Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Luxembourg Property Pack
Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Luxembourg Property Pack
Luxembourg is one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, but buying a residential property there does not give you an automatic path to residency or citizenship.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest official rules and market conditions so you always have accurate information.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Luxembourg.
Insights
- Luxembourg explicitly excludes real estate purchases from its investor residence permit, meaning you cannot buy your way into residency through property alone, unlike many other European countries.
- The investor residence permit in Luxembourg requires a minimum of 500,000 euros invested in a business or up to 20 million euros in a financial institution, and property does not count toward this threshold.
- Luxembourg apartment prices in early 2026 average around 8,300 euros per square meter nationally, but in Luxembourg City prime districts like Belair, prices can exceed 13,000 euros per square meter.
- Citizenship through naturalization in Luxembourg requires 5 years of legal residence, plus passing the Sproochentest language exam at A2 speaking and B1 listening levels in Luxembourgish.
- The Sproochentest has a pass rate of about 70%, making language preparation essential for anyone planning to apply for Luxembourg citizenship after residency.
- Luxembourg allows dual citizenship, so you can keep your existing nationality when you become a Luxembourgish citizen after completing the naturalization process.
- Foreigners who have lived legally in Luxembourg for 20 years or more may be exempt from the full language test and integration exam under certain conditions.
- Purchase taxes in Luxembourg are typically 7% of the property price (registration and transcription fees), though the "Bellegen Akt" tax credit can reduce this for qualifying primary residence buyers.
- Luxembourg City's rental market averages about 35 euros per square meter per month in late 2025, which means a 50-square-meter apartment typically costs around 1,700 to 2,000 euros monthly.
Can buying property help me get permanent residency in Luxembourg?
Does buying a property qualify or at least help for residency in Luxembourg?
As of early 2026, buying residential property in Luxembourg does not qualify you for a residence permit because the country has no real estate-based visa or golden visa program.
This makes Luxembourg unusual compared to countries like Portugal or Spain, which have historically offered property-linked residency options.
However, owning property can serve as supporting evidence for other visa categories in Luxembourg because it helps you prove "suitable housing," which is a common documentation requirement when applying for work permits, family reunification, or investor visas.
The investor residence permit in Luxembourg starts at a minimum of 500,000 euros, but this investment must go into a business or financial structure, and the government explicitly states that real estate purchases do not count toward meeting this threshold.
Is there any residency visa directly linked to property ownership in Luxembourg right now?
No, Luxembourg does not offer any residency visa that is directly linked to property ownership, and this has been the case since the investor residence program launched in 2017.
Buying a primary residence (your main home) does not qualify for any property-linked residency visa in Luxembourg because the law simply does not recognize real estate as a qualifying investment category.
Similarly, buying a rental or investment property does not qualify either, and in fact, the official Guichet.lu website explicitly states that "direct or indirect real estate acquisition or rental is not taken into account" for investor residence eligibility.
Can real estate investment lead to citizenship in Luxembourg?
Can property investment directly lead to citizenship in Luxembourg?
No, property investment cannot directly lead to citizenship in Luxembourg because the country does not have a citizenship-by-investment program that includes real estate.
A higher property investment amount does not accelerate the citizenship timeline in Luxembourg because property simply is not part of the citizenship equation at all.
The typical timeline from initial arrival to citizenship eligibility in Luxembourg is at least 5 years of continuous legal residence, regardless of how much property you own or how much you invest in real estate.
The key difference between citizenship-by-investment programs (which Luxembourg does not have) and naturalization through residency is that naturalization requires you to actually live in the country, integrate into society, learn Luxembourgish, and meet specific residence duration requirements.
Is citizenship automatic after long-term residency in Luxembourg?
No, citizenship is not automatic after long-term residency in Luxembourg because you must actively apply for naturalization and meet several integration requirements beyond just time spent in the country.
You need at least 5 years of legal residency in Luxembourg before you become eligible to apply for citizenship, and the final year immediately before your application must be uninterrupted.
Additional tests required for citizenship in Luxembourg include passing the Sproochentest (Luxembourgish language exam with A2 speaking and B1 listening levels) and completing or passing the "Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duche de Luxembourg" course or exam covering civic knowledge, history, and institutions.
Processing times for citizenship applications in Luxembourg typically take several months after you submit a complete application, though exact timelines vary depending on the commune handling your file and your specific situation.
What are the real requirements to become a citizen in Luxembourg?
Do I need physical presence for citizenship in Luxembourg right now?
Yes, Luxembourg requires physical presence for citizenship, expressed through continuity rules rather than a simple "X days per year" formula, with the key requirement being 5 years of legal residence and an uninterrupted final year before your application.
The physical presence requirement in Luxembourg is calculated based on absence limits: for EU long-term resident status (a common pathway to citizenship eligibility), you cannot be absent for more than 6 consecutive months, and your total absences over 5 years cannot exceed 10 months.
Authorities track physical presence primarily through your official commune registration, departure declarations, and supporting documentation you provide when renewing residence permits or applying for citizenship.
Exemptions exist for residents who have lived legally in Luxembourg for more than 20 years, who may be exempt from the full Sproochentest and integration exam, though they still must attend a minimum of 24 hours of Luxembourgish language lessons.
Can my spouse and kids get citizenship too in Luxembourg in 2026?
As of early 2026, spouses and children can obtain Luxembourg citizenship, but each person must generally meet the individual naturalization requirements because citizenship is granted on a personal basis rather than automatically through family connection.
Family members typically cannot apply together in a single bundled application because each adult must demonstrate their own 5 years of residence, language proficiency, and integration requirements.
Children who are minors may have simplified pathways depending on their specific situation, and those born in Luxembourg or who have completed schooling there may face reduced requirements.
Spouses do not receive automatic citizenship through marriage in Luxembourg, though being married to a Luxembourg citizen can open alternative pathways (such as citizenship by option) with different conditions, including marriage duration requirements.
What are the most common reasons citizenship is denied in Luxembourg?
The most common reason citizenship applications are denied in Luxembourg is failure to meet the residence requirement, either by not completing 5 full years of legal residence or by having too many absences that break the required continuity.
Two other frequently cited reasons for citizenship denial in Luxembourg are failing the Sproochentest language exam (which has about a 70% pass rate) and not completing or passing the "Vivre ensemble" integration course or test.
Applicants who are denied citizenship in Luxembourg can generally reapply once they have corrected the deficiency, such as retaking the language test or accumulating additional residence time, though specific waiting periods may apply depending on the reason for denial.
The single most effective step applicants can take to avoid citizenship denial in Luxembourg is to start Luxembourgish language preparation early, ideally years before applying, because the Sproochentest is where many otherwise qualified applicants fail.