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“Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg” (“Living together in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg”) is the name of the civic education course — and of the exam that can replace it — required from most people applying for Luxembourg citizenship. Either route leads to a certificate that goes into the nationality file.
At a glance
| Topic | In short |
|---|---|
| What you get | The “Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg” certificate |
| Two routes, your choice | Attend the course (24 hours) or pass the exam without attending the course |
| The course | 3 modules, 12 sessions of 2 hours, attendance at every session |
| The exam | 40 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, passed with 28 correct answers |
| Price | Free registration |
| Registration | Online only, on the official “Vivre ensemble” portal; final once confirmed |
| Organised by | Service de la formation des adultes (Ministry of Education) |
| What it is for | Required for naturalisation and for some option cases |
What is the “Vivre ensemble” certificate for?
Before acquiring Luxembourg nationality by naturalisation, and in some cases by option, you must prove two things: knowledge of Luxembourgish (the Sproochentest) and knowledge of the subjects taught in the “Vivre ensemble” course. The certificate confirms either attendance of the 24-hour course or success in the exam without attending the course.
The certificate is required for:
| Procedure | Certificate |
|---|---|
| Naturalisation | Yes |
| Option — parent of a Luxembourg minor | Yes |
| Option — marriage to a Luxembourger | Yes |
| Option — adult who completed the welcome and integration contract (CAI) or the introduction modules | Yes (the history module can be waived, see below) |
| Option — adult who settled in Luxembourg before 18 | Yes |
| Option — stateless person, refugee or beneficiary of subsidiary protection | Yes |
| Option — Luxembourgish parent, adoptive parent or grandparent | No |
| Option — born in Luxembourg (from age 12) | No |
| Option — at least 7 years of schooling in Luxembourg | No |
| Option — at least 20 years of legal residence | No (instead of the Sproochentest: 24 hours of Luxembourgish lessons) |
| Option — volunteer soldier | No |
This table summarises guichet.public.lu as of the update date shown at the top of the page. Each option case has further conditions (residence, documents): check yours on guichet.public.lu before you register.
Who is exempt, fully or partly?
- Exemption on health grounds. If your physical or mental condition does not allow you to acquire the knowledge taught, you can ask the Minister of Justice for an exemption, with a medical certificate from a specialist.
- Holders of a CAI or Biergerpakt (citizenship pact) certificate. If you hold a certificate of attendance of the civic instruction courses of the welcome and integration contract, or of the module of at least 6 hours of the citizenship pact, you are exempt from module 3 (history and European integration). The exemption is recognised automatically: do not book the 3 sessions of that module, which brings the course down to 9 sessions.
- Note: this exemption only applies to the course. If you choose the exam, you do not benefit from it and must also pass the history part.
- Reasonable accommodations. Candidates who need accommodations provided for by the law of 8 March 2017 on Luxembourg nationality send a reasoned request, with supporting documents, to the director of the Service de la formation des adultes.
The course: three modules, 24 hours
The course is open to every adult. It has three modules, taught in 2-hour sessions:
| Module | Content | Sessions | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundamental rights of citizens | 3 | 6 h |
| 2 | State and municipal institutions of the Grand Duchy | 6 | 12 h |
| 3 | History of the Grand Duchy and European integration | 3 | 6 h |
| Total | 12 | 24 h |
Rules to know before booking:
- you must attend all 12 sessions (9 with the CAI/Biergerpakt exemption);
- each module is booked in full, with the same trainer;
- in-person and e-learning sessions cannot be mixed within one module;
- two sessions on the same evening are impossible;
- a missed session can be booked again 7 days after its scheduled date;
- a code of conduct governs attendance: lateness, leaving early or partial participation can invalidate a session.
The portal offers courses in French, German or English, depending on the sessions. Once every session is validated, the certificate is sent by post, usually within about three weeks.
The exam: 40 questions in 60 minutes
The exam covers the same subjects as the course:
| Subject | Questions |
|---|---|
| Fundamental rights of citizens | 10 |
| State and municipal institutions | 20 |
| History of Luxembourg and European integration | 10 |
| Total | 40 |
The questions are multiple choice with one correct answer. The exam lasts 60 minutes and is passed with 28 correct answers out of 40, i.e. 70%. Institutions account for half of the marks.
The official portal recommends this route to people who are already well informed and able to prepare on their own. The format is covered in detail in the Vivre ensemble exam format.
Course or exam: how to choose
Both routes lead to the same certificate. The course has no score to reach, but requires full attendance at 12 sessions spread over several weeks. The exam takes one hour, but you have to prepare for it. Our detailed comparison: Vivre ensemble course or exam — which route to choose?
You cannot be registered for both at once: the portal refuses an exam registration if you are already registered for a course, and the other way round.
How to register
- Go to the official “Vivre ensemble” portal of the Ministry of Education. It is the only official registration site.
- Log in with a LuxTrust certificate or, if you do not have one, through the access provided without LuxTrust. You can only register yourself.
- Choose course or exam, then the session (date, place, language). Leaving the place empty shows every session.
- Check before confirming: registration is final and cannot be changed. A confirmation is sent by email.
For the course, registering only with a trainer does not count: only sessions booked online count towards the certificate. For the exam, a new registration is only accepted one month after the date previously chosen, including after a fail.
On exam day
Bring the identity document given at registration and your social security card: both are checked before the exam. Cheating means failing. Practical tips: Vivre ensemble exam day.
After the certificate: the citizenship application
For naturalisation, guichet.public.lu sets these conditions:
- be an adult;
- have lived legally in Luxembourg for at least 5 years, with the last year before the application uninterrupted;
- have passed the Luxembourgish language test (Sproochentest: speaking at A2 level, listening at B1 level);
- have attended the course or passed the “Vivre ensemble” exam.
The application is made in person before the registrar (officier de l’état civil) of your municipality of residence. The naturalisation procedure itself is free (some documents may cost money from the authority that issues them). The Minister of Justice grants or refuses naturalisation within 8 months of the application.
Read next: Luxembourg citizenship requirements and how long it takes to get Luxembourg citizenship.
Preparing for the exam
No official question bank is published: you need to learn the key notions of the three subjects and get used to the format. To measure your level, the free 20-question simulator gives a score and an explanation after each answer, with no sign-up. You can also practise by subject: fundamental rights, institutions and history and European integration.
The step-by-step method is in how to prepare for the Vivre ensemble exam, and answers to common questions are in the FAQ.
VivreEnsemblePrep is an independent preparation app, not affiliated with the Ministry or the Service de la formation des adultes. For any question about your registration: Service de la formation des adultes, sfa@men.lu, 8002 4488.