Your go-to checklist when moving to Luxembourg

There are essential "checklist" tasks which should be completed upon your move, and some even prior to your arrival. Before the chaos of an international move is too overwhelming, it is important to ensure everything is underway, and hopefully, accurately. If you find yourself moving to Luxembourg, here are eight must-dos for a seamless adjustment!

1. Register with municipality of residence

Registering yourself and your home in the country is the most important step to take upon your arrival in Luxembourg. The remainder of this list cannot be completed if this is not taken care of first.This includes notifying the population office of the municipal office of your residence at least eight days before you move.

To be officially part of the registry you must provide a few documents. These include any identification/visa depending on your origin country. It is also suggested that proof of family status is provided and may include marriage, birth, or divorce certificates. Finally, a proof of residence, like a utility bill, must also be given to the municipal office. This way, you are an
official resident of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and can continue to adjust accordingly.

2. Apply for a national identification number

Ensuring that your identity in this new country is accounted for is just as important as it sounds. An ID card would be synonymous to a social security number elsewhere, and allows for the government to keep proper track of you. This is required in Luxembourg if you are over fifteen years of age.

Applying is easy, and the card takes a maximum ten days to arrive, as it is a very quick process. The cost depends on age, however, and if you are over fifteen, it is fourteen euros to receive your number. There are two fairly accessible locations to request your card including the Guichlet.lu physical reception or the municipal administration depending on where you live. You can make an appointment online if you want to avoid a line. Bring your receipt and collect your card wherever you applied. You are all set!

3. Register with social security

Luxembourg’s social security is one of the best in the globe. There are benefits and coverage provided to each citizen, or anyone involved with the workforce of the country. Each person must be registered under the Joint Social Security Centre, and through this they are granted universal cover through a variety of funds. These are created through a portion of everyone’s income monthly depending on their salary.

Within eight days of the start of one’s employment in Luxembourg, the employer has to file their start date, and upon this declaration, the individual is given a social security card. So while this does not require much work by the newcomer, it is imperative they are aware of the importance of being insured for sickness, parental leave, disability, etc. Depending on what sector of work you’re in, you will be registered with one of four of the funds. If you are self-employed there is a form for you to fill out online that will ensure you are in the system.

4. Open a bank account

One of the most important tasks when coming to Luxembourg includes opening a bank account, so you have access to your income. Being capable of starting a life here starts with having access to money to do so. Choosing a good branch to start your bank account is important, as you want to have a multitude of cash dispensers and locations around the country. Easy access is key!

To open a bank account you simply need a proof of identification, such as a document like your passport or an ID card. The second thing you need is proof of your address, to ensure you do live in the Grand Duchy. You can either go in person to the bank of your choosing or decide on a digital option. The average cost of maintaining a bank account is five euros a month, and the cost depends on who you choose to bank with. They may offer you a debit card, one of two
kinds: a deferred and an immediate. A bank account is crucial to your arrival here in Luxembourg.

5. Get a Luxembourg phone number

As we know, our phones have become such a grave necessity, as it grants us 24/7 access to the internet. This is why one of the first steps you should be concerned with completing is your phone plan here in Luxembourg. Luckily, you have options!

From wherever in the world, whether that's prior to your move or after, you can purchase a Luxembourg number. This means that you can make outgoing calls to Luxembourg numbers free of charge. Getting a new sim card, electronic or physical, provides your phone with a Luxembourg area code. You will have to start a plan with a different phone carrier, as you are no longer a resident of your origin country. This process however, is fairly seamless, and just requires a sim card switch out. You can go in person or online to access whatever plan works best with your lifestyle.

6. Registering kids for school

If you have little ones accompanying you for the move, those four and above must be enrolled in some type of school program. A note will be sent to the respective residence, and parents will be notified that their child is automatically registered in the school district closest to their sector. Along with this comes the responsibility of ensuring they attend class on a regular basis.

Our full guide: Public school options in Luxembourg with English streams

Once the letter is received, with an enrollment form attached, parents must complete the process by going in person to the commune’s administration department. Here, they must supply a family record book, the child’s birth certificate, and the form that accompanies the letter home. There are different technicalities in this process for special exceptions like registering for school in another commune, or if your child needs to postpone a year. Generally, however, this is the process for most families in Luxembourg. It is important for parents to explore all options for their children, and decide what schooling is the most effective and realistic for them.

7. Apply for child benefits

As you settle into Luxembourg, and are officially deemed a resident, it will be an important step to apply for child benefits. This is a program that helps support the growth and education of the future generation, allotting a certain fund to each family with children up to age eighteen. Your application needs to be turned into the Caisse pour l'avenir des enfants with a completed form and the mandatory documents to be considered.

This paperwork includes the child’s birth certificate, a bank statement from your Luxembourg bank, and proof of residence for all members of the family. The amount of allowance granted at the end of each month depends on the number of children, as well as how old they are. There are also special grants depending on the time of year, back to school being a
prime example; children need funds so they’re equipped for their upcoming academic endeavors.

8. Convert a foreign driver’s license

Moving to Luxembourg means you will have a driver's license that is invalid for this country. It is important, if you intend to drive, that you properly exchange it in a timely manner, a year to be specific. This ensures that you do not have to take further testing to operate a vehicle. However, for this time, you are a valid driver in Luxembourg until you receive the converted version.

This process is a tad more rigorous, necessitating a particular form by the National Security of Automotive Traffic (SNCA) as well as seven accompanying documents. These include: a photo ID, photocopies of the front and back of the current license, photocopy of a current identity document, a criminal record from the origin country, a tax stamp, a medical certificate, and a bulletin n°4 from the criminal records of Luxembourg. Once you have properly submitted these documents, a new license should be on its way!