Communication by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs concerning temporary immigration measures

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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 has been extended until 31 December 2021 inclusive.

In addition, the list of countries whose residents are allowed to enter Luxembourg has been updated in response to two recommendations recently issued by the Council of the EU[1]. As of 22 September 2021, third-country nationals residing in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei Darussalam, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia and the United States of America will no longer be allowed to enter the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for non-essential travel.

However, from the above-mentioned date, third-country nationals resident in Uruguay will again be allowed to enter the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, including for non-essential travel.

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
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Australia
    • Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Canada
    • China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity at EU level)
    • South Korea
    • Jordan
    • Republic of Moldova
    • New Zealand
    • Qatar
    • Singapore
    • 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

Third-country nationals residing in a country that is not on the above-mentioned list are not allowed to enter the Grand Duchy, except:

  • If travel is considered essential

Or

  • From 22 September 2021, if third-country nationals hold a certificate proving a complete vaccination pattern that is considered equivalent in Luxembourg, i.e. if it is issued by a Member State of the Schengen area or if it is issued by a third country and considered equivalent by an implementing act of the European Commission. This currently applies to certificates issued by the following countries or territories: Albania, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Israel, Morocco, Monaco, Panama, Republic of North Macedonia, San Marino, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Vatican.

Furthermore, it should be recalled that additional health measures are applicable to all air travel to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. At boarding, any person aged 12 or older must present:

  1. either a vaccination certificate attesting to a complete vaccination pattern[2] carried out with a vaccine that has been authorised for use by the European Medicines Agency, issued by a public or medical authority of a Member State of the European Union or of a Member State of the Schengen Area, or a vaccination certificate, issued by a third country, attesting to a complete vaccination pattern and considered as equivalent in Luxembourg in accordance with Article 3bis of the amended law of 17 July 2020 on measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic (this currently applies to certificates issued by the following countries or territories: Albania, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Israel, Morocco, Monaco, Panama, Republic of North Macedonia, San Marino, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Vatican);
  2. or a recovery certificate issued by a physician or national authority of an EU Member State or Schengen Area Member State 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
  3. or the negative result (on paper or electronically) of a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for the detection of SARS-CoV-3 viral RNA (PCR, TMA or LAMP methods[3]) carried out less than 72 hours before the flight or of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test[4] carried out less than 48 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, including the definition of essential travel and the derogations in place, as well as 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

 

[1] Recommendations (EU) 2021/1346 of the Council of 30 August 2021 and (EU) 2021/1459 of the Council of 9 September 2021 amending Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction.

[1] a) 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.

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.

[3] PCR: polymerase chain reaction; TMA: transcription-mediated amplification; LAMP: loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

[4] 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

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