Not a Luxembourgish citizen, but still interested in working for the state? It’s possible to do so! Check out these six facts and tips.

1. Nationality requirements

Under Luxembourg law, civil service jobs are open to citizens of EU member states, except in areas involving public authority (such as justice, police, the army or ministries), which are reserved for Luxembourg nationals. However, exceptions may apply in specific cases, for example when no national candidate is available. For salaried state employees (as opposed to civil servants), the law allows non-EU nationals to be hired if justified by service needs.

2. Languages still matter, but not always

Fluency in Luxembourgish, French and German isn’t always required. In IT, or technical roles, language flexibility is common--especially without direct citizen contact. Still, some knowledge of an official language is usually expected.

3. The recruitment process follows clear steps

To become a civil servant, candidates must first pass a general aptitude test; only then may they apply for specific roles, take additional exams, get interviews and finally complete a training period. The process can vary slightly depending on the role.

4. Nine percent of state workers are non-Luxembourgish

Currently, nearly one in ten public servants in Luxembourg are non-Luxembourgish EU nationals. Most of them work in education, healthcare, IT or statistics. Some also hold key roles in public agencies like the statistics bureau Statec, the Government IT Centre (CTIE) or the national archives.

5. Certain sectors actively seek foreign profiles

Education and social services are key areas where non-Luxembourgers are needed. International schools hire French or English-speaking teachers, while roles like mediators attract diverse profiles. The state also seeks engineers, legal and finance experts.

6. Guidance is improving for all candidates

To make access easier, the government publishes multilingual guides, participates in job fairs and boosts its presence on social media. Soon, the GovJobs portal will be fully accessible in French and German, further improving inclusivity.

This article was written for the August/September 2025 issue of Paperjam magazine (Expat Guide), published on 10 July. The content is produced exclusively for the magazine. It is published on the site to contribute to the full Paperjam archive. Click this link to subscribe to the magazine.

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