A 2008 law had allowed direct descendants of a Luxembourg national alive on 1 January 1900 to reclaim Luxembourg nationality. Applicants had until 2018 to submit the relevant paperwork but had to travel to the grand duchy by the end of 2020 to sign a declaration witnessed by a state registrar.

Because of travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic the 2020 deadline last year was pushed back until 2021. And it has now been delayed by another year until 31 December 2022, justice minister Sam Tanson said in answer to a parliamentary question published on Wednesday.

Another extension, however, is not foreseen, Tanson said.

More than 4,300 people reclaimed Luxembourg nationality last year, according to official data, making up more than half of people being granted a Luxembourg passport. The largest number of newly minted Luxembourgers came from Brazil (1,751), followed by France (1,432), Belgium (654) and the US (395).