Our colleagues at RTL 5minutes looked into the possibilities, restrictions and obligations for Luxembourg residents who wish to travel for a few days.
The Luxembourgish government does not apply specific measures concerning the movement of its citizens and residents within and outside its borders. However, this is not the case in other countries, especially our neighbours.
France
The conditions for travel and residence are becoming stricter in France. Luxembourgish residents wishing to stay in France are subject to several obligations.
When crossing the border, all travellers over the age of 11 must present a negative PCR test less than 72 hours old. They must also be in possession of a declaration confirming that they have no symptoms of Covid-19 infection and have not been in contact with a confirmed case in the 14 days preceding the trip. A further declaration must be completed for children under 11 years of age.
Once you arrive at your place of residence, you will have to respect the new lockdown rules applied from Monday evening.
Travelling within a 10km radius will be authorised on presentation of proof of residence. To travel further, you will need a certificate explaining the journey, which must not exceed a radius of 30km.
Travel between two regions will be forbidden except for compelling or professional reasons. Meetings of more than six people and the consumption of alcohol will be prohibited on public roads.
Other measures, such as the closure of certain sites, such as beaches or parks, which encourage gatherings, may be taken locally. Museums, cafés and restaurants are still closed.
Travel to Belgium is prohibited, except for essential reasons. People travelling to Belgium must be in possession of a declaration justifying the stay. If you are travelling by plane, train, bus or boat and staying for more than 2 days, you must have a negative PCR test less than 48 hours old before arriving.
A Passenger Location Form (PLF) must also be completed 48 hours before arrival. As Luxembourg is considered to be a high risk country, travellers must observe a quarantine and retest on the seventh day. If the test is negative, the quarantine can be lifted.
In Belgium, a curfew is in place from 10pm to 6am in Brussels, and from midnight to 5am in Wallonia and Flanders. Gatherings of more than four people over the age of 12 are restricted. Cafés and restaurants are closed and appointments must be made for shopping in non-essential shops. Theatres and cinemas are closed but museums are open.
Tourist overnight stays are not permitted in Germany. Before travelling there for other reasons, it is necessary to identify yourself online by registering your departure destination and contact details.
Luxembourg is one of the risk areas. By air, a negative test less than 48 hours old must be presented before boarding.
This test is also required to enter the Federal Republic by land. At the time of registration, the address of the place of stay is requested.
A mandatory 10-day quarantine must be observed. This period can be reduced or extended according to the regulations of each state.
For example, Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate exempt Luxembourgers who stay there for less than 24 hours from quarantine.
Some states have also introduced a curfew. Others, such as Saarland, are preparing to reopen terraces and cultural venues on presentation of a negative test after Easter Monday. But the situation can change quickly, as the federal government is calling for firmness in the measures to be taken by the individual states.
Among the other destinations considered, the following restrictions take into account the incidence rate of 210 cases per 100,000 in Luxembourg.
To travel to Portugal by land, the borders with Spain are currently closed to non-Portuguese nationals. By air, only for essential reasons, a PCR test less than 72 hours old is required. The country is under strict lockdown with travel restrictions: travelling between two municipalities is prohibited.
For Italy, a negative Covid test less than 48 hours old and a 5-day quarantine on arrival are required. You must also complete a registration document and report to the regional health authority upon arrival. A curfew is in effect from 10pm to 5am. Travel between regions is prohibited and there are restrictions even within regions.
In the Netherlands, Luxembourg is classified as orange: only stays for serious reasons are allowed. A PCR test less than 24 hours old must be performed before boarding a plane. A test of less than 72 hours is required for travel by public transport, none by car. A 10-day quarantine must be observed on arrival, althouh a negative test after 5 days allows this restriction to be lifted. The Dutch are advised to stay at home as much as possible.
