Moving to Liechtenstein: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

39,137

Population Growth Rate

0.81%

Urban Population

14.400000

Population in Major Urban Areas

VADUZ (capital) 5,000

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Age Structure

15.380000

Median Age

42.100000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

11

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

6.89

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.69

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.260000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

4.35

Ethnic Groups

Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%

Nationality Noun

Liechtensteiner(s)

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Literacy - total population

100%

Literacy - male

100%

Literacy - female

100%

Literacy Definition

age 10 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

2.1%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

15.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

81.590000

Infant Mortality Rate

4.360000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

4.360000

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

0.000000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

0.000000

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Economic Overview

Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial services sector and one of the highest per capita income levels in the world.

The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the services sector.

Low business taxes - a flat tax of 12.5% on income is applied - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues.

The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency.

It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements.

Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association and the EU) since May 1995.

The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated EU.

As of 2015, 54% of Liechtenstein’s workforce consisted of cross-border commuters, largely from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany and the US - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems.

In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the US.

Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax Convention.

By the end of 2010, Liechtenstein had signed 25 Tax Information Exchange Agreements or Double Tax Agreements.

In 2011, Liechtenstein joined the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel across 26 European countries.

In 2015, Liechtenstein and the EU agreed to clamp down on tax fraud and evasion and in 2018 will start automatically exchanging information on the bank accounts of each other’s residents.

Industries

electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$89,400.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

1.8%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$4,978,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$89,400.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

1.8%

GDP - official exchange rate

$5,113,000,000 (USD)

GDP by Sector- agriculture

8%

GDP by Sector- Industry

37%

GDP by Sector- services

55%

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Inflation Rate

0.7%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency Name and Code

Swiss Franc (CHF)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

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Labor Force

32,880

Unemployment Rate

1.5%

Major Industries

electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments

Agriculture Products

wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

0.8%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

39.4%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

59.9%

Annual Budget

$943,000,000 (USD)

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-1.6%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

25.2%

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Full Country Name

Principality of Liechtenstein

Country Name

Liechtenstein

Local - Long

Fuerstentum Liechtenstein

Local - Short

Liechtenstein

Etymology- history of name

named after the Liechtenstein dynasty that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz and that was allowed by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1719 to rename the new property after their family; the name in German means "light (bright) stone"

Independence

• 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established)
• 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
• 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation)

National Holiday

• National Day, 15 August (1940)
• note - a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) whose birth fell on 16 August
• after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday by law in 1990

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Government Type

constitutional monarchy

Constitution

• history: previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921
• amendments: proposed by Parliament, by the reigning prince (in the form of "Government" proposals), by petition of at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes; passage requires unanimous approval of Parliament members in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings; referendum required only if petitioned by at least 1,500 voters or by at least four communes; passage by referendum requires absolute majority of votes cast; amended many times, last in 2020

Legal System:

civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019)
• head of government: Acting Prime Minister Rimantas SADZIUS (since 4 August 2025)
• cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by Parliament election/appointment
• process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament most recent election
• date: 26 May 2024
• election results: 2024: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote -Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 75.6%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (TS-LKD) 24.4% 2019: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3% expected date of next
• election: 2029

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members directly elected in 2 multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 7 February 2021 (next to be held on 7 February 2025)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - FBP 40%, VU 40%, FL 12%, DpL 8%; seats by party - FBP 10, VU 10, FL 3, DpL 2;
• Composition: men 18, women 7, percent of women 28%

Judicial Branch:

• office: judges of both courts elected by the Landtag and appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for renewable 5-year terms
• subordinate courts: Court of Appeal (second instance), Regional Court (first instance), Administrative Court, Tribunal Court, district courts

Regions or States:

11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Democrats for Liechtenstein (Demokraten pro Liechtenstein) or DpL [Thomas REHAK]
• Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU [Thomas ZWIEFELHOFER]
• Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP [Rainer GOPP]
• The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL [Daniel WALSER, Joy WALSER, Mauela HALDNER-SCHIERSCHER, Sebastian MEIER, Stefan BECKER]
• The Independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU [Harald "Harry" QUADERER]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: the father must be a citizen of Liechtenstein; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship
• recognized: no residency requirement for
• naturalization: 5 years

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Capital Name

Vaduz

Capital - geographic coordinate

47 08 N, 9 31 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Daylight Savings Time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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International Organization Participation:

• CD
• CE
• EBRD
• EFTA
• IAEA
• ICCt
• ICRM
• IFRCS
• Interpol
• IOC
• IPU
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• OAS (observer)
• OPCW
• OSCE
• PCA
• Schengen Convention
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UPU
• WIPO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Georg SPARBER (since 1 December 2021)
• Chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007
• Telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
• FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221
• Email: washington@llv.li
• Website: https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/

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Geographic Location

Europe

Geographic Coordinates

47 16 N, 9 32 E

Total Area

62 Square Miles 160 Square Kilometers

Land Area

62 Square Miles 160 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

47 Miles 76 Kilometers

Border Countries

Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

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Terrain

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Highest Point

2,599 Meters

Highest Point Location

Grauspitz 2,599 m

Lowest Point

430 Meters

Lowest Point Location

Ruggeller Riet 430 m

Natural Resources

hydroelectric potential, arable land

Time Zone

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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Climate

