Rare earth ions-doped transparent glass ceramics containing hexagonal GdF3 nanocrystals with a mean size of 16 nm were prepared. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and luminescence spectrum investigation evidenced the incorporation of rare earth ions into GdF3 nanocrystals. The efficient energy transfer from Gd3+ to Tb3+ was demonstrated in the Tb3+-doped glass ceramics, which resulted in an intense green light emission originated from Tb3+: D-5(4) -> F-7(6) transition via the sensitization of Gd3+. Compared with the precursor glass, the Dy3+-doped glass ceramic exhibited longer lifetime and lower yellow-to-blue emission intensity ratio owing to the allocation of Dy3+ ions in the low-phonon-energy GdF3 environment. Under ultraviolet excitation, the Dy3+-doped samples emitted bright white light, indicating their potential application in white light emitting diodes.