New LBR requirement: Luxembourg national identification numbers required

The Luxembourg Business Registers (LBR) has announced a new requirement for all individuals registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register (RCS) to supply their Luxembourg National Identification Number. This reform, which takes effect as from the 12 November 2024, applies to individuals who are directors, managers, legal representatives, shareholders, and ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) of RCS-registered entities.

The new requirement is a unique identifier, intended to increase openness and enable more accurate identification of individuals linked with registered businesses. This approach is designed to improve regulatory compliance, notably in areas such as anti-money laundering (AML) and countering terrorist financing (CFT), while also lowering the risk of identity fraud.

Foreign nationals or individuals without a Luxembourg national identity number can receive one from Luxembourg’s National Registry of Natural Persons. They will however be required to submit additional documents such as Passport, certificate of residence or a declaration of honour certified by a competent authority or even a utility bill. This new reform will furthermore not become a public information, nor communicated to third parties or appearing on any RCS extracts.

All RCS filings, new and current, must comply with this rule within a specified grace time, with noncompliance potentially resulting in penalties or filing delays. To avoid business delays, companies should verify their RCS filings and ensure that every listed person matches with the new requirements.

By Magali Micheletti from Auren Luxeumbourg