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Passport Information
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| What is a passport? A passport is a travel document which allows the holder to travel abroad. Although not constituting proof, it establishes a presumption of the nationality of its holder. What is the purpose of a passport? It is required in most foreign countries outside the European Union in order to enter their territory. Entry and residence visas are affixed to the passport in a foreign country where this formal procedure is required. Is a passport compulsory? A passport is only compulsory if you want to go to a country which requires you to have one. |
How long is a passport valid for?
A passport is usually valid for 5 years.
How to obtain a passport
Applications for an ordinary Luxembourg passport must be made at the population office of the municipal authority of the applicant’s place of residence. These offices have special forms for this purpose. A photograph must be attached to the application.
Given the recent developments and requirements with regard to the security of travel documents, the quality of the photograph is more crucial than ever. A photo that complies with the standards laid down by the ICAO must be attached to the application; i.e. one that is recent, in colour, of good quality, shows the full face, is 45 mm x 35 mm in size and where the face itself takes up 70% to 80% of the photo. The background of the photo must be blue, light grey or off white. A photo with a background that is not as described above will be rejected.
www.icao.int
www.bundesdruckerei.de
However, the photographs of certain categories of people can deviate from the standards laid down by the ICAO, including babies, children up to the age of six, blind people and other people with a disability.
For the children mentioned above, the head does not have to be perfectly straight, the facial expression need not be neutral, the mouth does not have to be closed, the eyes can be slightly closed, and the nose and eyes do not have to be on the line or in the areas provided by the matrix supplied to the municipalities.
It is essential that the applicant’s signature does not go outside or touch the lines of the box provided for this purpose.
Married women must sign the passport application with their maiden name. Minor children who are not able to produce a signature are not required to do so, as in the past. A note to this effect will be entered on the observations page reserved for the use of the authorities competent to issue the passport. A child able to sign his or her first name is free to do so.
Note: Some population offices require a second photograph for their own records.
The municipal authorities, once they have checked the applicant’s identity and nationality, will produce the passport applications and send them, duly completed and signed, to the Passports Office. The surnames and forenames entered on the application must be those shown on the birth certificate. People who wish their spouse's name to be shown on the passport must make a note of this on the application. The surname of the spouse will be entered on the page of the passport reserved for the use of the authorities competent to issue the passport.
Where should the passport be collected?
The municipal authority will give the applicant a receipt showing that the application has been submitted. The passport can be collected from the Passports Office upon production of this receipt.
Residents of the municipalities of Esch sur Alzette, Mersch, Colmar-Berg, Schieren Ettelbrück and Diekirch can collect their passports from the population office of their municipal authority.
Residents of the municipalities of the cantons of Clervaux, Diekirch, Vianden and Wiltz can collect their passports from the population office of the municipal authority of Diekirch.
How long does it take?
Passports may be collected from the Passports Office from the tenth working day after submission of the application, provided that the application was sent by the municipal authority no later than the working day after the day on which the application was submitted.
Residents who are able to collect their passports from their municipal authority or the municipal authority of Diekirch are able to do so after ten working days.
In exceptional and urgent cases the municipal authorities are able to give the passport application directly to the person concerned, who can then go in person to the Passports Department in order to obtain his or her travel document.
What to do if a passport is lost or stolen
The loss or theft of a passport must be reported as soon as possible to the police.
When applying for a new passport a declaration of loss or theft must be attached to the application.
Period of validity of a biometric passport
Passports issued to adults or to minors aged four or over will be valid for a period of five years.
Minors under four years of age will be issued with a passport valid for a period of two years.
Biometric passports will not be extended.
Passports in circulation that were issued before the introduction of the biometric passport will remain valid until their earliest expiry date. In other words, it will no longer be possible to extend series B, C and F passports after 28 August 2006. A new passport application must be submitted to the appropriate municipality.
Inclusion of children on their parents’ passports
With effect from 28 August 2006, the Passports Office will follow the “one passport, one person” rule. Children will no longer be included on their parents’ passports. However, the parents’ names will be stated on the child’s passport.
Cost of the biometric passport and method of payment
The amount payable for the issue of a passport valid for five years is set at EUR 30.
Passports valid for two years cost EUR 20.
The stamps (timbres de chancellerie) (two or three EUR 10 stamps) will no longer be affixed to the passport itself but to a receipt that will be given to the applicant when he or she comes to collect his or her travel document at the Passports Office or the municipal office. Applicants will be required to sign a receipt when they receive their passports.
Following the introduction of a new accounting system with effect from 28 August 2006, Luxembourg citizens, when they submit their passport applications to the municipality, must bring proof of payment (deposit, transfer or electronic transfer) of EUR 30 or EUR 20 to the Luxembourg postal cheque account of the Passports Office, which is as follows:
IBAN LU 46 1111 1298 0014 0000 CCPLLULL
The full address of the Passports, Visas and Legalizations Office is as follows:
Bureau des Passeports, Visas et Légalisations
43, boulevard Roosevelt
L-2450 Luxembourg
When biometric passports are being produced for more than one member of the same family, a single deposit or transfer can be made, stating of course all the forenames and surnames of the people who wish to obtain a biometric passport.
The bank fees incurred in connection with a transfer must not be charged to the Passports Office under any circumstances.
The proof of payment or a certified copy of the original must be attached to the passport application.
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N.B.: Before undertaking your journey, make sure that your passport has sufficient validity to allow you to stay in all of the countries that you wish to visit. Some countries only agree to an entry visa for people whose passport is valid for at least 6 months after the requested visa expires.