certificate;
• a certificate of no impediment to marriage, if necessary;
• the national identification numbers of the prospective spouses;
• a certificate of residence for at least one of the prospective spouses;
• documents relating to a previous marriage, if applicable;
• any additional documents requested by the municipality based on nationality or family status.

Special cases depending on the nationality of the prospective spouses

For international couples, the required documents may vary depending on the nationality of the prospective spouses and the country in which the civil status documents were issued.

Certain procedures must be completed at the consulate or the relevant authority in the country of origin. It is therefore best to check the requirements well in advance, especially if one of the prospective spouses was born or has resided abroad.

German nationals

For German nationals, the Luxembourg civil registrar generally requires a certificate of no impediment to marriage , known as an “Ehefähigkeitszeugnis.”

This document can be issued by the municipality of birth, by the municipality of the last place of residence in Germany, or by the Standesamt in Berlin if the person has never lived in Germany.

Italian nationals

For Italian nationals, the publication of banns may be carried out at the Italian Consulate if the prospective spouses were born in Luxembourg and have resided there since birth.

If the prospective spouses were born in Italy, the marriage banns may need to be published in Italy.

Portuguese nationals

Portuguese nationals must generally go together to the Consulate General of Portugal in Luxembourg to submit their application.

Several documents may be required: identification, birth certificate, certificate of residence, or other documents depending on the situation.

Once the application has been processed, the certificate of no impediment to marriage can be submitted to the municipal office where the marriage will take place.

Publication of Bells and Celebration of the Marriage

Once the marriage application is complete, the municipality publishes the banns. This publication officially announces the future spouses’ intention to marry.

The banns are posted for 10 days in the municipality where the future spouses reside. Once this step is completed, the marriage must take place within 12 months. Otherwise, a new publication of the banns may be required.

Conduct of the Civil Ceremony

The ceremony is officiated by the town’s civil registrar. Weddings can generally be held on weekdays, depending on the town’s availability.

The civil marriage is the only ceremony with legal validity. A religious or symbolic wedding may be held afterward, but it does not replace the civil ceremony.

Are witnesses required to get married in Luxembourg?

The Luxembourg Civil Code does not require witnesses to sign for a civil marriage.

However, couples may choose to include their loved ones in the ceremony in accordance with local customs or as part of a religious or private celebration held afterward.

Special Leave for Marriage

In Luxembourg, employees under an employment contract are entitled to special leave on the occasion of their marriage.

This leave amounts to three days for each spouse who is an employee. It allows them to organize the wedding formalities and celebration with greater peace of mind.

The practical details should be confirmed with the employer, particularly regarding the date the leave is taken and the supporting documents that must be provided.

More information on leave in Luxembourg.

Marriage or civil partnership: which to choose?

Marriage and civil partnership do not have exactly the same legal, property, tax, and inheritance implications.

Marriage creates a full marital bond between the spouses. In particular,it establishes their mutual rights and obligations, their matrimonial property regime, their inheritance status, and certain tax implications.

A civil partnership may be a more flexible alternative for some couples, but it does not always have the same legal effects as marriage.

More information on civil partnerships (PACS) in Luxembourg.

Choosing a Matrimonial Property Regime in Luxembourg

The matrimonial property regime determines the rules governing the spouses’ property, income, debts, and assets during the marriage and in the event of separation, divorce, or death.

In the absence of a marriage contract, spouses are subject to the Luxembourg statutory matrimonial regime. Couples may, however, choose a different matrimonial regime through a contract drawn up before a notary.

Matrimonial Property Regime	Principle	Key Points
Statutory Community Property	Property acquired during the marriage is held in community property.	This regime applies automatically without a marriage contract.
Universal community property	Most of the spouses’ property becomes community property.	May have significant consequences in the event of death, divorce, or blended families.
Separation of property	Each spouse retains their personal property, income, and debts.	This is often chosen when spouses wish to protect their financial independence.

The statutory regime: community property limited to acquisitions

If the spouses do not sign a specific marriage contract, they are automatically subject to the statutory regime of community property limited to acquisitions during the marriage.

Under this regime, property acquired during the marriage generally belongs to both spouses. Income from employment, income from property, and acquisitions made during the marriage become part of the community property.

However, certain assets remain separate, notably:

• assets acquired before the marriage;
• property of a personal nature;
• property received as a gift;
• property received by inheritance.

