Practical guide to getting settled in Luxembourg
Adjusting to life in a new country can feel overwhelming, with so much to figure out at once. From finding a place to call home and opening a bank account to choosing the right insurance, exploring transportation options, and enrolling your kids in schools or care facilities, the to-do list can seem endless. That's why we've put together this guide—to help you tackle those first steps with confidence and make settling in as smooth as possible.
Finding a place to live and getting registered
Choosing a new place to live is one of life's big decisions, where many different factors need to be taken into account.
Our article on renting or buying property in Luxembourg holds much valuable information about the things to look out for when renting or buying, including procedures, useful websites and getting connected.
Luxembourg is incredibly varied when it comes to where you want to live. Find out more about the possibilities in our guide on where to live in Luxembourg helps you choose the right region for your needs
But no matter where you end up living, make sure to register with local authorities as soon as possible. Not only will you get the certificate of residence that you will need at a number of administrations, you will also benefit from two days' leave granted to people who move.
Banks and Insurances
A number of insurances are mandatory or highly recommended in Luxembourg:
- For your vehicle(s) a third-party liability insurance is mandatory, but additional insurances may of course be added. Insurance providers usually offer a package called Casco, which includes different kinds of insurances (liability, theft, fire, vandalism, etc.).
- Health insurance is also mandatory. The registration at one of the sectorial health funds is automatically filed by your employer (who is legally obliged to do so). However, many choose to subscribe to a private health insurance for additional benefits.
- Home insurance and liability insurance are not mandatory, but highly recommended.
As for opening a bank account, many international retail banks have branch offices in Luxembourg, but there is also a number of local banks with a network of ATMs and local offices. Formalities to open an account differ, but usually you will need to provide proof of identification, proof of residency and proof of employment or regular income.
The number of procedures to complete may seem overwhelming at first, but thanks to Guichet.lu, Luxembourg's online administrative portal, you will be able to complete many of them online and signed them digitally with a secure digital Luxtrust certificate.
Mobility
Getting around in Luxembourg is quite easy, especially with free public transport. Bikes are also a great and ever more popular way to get from A to B, due to the country's fast expanding bike lane network.
If you bring your car, you will need to register it at the SNCA within 6 months after having registered with local authorities. A roadworthiness certificate may also be needed.
Finally, if you have a foreign driver's license and you come from a European Economic Area member state, it remains valid. Driving licenses from other countries must be registered at the SNCA for them to be valid in Luxembourg.
Education and Kids' Care
Luxembourg's education system is built on providing equal opportunities for all children. This includes a multilingual regime on the different education levels and free child care.
Registration for daycare centres and Maisons relais is made at a local level. Fundamental schools are also managed by the municipalities. As for secondary education, enrolment into one of the public or privately operated schools is made at the respective school.
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