British national in Luxembourg after Brexit: residence, work, and driving licence

Key figures

Two regimes depending on your arrival date

You were living in Luxembourg on 31 December 2020. You are a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement, with rights close to those of an EU citizen. Your special residence document (5 or 10 years) had to be requested before 30 June 2023. Running late? Explain why, and the DGIM will decide. After 5 years of legal, uninterrupted residence, you are entitled to permanent residence, with a free document valid for 10 years. Your years before 2021 count.

You arrived after. You are a third-country national, just like an Indian citizen. The government press release of 23 September 2026 only exempts Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries from the D visa. For you: D visa, residence permit, and, unless you hold an EU Blue Card, the ADEM market test. Exception: if you are joining a British national who is a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary through their own right of residence (employee, self-employed, etc.) acquired by 31 December 2020, you also fall under the Withdrawal Agreement, not the third-country national procedure. This covers the spouse or registered partner (marriage or partnership concluded before 1 January 2021; a durable unregistered relationship needs prior approval from the DGIM), the child under 21 or dependent (born or adopted after 2021: only in limited cases) and the dependent parent. The residence document is free, to be requested from the DGIM no later than 3 months after arriving.

Social security: the EU-UK protocol

There is no bilateral agreement between Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. The Joint Social Security Centre (CCSS) refers to the coordination protocol of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, applied since 1 January 2021.

For a British national arriving after 2020:

• Pension: your British years are added to your Luxembourg years to open your pension rights.
• Health: your European Health Insurance Card from the National Health Fund (CNS) also works in the UK.
• Posting: if sent by a British employer, you remain insured in the UK for a maximum of 24 months, with a certificate of posting issued by HMRC, the UK tax authority ("certificate of coverage", also called PDA1).
• Excluded: family allowances (nothing for children living in the UK) and long-term care insurance.

Were you already in a cross-border situation between the two countries on 31 December 2020? The full EU regulations still apply, as long as the situation is not interrupted.

British and cross-border worker: is it still possible?

Yes, but not in the same way for everyone.

You were already working in Luxembourg before 1 January 2021, while living in another EU country or in the UK: you keep your right to work as a cross-border worker. You can request a document certifying this (ouvre dans un nouvel onglet). It is free, valid for 10 years, but optional.

You start after 31 December 2020: you follow the procedure for third-country cross-border workers (ouvre dans un nouvel onglet). Before your first day, you apply for a work authorisation from the DGIM. You need the residence permit of your country of residence and the ADEM certificate. No certificate needed if you are highly qualified: contract of at least 1 year and €65,652 gross per year. Response within 3 months at most. The first authorisation is valid for 1 year, for a single profession.

For taxes, read our guide declare your salary in your country of residence.

Banking and British pension

• Banking: after Brexit, some British banks stopped serving clients living in the EU. The UK regulator (FCA) requires them to inform customers in time and respect their contract. Open a local account quickly: see managing your money in Luxembourg.
• British pension: according to the UK government, your State Pension continues to be revalued each year if you live in the European Economic Area (EEA), so in Luxembourg as well. For the Luxembourg portion, read the 3 pillars of retirement.

Example: Emma, analyst, from London to Luxembourg

Emma, 31, a financial analyst in London, receives a permanent contract (CDI) from a fund in Luxembourg City paying €72,000 gross per year. She has worked for 8 years in the UK.

1. Which route? €72,000 exceeds the €65,652 threshold by €6,348, and she has a master's degree: Visa D "EU Blue Card".
2. The visa. She submits her application in October 2026 at the embassy in London. Assuming a visa issued on 10 November 2026: it is valid until 10 May 2027.
3. Arrival. She moves on 1 December 2026 and registers at the municipality no later than 4 December.
4. The residence permit. Medical check, then application before 10 February 2027 (3 months before the visa expires). Fee: €80.
5. Driving licence. Exchange for €30 before 1 December 2027, effective at the earliest on 4 June 2027 (185 days).
6. Pension. Her 8 British years count towards qualifying for her pension rights.

Had she settled in 2019, Emma would have needed none of this: a "Withdrawal Agreement" document, then permanent residence since 2024.