• continental
• cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain
• cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Terrain

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Location

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Total Area

62 Square Miles 160 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

Environment - Current Issues

NA

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

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Exports

$2,830,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$1,770,000,000 (USD)

Exports - note

trade data exclude trade with Switzerland

Imports - note

trade data exclude trade with Switzerland

Major Exports

small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products

Major Imports

agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Top Export Partners

EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%

Top Import Partners

EU, Switzerland

Export Partners

EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%

Import Partners

EU, Switzerland

Country Description

The Principality of Liechtenstein is a hereditary monarchy based on democratic and parliamentary foundations.

The country lies between Austria and Switzerland on the eastern bank of the Rhine River, which forms the border with Switzerland.

Safety & Security

Liechtenstein remains largely free of terrorist incidents; however, like other countries in the Schengen area, Liechtenstein’s open borders with Western Europe allow for the possibility of terrorist groups entering/exiting the country anonymously.

You should remain vigilant with regard to your personal security and keep abreast with local events.

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Crime

Liechtenstein has a low rate of violent crime.

However, crimes of all types which may include violence do occur.

Pick-pocketing and purse snatching are the most common and frequently occur in the vicinity of train and bus stations, airports close to Liechtenstein and some public parks, especially during peak tourist periods (such as summer and Christmas).

Take sensible precautions to protect your passport and money.

Be especially vigilant in regional airports and railway stations, as these locations experience multiple incidents of petty theft almost every day.

You should be careful on trains, especially on overnight trains to neighboring countries.

Thieves, who steal from passengers while they sleep, can enter even locked sleeping compartments.

Thieves have been known to work in pairs to target train passengers; while one member of the pair creates a diversion at a train window or on a platform, the other steals items you have left briefly unattended.

In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available.

Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law.

In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.

The local equivalent to “911” emergency line in Liechtenstein is “144.” Dial 112 for health emergencies, dial 117 for the police, dial 118 for fire /oil or chemical accidents.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Liechtenstein, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own.

In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport with you.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a criminal offense; the legal tolerance for driving is 0.05% blood alcohol content (whereas the legal limit in the United States is 0.08%).

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

In Liechtenstein, this is a serious criminal offense, and offenders will be placed directly in police custody.

If you break local laws in Liechtenstein, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It is very important to know what is legal and what is not, wherever you go.

Persons violating Liechtenstein laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Liechtenstein are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Arrest notifications in Liechtenstein: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case.

To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the U.S.

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Medical Facilities

Medical care in Liechtenstein is good.

For serious illnesses or complicated bone fractures, patients are transferred to the appropriate specialized hospitals in Switzerland and Austria.

Over-the-counter medicine is available at pharmacies, and a pharmacist is on call 24/7.

Information regarding the pharmacy and pharmacist on duty is given over the medical emergency telephone line by dialing 144.

Traffic Safety

While in Liechtenstein, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Although many roads are mountainous and winding, Liechtenstein road-safety standards are high.

Public transportation in Liechtenstein is excellent.

There is an extensive bus network that connects the capital, Vaduz with the bus and railway stations in Sargans and Buchs (St.

Gallen), Switzerland, and Feldkirch, Austria.

In some mountain areas, vehicle snow chains are required in winter.

Road travel can be more dangerous during summer, winter holidays, the Easter break, and Whitsunday weekend (late spring) because of increased traffic.

If you plan to travel to Liechtenstein via the motorways in Switzerland and Austria, you must purchase and display a motorway sticker (“vignette”) or encounter large on-the-spot fines in these countries.

Travel on expressways (indicated by green signs with a white expressway symbol) requires purchase of a vignette, which must be affixed to the car’s windshield.

Railways

6 Miles 9 Kilometers

Roadways- total

236 Miles 380 Kilometers

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Pipelines: Liquid Petroleum Gas

12 Miles 20 Kilometers

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Telephones

19,600

Cell Phones

27,500

Internet Users

22,000

Internet Country Code

.li

Internet Hosts

9,418

Broadcast Media

• relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services
• first Liechtenstein-based TV station established August 2008
• Radio Liechtenstein operates multiple radio stations
• a Swiss-based broadcaster operates several radio stations in Liechtenstein

Telephone System

• assessment: automatic telephone system
• domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined telephone service subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
• international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

Anthem Lyrics

Oben am jungen Rhein Lehnet sich Liechtenstein An Alpenhöh'n.

Dies liebe Heimatland, Das teure Vaterland, Hat Gottesweise Hand Für uns erseh'n.

Hoch lebe Liechtenstein Blühend am jungen Rhein, Glücklich und treu.

Hoch leb' der Fürst vom Land, Hoch unser Vaterland, Durch Bruderliebe-Band

Anthem Lyrics English

• Lyrics: Jakob Josef Jauch, 1850
• Adopted: 1951