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Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Luxembourg.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Luxembourg is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Luxembourg is a signatory to:
- The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which provides the internationally recognised definition of a refugee and outlines the legal protection, rights, and assistance a refugee is entitled to receive;
- The 1967 Protocol relating to Status of Refugees, which expanded the Convention to apply universally and protect all persons fleeing conflict and persecution;
- The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, which established a framework for the international protection of stateless persons;
- The 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, which set rules for the conferral and non-withdrawal of citizenship to prevent cases of statelessness from arising.
In addition to these international protection frameworks, and as part of the European Union (EU), Luxembourg is bound by the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) which aims at introducing EU-wide standards for the equal treatment and protection of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers entering the EU. The system is governed by five legislative instruments and one agency:
- Asylum Procedures Directive, aiming at setting out the conditions for fair, quick, and quality asylum decisions;
- Reception Conditions Directive, providing common standards for reception conditions across the EU;
- Qualification Directive, clarifying grounds for granting international protection;
- Dublin Regulation, establishing the State responsible for examining the application;
- EURODAC Directive, governing the EU database of asylum seekers fingerprints;
- European Union Agency for Asylum, providing operational and technical assistance to EU Member States in the assessment of applications for international protection.
The CEAS has been reformed by the New Pact on Migration and Asylum (the Pact), approved in 2024 and set to take effect in 2026. The Pact presents a complex package of ten legislative files intended to reform the EU’s migration and asylum system by establishing new EU-wide solutions to long-standing migration challenges.
While the Pact has been presented by EU institutions as delivering the intended results while remaining grounded in European values, human rights organisations and migration experts have long opposed and criticised its reforms. Here you can find a point by point analysis of the Pact by the European Council on Refugees and Exiles.
In addition to its obligations under the aforementioned international instruments, Luxembourg is obligated to respect the international customary legal principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits any country from deporting any person to a country where they face the threat of persecution.
Luxembourg’s national framework for asylum procedures is governed by the Loi du 18 décembre 2015 relative à la protection internationale et à la protection temporaire and the Loi du 18 décembre 2015 relative à l’accueil des demandeurs de protection internationale et de protection temporaire. This legislation aligns with the CEAS and outlines the processes for granting international protection, including refugee and subsidiary protection statuses. The law specifies the rights and obligations of applicants, procedural safeguards, and the criteria for granting protection. It also details the accelerated and regular procedures for examining applications, ensuring that Luxembourg’s asylum system operates within the parameters set by both national and European Union regulations.
You can only apply for asylum if you are in Luxembourg territory – you cannot apply from outside the country. If you are in an EU country and have close family members in Luxembourg, you may be able to join them under the Dublin III Regulation if certain criteria are fulfilled.
International protection applies only to nationals of third countries and stateless persons. You can be granted either:
- Refugee status: granted to individuals who face persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group membership and cannot or will not seek protection from their home country. This applies to third-country nationals outside their country of nationality and stateless persons outside their habitual residence, or
- Subsidiary protection status: granted to individuals who do not qualify as refugees but face a real risk of serious harm if returned to their country of origin or former residence. This includes risks such as the death penalty, torture, or violence from armed conflicts.
You must submit an application in person for asylum either:
- To the Ministry of Home Affairs (General Department of Immigration – Department for refugees)
- To the Service de Contrôle at the airport
- To the Grand-Ducal Police, or
- At detention centre or the state prison where you’ve been placed
You must then go in person to the General Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs to register the application.
You can submit an application for protection for persons under your responsibility, including non-emancipated minors or adults who have agreed to the submission of the application in their name. Unaccompanied minors can submit their application for international protection in person or through an ‘ad hoc administrator’ who has been assigned by the guardianship judge.
You should receive:
- An explanatory document concerning applications for international protection, including your duties and obligations, in a language that you understand;
- Information about your right to receive free assistance from an interpreter;
- Information about your right to benefit from legal aid, or to select, at your own expense, a lawyer registered with one of the bar associations in Luxembourg;
- A form and a scheduled appointment for the submission of your application.
At this appointment, you must submit the completed form and supporting documents, as well as your identity documents and other useful documents. Your photograph and fingerprints will be taken and a judicial police officer will conduct the interview to verify your identity and itinerary before arriving in Luxembourg. A physical search may take place.
If the authorities believe that another country is responsible for processing your application, you will be invited to a “Dublin” interview to determine which EU country is responsible for examining your application (as per the Dublin regulation). The questions will concern your identity, your family members, your applications for a visa, a residence permit, or asylum, and your journey from your country of origin to Luxembourg. The “Dublin” interview is confidential.
The interview procedure for children travelling alone is different. See more information here.
You will receive a certificate or “pink document” three days after submitting the application, which allows you to stay in Luxembourg while your application is being processed and move freely within the country, but not to leave the country. It is valid for one-month periods and will be renewable in person until the end of the processing procedure.
You will be assigned a social worker from the National Reception Office (ONA) who can provide information about the different types of aid available.
If your application is admissible, then the Ministry of Home Affairs will conduct an in-depth personal interview. This will be your opportunity to detail your reasons for asylum and why you left your country. You can find more information here.
If your application is part of the normal procedure then a decision is taken within 6 months of your application. If your application is part of the accelerated procedure, then a decision is taken no later than 2 months after you have justified scenarios for the accelerated procedure.
There are four possible decisions that the Ministry of Home Affairs can make:
- Granting refugee status
- Granting subsidiary protection status
- Refusal of both refugee status and subsidiary protection status
- Declaring your application inadmissible
If you do not agree with the decision, then you can appeal it to the administrative court within one month of notification of the decision via a lawyer. You will be allowed to remain in Luxembourg while the court is examining the appeal.
