American-Luxembourgers Survey 2021

Researched and Written by: Daniel Atz
Research Assistance: Lauren Lowell
Design: Lauren Lowell

After completing our American-Luxembourgers Study and the Dual Citizenship Trends report, we were left with a lot of unanswered questions about these new dual citizens.
So, we asked them to speak for themselves.

Note: This study dates from 2021. To view the latest version, please visit our Research Studies page

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Background

From March 1-15, 2021, we ran an open survey of American-Luxembourgish dual citizens through ancestry. They responded to questions on their future in Luxembourg & motivations for applying for dual citizenship.

115 people responded, comprised of 54% LuxCitizenship clients and 46% other (future) dual citizens. The respondents represent a wide range of ages and demographics.

Survey Participants

Application for Dual Citizenship

While it has been possible to apply for Luxembourg Dual Citizenship since 2008, most of the survey respondents applied between 2018-2019.

It is still possible for certain applicants to apply today. Some respondents are in the process of starting their application now.

Already Applied vs. Not Yet Submitted

Year of Application Submissions

Finishing the Process

Considering that a large number of our respondents only applied for dual citizenship in 2018 or 2019, many have been unable to travel & complete the process due to Covid-19. Some respondents are still waiting for a nationality certificate in the mail. Just over half of the respondents have obtained citizenship. Most of those were able to do so in 2019-2020. For those that obtained citizenship in 2020, most of them traveled to Luxembourg in 2019 and received their response in 2020.

Dual Citizenship Obtained

Year Citizenship Obtained

Work & Travel – How “Worldly” Are The American-Luxembourgers?

More of the respondents have traveled to Luxembourg than have obtained citizenship. So some had already traveled to Luxembourg before applying. On top of that, about a third of these applicants have worked and/or lived in a foreign country.

The US Department of State estimates that under 3% of the US population lives abroad at any time. This indicates that our group is more globally mobile than the average American citizen.

Traveled to Luxembourg

Lived Abroad?

Worked Abroad?

Are American-Luxembourgers Multilingual?

Based on the data from this study, it appears that about 22% of American-Luxembourgers are multilingual. This percentage is slightly higher than the percentage of multilingual Americans as a whole (20%). On top of that, the vast majority of the respondents have expressed an interest in learning the Luxembourgish language.

Fluent in a Foreign Language?

Interested in Learning Luxembourgish?

Future Plans: The US or the EU?

Four out of five respondents are interested in making some kind of move to Luxembourg/the EU. This is clearly a driving factor in applying for dual citizenship. 22% of those interested in moving plan to do so in the next 5 years.

Interested in Moving to the EU?

When?

The Sweet Spot

Well over half of the American-Luxembourgers who self-identified as multilingual have lived and worked abroad. Nearly half of them have plans to move to Luxembourg or the EU within the next five years.

Have Lived Abroad?

0 %

Have Worked Abroad?

0 %

Move to EU (1-5 years)?

0 %

Motivation for Applying

While everyone has their own reasons to apply for dual citizenship, it appears that pride in ancestry was the respondents’ most common motivator.

Of the “Other” responses we received, the most common motivator was to obtain a Luxembourg passport for travel purposes.

Motivators for Applying

Pride in my Luxembourgish heritage

72%

Pride in my Luxembourgish heritage

72%

Desire to reconnect with the land of my ancestors

62%

For the future of my children/grandchildren

59%

As a form of security or backup (in case it would be needed in the future)

50%

Recent political or social events motivated me to secure a second citizenship

45%

I am interested to work in Luxembourg/Europe

43%

I am interested to retire in Luxembourg/Europe

37%

To commemorate my relative/ancestor who was from Luxembourg

25%

Reconnect with family in Luxembourg

15%

I am interested to study in Luxembourg/Europe

15%

Other

About these Motivators

Over 80% of participants in this study listed “Pride in my Luxembourgish heritage” and/or “Desire to reconnect with the land of my ancestors” as primary motivators. Of the “other” responses received, obtaining a Luxembourg passport was the most popular.

Research Studies

View our interactive research report American-Luxembourgers to learn more about the people applying for Luxembourg dual citizenship.