General travel regulations (up to the corona pandemic)
EU citizens and Swiss citizens can enter the Principality with a valid identity card or passport. No visa is required for a tourist stay of up to 90 days. A residence permit must be applied for for stays that exceed 90 days or are associated with gainful employment. This is usually issued without any problems with proof of work or sufficient proof of existence. You can find more information on this in the following text.
Immigration and permanent residence, residence permit
If you intend to stay in the country for longer than 3 months or even permanently, you have to register at the responsible residents’ registration office no later than 8 days after entering the country. When registering, a confirmation of the residence permit (available from the Immigration and Passport Office) and a valid travel document must be presented. You will immediately receive confirmation of your registration there. Both domicile and gainful employment may only take place once the relevant permit has been guaranteed.
A residence permit is required if:
- wants to work regardless of the length of stay
- intends to stay without gainful employment for more than three months within six months
According to best-medical-schools, the Swiss representations abroad are responsible for consular matters (e.g. applying for Liechtenstein passports or identity cards). If you are already in Liechtenstein, contact the passport office in Vaduz.
Types of permits
Depending on why and for how long you want to stay in Liechtenstein, a distinction is made between the permit in the form of a letter (BiB), short-term residence permit (L), residence permit (B), permanent residence permit (D) and permanent residence permit (C). The decisive factor which of the types of permit applies is usually the length of the stay.
Approval in letter form (BiB)
The BiB is issued to enable you to work as an employed person for a maximum of 180 days within a 12-month period. The activity can be carried out on a daily or weekly basis.
Processing time of the application: 2 weeks
Short-term residence permit (L)
The short-term residence permit is valid for a stay of up to 1 year. It may be renewable.
To employment
Is granted for a total of up to one year of gainful employment. Granting only possible if:
- evidence of an employment contract of a maximum of one year and an appropriate level of employment; or
- the professional and commercial law requirements for the intended self-employed activity are met; and
- the cross-border commuter activity is unreasonable
Processing time of the application: 2 weeks
If there is evidence of an extraordinary need, this permit can be extended once for a maximum of six months. If you want to reapply, you can do so after a 6 month break.
For training / studies
The L permit entitles you to take up residence for the duration of training or studies, but for a maximum of 12 months.
Granting only possible if:
- Employment is a maximum of 35% based on studies or training or
- In the case of 100% gainful employment, this is an integral part of the training
A short-term residence permit for 2 years can be issued for a planned internship that is part of an apprenticeship. The internship must last longer than 12 months. For trainees, a residence permit can be issued for the entire training period.
Students have the option of a short-term residence permit for the duration of a semester or an academic year. The permit can be applied for again and again. If you drop out or end your studies, your short-term residence permit expires and you have to leave the country.
Generally required documents:
- Completed application form (including passport photo and signature)
- Copy of a valid passport or valid identity card
- Copy of the fixed-term employment contract
Additionally with an intern:
- Copy of the internship contract
- Proof that the internship is part of the training
- Training plan
Required documents when starting your studies:
- Completed application form (including passport photo and signature)
- Copy of a valid passport or valid identity card
- Enrollment or school confirmation
- Proof of health insurance coverage
Proof of financial means for students:
- Copy of a current bank account with at least CHF 15,000
- written statement from parents
- Proof of scholarship
- Guarantee declaration of a person in Liechtenstein
- Guarantee declaration from the training center
As a tourist / service recipient
If you would like to stay in Liechtenstein for more than 3 months, but no more than 6 months, without taking up gainful employment, you can apply for a short-term residence permit.
Issue only possible if
- Sufficient financial means are available to support yourself
- Comprehensive health insurance coverage can be demonstrated
Residence permit (B)
The residence permit entitles you to stay for more than 12 months and is renewable. The B permit can be issued to both employed and non-employed persons.
Issue to employed persons only possible if:
- an employment contract of more than a year; or
- the professional and commercial law requirements for the intended self-employed activity are met; and
- the cross-border commuter activity is unreasonable
Generally required documents:
- Completed application form (including passport photo and signature)
- Copy of a valid passport or valid identity card
- Copy of the employment contract or the decision of the competent specialist commission in the case of self-employed sole proprietorships
- written justification
- Proof of advance payment of 80 CHF
Processing time of the application: 4 weeks
If you do not have any gainful employment in Liechtenstein, you have to show sufficient financial means so that you do not need to claim social assistance. Comprehensive health insurance coverage is also expected. Proof of sufficient financial means can be checked after 2 years. In the case of gainful employment abroad, a more than one-year or open-ended employment contract is required.
Required documents if you are not employed:
- Completed application form (including passport photo and signature)
- written justification
- Copy of a valid passport or valid identity card
- Proof of health insurance coverage
- Proof of financial means
- Proof of advance payment of 80 CHF
Permanent residence permit (D) – only for EEA citizens
This can be granted if you have resided in Liechtenstein for 5 years without interruption. Processing time of the application: 2 weeks
The Immigration and Passport Office can check the actual presence in Germany at any time. If you want to extend your residence card, you have to present it to the office 2 weeks before the expiry date (max. 10 years). Temporary stays abroad are possible for a maximum of 1 year without losing the permit. Completion of military or alternative service has no effect on the permit. Proof of sufficient financial means is no longer necessary when receiving a permanent permit.
Required Documents:
- Completed application form (including passport photo and signature)
- Original residence permit B (if lost, a loss report from the state police)
- Copy of a valid passport or valid identity card
- Original extract from the criminal record from the Vaduz Regional Court (max. One month old)
Settlement permit (C) – only for Swiss citizens
The C permit is also issued after 5 years of uninterrupted residence. Processing time of the application: 4 weeks
The control period for checking the actual presence in Germany is five years. The residence card (valid for a maximum of 10 years) must be presented to the office 2 weeks before the end of the inspection period for extension. Temporary stays abroad are possible for a maximum of 1 year without losing the permit. Completion of military or alternative service has no effect on the permit.
Required Documents:
- Completed application form (including passport photo and signature)
- Original residence permit B (if lost, a loss report from the state police)
- Copy of a valid passport or valid identity card
- Original extract from the criminal record from the Vaduz Regional Court (max. One month old)
Cross-border commuter activity
If you work in Liechtenstein as an EEA citizen but do not have a place of residence, you must register for gainful employment. This also applies to the self-employed. The report must be made within 10 days of taking up employment.
Draw
A total of 28 residence permits for employed EEA citizens and 8 residence permits for non-employed EEA citizens are raffled annually. Swiss nationals cannot take part in the draw. The right to a residence permit acquired by drawing lots expires if it is not exercised within 6 months of receipt of the notification.
Fees (in CHF) according to the Liechtenstein Ordinance:
- Guarantee of approval / extension: 60
- Issuing a new permit in the form of a letter or a short-term residence permit: 80
- New residence permit issued by the Immigration and Passport Office: 200
- Re-issue of a residence permit by the government: 1,000
- Settlement or permanent residence permit: 120
- Extension of the control period: 80
- Issue of a residence card: 190
- Drawing procedure – advance drawing: 100
- Draw procedure – final draw: 500
All documents and evidence must be presented to the immigration and passport office:
Foreigners and Passport Office
Städtle 38
P.O. Box 684
9490 Vaduz
Tel.: +423 236 61 41
Fax: +423 236 61 65
info.apa@llv.li