For more information about the asylum process see here.
Legal aid organisations
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Address: 4 rue Mathias Hardt, L-1717 Luxembourg
Tel: + 352 621 811 162
Email: contact@passerell.lu
Passerell is a non-profit that provides legal information on fundamental rights, asylum law, children’s rights, and protection against discrimination, offering assistance with administrative and legal procedures, particularly for family reunification cases. The organisation offers targeted support to vulnerable individuals (such as children, survivors of domestic violence, and individuals with mental health issues) facing complex social and migration challenges.
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Address: 36, Herb Market Street, L-1728 Luxembourg
Tel: +352 26 27 01 01
Email: info@ombudsman.lu
The Ombudsman of Luxembourg serves as an independent mediator between individuals and public authorities, including in matters related to asylum. Asylum seekers who believe that a public body has not acted in accordance with its mission or has violated laws or regulations can submit a complaint to the Ombudsman. While the Ombudsman does not provide direct legal representation, they can investigate complaints, make recommendations to rectify issues, and ensure that the rights of asylum seekers are respected within the administrative processes.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
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Address: 10-12 Rue Auguste Laval, 1922 Weimerskirch Luxembourg
Tel: +352 43 83 33 – 1
Email: ensemble@asti.lu
ASTI supports migrant integration in Luxembourg through various services, including free assistance with administrative procedures, language courses, and educational workshops. They offer a ‘public writer’ service, where volunteers help migrants with document drafting in multiple languages. They also engage in advocacy to promote immigrants’ rights and foster intercultural dialogue in communities.
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Address: 26, rue de Gasperich, L-1617 Luxembourg
Tel: +352 29 86 86 – 1
Email: info@clae.lu
CLAE facilitates the inclusion of immigrants by offering personalised consultations, assistance with administrative procedures, support for immigrant organisations, and workshops on digital tools and languages. They organise the annual Festival des migrations, des cultures et de la citoyenneté to celebrate cultural diversity and promote intercultural dialogue. They also provide resources and guidance to newly arrived individuals and families to help them integrate into Luxembourg society.
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Address: 13, rue de Bragance, L-1255 Luxembourg
Tel: +352 27 55 – 5400
Email: migrants.refugies@croix-rouge.lu
The Luxembourg Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest humanitarian network. The Movement is bound by seven fundamental principles, including humanity, impartiality, and neutrality, so they help people according to need and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality, sex, gender, or disability. It provides accommodation, social support, and guidance for refugees in Luxembourg. Its Migrants and Refugees Service offers individualised support, organises leisure activities to promote socio-cultural integration, and helps with administrative procedures. It also works to restore family links for those separated due to humanitarian crises.
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Address: 16 Av. Marie-Thérèse, 2132 Ville-Haute Luxembourg
Tel: +352 28 588 001
Email: info@fmpo.lu
FMPO offers protection and support to individuals in distress, including asylum seekers, by providing housing and social care services. They offer social, psychological, legal, and educational assistance to help vulnerable individuals regain stability and integrate into society. They also operate various shelters and support centres tailored to the needs of different groups, such as women, children, and families.
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Address: 41, rue du Puits Romain, L-8070 Bertrange
Tel: (+352) 26 155 – 1
Email: contact@hut.lu
HUT is dedicated to preventing and combating all forms of human suffering, focusing on insecurity, poverty, and discrimination. They offer a range of services to refugees, including information on administrative procedures, social support, thematic workshops, accommodation, and assistance in finding employment and housing. Special attention is given to children, young people, and families to facilitate their integration into society.
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Address: 23, avenue Gaston Diderich, L-1420 Luxembourg
Tel:+352 621 825 825
Email: info@jrs.lu
JRS Luxembourg offers sustainable support to refugees through volunteer-led initiatives, fostering solidarity and promoting meaningful connections between locals and newcomers. It focuses on supporting young refugees with integration and assisting individuals undergoing Dublin procedures. They offer psychosocial support, language courses, support refugee families with guidance and resources, and visit individuals held in detention centres.
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Address: 4, rue Berwart, L-4043 Esch-sur-Alzette
Tel: (+352) 28 89 23 71
Email: info@medecinsdumonde.lu
Médecins du Monde Luxembourg provides medical and psychosocial care to vulnerable populations who lack access to the national health system. They operate two centers: one in Bonnevoie and another in Esch-sur-Alzette, offering free consultations without the need for an appointment. Their services are delivered by volunteer healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and psychologists, ensuring that marginalised individuals receive essential health services.
Website
Address: 52, rue Jules Wilhelm, L-2728 Luxembourg
Tel: (+352) 621 981 482
Email: reechenghand@caritas.lu
Reech eng Hand is a project run by the Archdiocese of Luxembourg aimed at welcoming, integrating, and advocating for refugees. They coordinate volunteer groups in parishes, associations, and religious communities to provide language courses, socio-cultural activities, and material support to newcomers. Their initiatives foster community engagement and assist refugees in navigating their new environment.
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Address: 4, rue Mathias Hardt, L-1717 Luxembourg
Tel: +352 691 110 610
Email: info@RYSEluxembourg.com
RYSE focuses on the socio-cultural and professional integration of young refugees aged 18 to 35. They offer individualised mentoring, volunteering opportunities, and targeted training to facilitate access to employment. Their programs aim to empower refugee youth, helping them build skills and networks for successful integration into Luxembourg society.
Luxembourg LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg COI
Find Luxembourg Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
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Last updated June 2025
