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Luxembourg's new biometric passport, introduced in May of this year, is experiencing automated border control glitches

Luxembourg's newly introduced passport appears to be encountering problems during identity checks.

Pirate Party MP Sven Clément has raised the issue in a parliamentary question to the government, reporting problems with the passport's near-field communication (NFC) chip when it is scanned by apps, including the ESTA app used by the US authorities. The ESTA app is the official US government application used by eligible travellers under the Visa Waiver Program to apply for travel authorisation and scan their passport details electronically.

Clément said the passport had proved "unreadable" at automated border-control machines in countries including Germany and Thailand, adding that he hoped these were isolated cases rather than a problem with the passport's design. As L'Essentiel noted, several users on Reddit have reported that border checks had to be carried out manually because of the issue.

The new passport entered circulation on 11 May 2026. It is valid for 10 years for adults and continues to cost €50. The parliamentary question was submitted to the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday, with a government response expected within the coming weeks.

Also today

• Physical assaults on Luxembourg’s CFL train staff decreased between 2024 and 2025, according to government ministers
• Dudelange's refugee centre is being hailed as a successful example of cooperation between authorities, volunteers, and the local community
• Trier mayor Wolfram Leibe reacted with anger and concern at the Alternative for Germany's (AfD) historic victory yesterday.
• Jaguar Land Rover has said that it would cut "around 4,000 roles over the next two years", or about ten percent of its global workforce
• Ursula von der Leyen today announced a 200-million-euro package for Greenland during a visit to the Danish autonomous territory.
• Israel conducted a wave of airstrikes in south Lebanon killing 12 people including women and children, the Lebanese health ministry said today.

On air

Tom administered another dose of the Sproochtest fo JB, this time on place names.

Figure of the day

Luxembourg City's 97th Braderie is under way, with 192 stalls, around 150,000 visitors expected, and an open casting call at the RTL stand.

• The 97th Braderie kicked off in Luxembourg City at 9am on Monday. This year, 192 stalls are spread over 4.5 kilometres between the Upper Town and Gare districts, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to hunt for a bargain. Around 150,000 people are expected to attend. One change this year is that the Braderie does not fall on Schueberfouer Monday, which took place on 31 August. According to the organisers, holding the Braderie in August would have been less suitable because many people would still have been away on holiday.
  
• RTL is also back at the Braderie this year. At its kiosk on Place d'Armes, visitors can enjoy free coffee and biscuits, as well as the traditional prize wheel organised together with the City Business Association. There will also be an open casting call to find someone to play Johnny Chicago in a new series currently in production.
  

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