My Story
I have completed the process of reclaiming my great grandmother’s (my father’s father’s mother) Luxembourg citizenship. She left Luxembourg in the 1880s and in 1900, along with thousands of other emigres, she had her citizenship taken by the Luxembourg government. In 2009, the government offered the opportunity for direct descendants of those emigres to reclaim their ancestors citizenship.
Interestingly, my father’s mother’s parents came from another village in the Luxembourg wine region less than 50 miles from the village where my father’s father’s mother was born. It boggles the mind to think that they lived so close, yet my grandparents met thousands of miles away in the US.
Follow My Citizenship Adventures
I Am A Luxembourger
Finally! After two years, the journey is complete. On October 26, 2019, my Luxembourg citizenship application was granted! It's been a wild ride of family history discoveries, paperwork, anticipation and bureaucracy. I first learned of my status after emailing the...
Stage 3 Complete
Well, that was anti-climactic. We've been going through this process for almost a year and a half. It's mostly been "hurry up and wait". Finally, at the end of May, we received the translated application documents. We had everything we needed to formally apply...
National Day – Feiertage
My dad and I coordinated our application trip to coincide with the Luxembourg National Day - Feiertage - on June 23. The National Day was established to celebrate the birthday of former Grand Duchess Charlotte. Her birthday was actually, January 23, but that's a...
My family
My great-grandmother (my father’s father’s mother) and great-grandfather (my father’s mother’s father) left Luxembourg for the US in the 1880s. Like many people, they both left from Antwerp, Belgium and arrived in New York City. From there, they made their way to Stearns County, MN – a popular destination for Luxembourgers. They each had several children and eventually made their way to western North Dakota to homestead. The family homestead is where my father grew up and it’s still in my extended family.
The Process
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Prove Direct Line Ancestry – prove you are who you say you are. COMPLETE!
Step 2: Pass background checks. COMPLETE!
Step 3: Go to Luxembourg to sign your citizenship application. COMPLETE!
Step 4: Wait for the Luxembourg Ministry of Justice to approve the application. (Typically a 4-5 month process.) COMPLETE!
I am now a Luxembourg citizen!
Luxembourg Adventures
Things to see and do in Luxembourg
Luxembourg City
Luxembourg History