Debts incurred before the marriage remain personal. However, certain debts related to household expenses or the children’s education may be the responsibility of the community.

The Universal Community Property Regime

Under a universal community property regime, most of the spouses’ assets are held in common, regardless of whether they were acquired before or after the marriage.

This option may be suitable for certain couples, but it should be considered with caution, particularly if there are children from a previous marriage or a substantial estate.

Debts may also be held jointly. It is therefore important to assess the financial implications before signing this type of agreement.

The Separation of Property Regime

Under a separate property regime, each spouse retains the right to manage, enjoy, and freely dispose of their personal property.

There is no joint estate, except for property purchased jointly in undivided co-ownership. Each spouse remains liable for their own personal debts, with certain exceptions related, in particular, to household expenses or the children’s education.

Can a marriage contract be changed?

After at least two years of marriage, spouses may amend their matrimonial property regime by means of a notarized deed.

This may be useful if the couple’s family, professional, financial, or international circumstances change.

Last Name After Marriage

In Luxembourg, the law does not provide for the automatic merging of last names. The name recorded in the civil registry remains the legally recognized name.

In practice, however, a married woman may use her husband’s last name and add her maiden name to it. This practice is customary and does not automatically change her civil status.

The law also allows, in certain cases, for a request to change one’s surname. This request must be supported by a statement of reasons and submitted to the Ministry of Justice.

Taxation of Married Couples in Luxembourg

Marriage can have significant tax implications. Married taxpayers are currently classified in tax class 2 and are generally taxed jointly.

This situation may affect:

• the calculation of taxes;
• tax deductions;
• the joint tax return;
• the allocation of income within the couple;
• the comparison between marriage, civil partnership, and cohabitation.

A gradual reform of individual taxation is planned for the coming years. International couples, spouses of expatriates, and couples with significantly different incomes would therefore be wise to seek advice before deciding on their family and tax arrangements.

Learn more about personal income taxation in Luxembourg.

Marriage and Administrative Consequences for Expats

For expatriates and international couples, marriage can have implications for various administrative procedures in Luxembourg.

Depending on your situation, it may affect, among other things:

• an application for family reunification;
• the recognition of a marriage performed abroad;
• the couple’s tax situation;
• inheritance rights;
• social security;
• the children’s situation;
• a potential application for Luxembourg citizenship.

For procedures related to residency and family reunification, see: Visas, Residence Permits, and Family Reunification in Luxembourg.

Recognition of a Marriage Performed Abroad

Many expatriates arrive in Luxembourg already married in their country of origin. In most cases, this marriage is recognized in Luxembourg, provided it was validly solemnized under the laws of the country where it took place.

However, certain administrative procedures may be necessary to ensure that your family status is properly recognized by Luxembourg authorities.

Depending on your situation, you may be asked to provide:

• a recent marriage certificate;
• an official translation;
• legalization or an apostille;
• registration with the relevant authorities, if applicable.

This recognition may be important for many administrative procedures, such as:

• family reunification;
• tax matters;
• social security;
• inheritance;
• spousal rights;
• certain procedures related to residency.

Marriage and Acquisition of Luxembourg Citizenship

Marriage to a Luxembourg citizen does not automatically confer Luxembourg citizenship.

However, it may allow access to a specific naturalization procedure under certain conditions set forth by Luxembourg law.

These conditions include, in particular:

• the duration of the marriage;
• knowledge of the Luxembourgish language;
• participation in the “Living Together in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg” course or passing the corresponding exam;
• other conditions set forth by law.

See our comprehensive guide to Luxembourg citizenship.

To take the next steps in your procedures in Luxembourg

Your marriage is often the starting point for many other administrative procedures.

• Civil Partnership (PACS) in Luxembourg
• Divorce or separation in Luxembourg
• Acquiring Luxembourg citizenship
• Visas, residence permits, and family reunification
• Reporting your arrival in or departure from Luxembourg
• Understanding Personal Income Tax
• Luxembourg’s Political Institutions

Marriage is an important milestone in one’s personal life, but it is also a legal act with lasting consequences. By planning ahead for the necessary formalities, carefully preparing your application, and understanding the financial, tax, and administrative implications, you’ll be able to approach this new chapter with complete peace of mind.

FAQ: Getting Married in Luxembourg