Arriving in Luxembourg: the insurance checklist for your first 30 days

Before you even arrive

• Ask your current car insurer for a claims history certificate: your claim-free years can be recognised in Luxembourg and lower your premium.
• Obtain a certificate from your current complementary health plan: it often removes the waiting periods of the new contract.

Days 1 to 8: health

From your first job, your employer registers you with the Joint Social Security Centre within eight days: you receive your national identification number and are automatically affiliated to the CNS (the self-employed register themselves). The CNS reimburses around 80 to 88% of everyday medical costs; the rest, and above all dental care, eyewear and a private room, is the job of a top-up plan. Take it out early: most apply a waiting period of three months, up to eight months for some guarantees, and check first whether your employer offers a group plan. Our article on what the CNS reimburses and our health comparison help you choose.

Before the keys: home insurance

No law requires home insurance for tenants, but almost every landlord and agency requires a certificate before handing over the keys, and the certificate is available immediately after subscription. A tenant plan covers your belongings and your tenant’s liability, and usually includes private liability cover for the whole family. Our article tenant or owner, what do you need to insure? and the home insurance comparison detail the guarantees.

Day 30: the blind spot, private liability

Your child breaks a classmate’s glasses, your dog knocks over a cyclist, a leak in your flat damages the one below: you are liable for damage caused to others, with no legal cap. Private liability cover is the cheapest and most important contract of your move. Simply check whether your home insurance already includes it before taking out a separate policy.

Within six months: the car

Third-party car liability is the only insurance compulsory for everyone. If you import your vehicle, it must be registered with the SNCA within six months of your declaration of arrival, and for that be insured with an insurer active in Luxembourg. You enter the bonus-malus scale at level 11, unless your foreign history is recognised, which varies by insurer: this is where the claims history certificate requested before leaving pays off. The car insurance comparison details this point per insurer.

Cross-border worker rather than resident?

If you live in France, Belgium or Germany, the logic changes: CNS affiliation through your job, care in your country of residence via the S1 document, car registered and insured at home. Our article on the four insurances of the cross-border worker takes over.

Year end: your first tax return

Luxembourg rewards prudent policyholders through tax, including those who arrived during the year: €672 per household member of deductible insurance premiums (article 111), €4,500 for a pension savings contract (article 111bis). The instructions are in our article on tax deductions.

Summary

When	What	Why
Before arrival	Claims history certificate, health plan certificate	Bonus recognised, waiting periods waived
Days 1 to 8	CCSS registration, top-up health plan	CNS affiliation, waiting periods
Before the keys	Home insurance	Certificate required by the landlord
Day 30	Private liability	Damage caused to others, no cap
Within six months	SNCA registration and car insurance	Legal obligation
Year end	Tax return	Articles 111 and 111bis

For the long version, with the formalities in detail, see our complete guide for new arrivals.