Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein Residence Permit for Non-Gainfully Employed Persons Overview

The Liechtenstein Residence Permit for Non-Gainfully Employed Persons grants EEA nationals the right to reside in the Principality of Liechtenstein without engaging in any gainful employment within its borders. 

The permit is not available through a standard application process; it is allocated through a government lottery held twice a year, in spring and fall. 

Only eight permits are issued annually under this category, making it one of the most restricted residence pathways in Europe.

The permit holder may apply for family reunification for a spouse and children under the age of 21. Each family member requires a separate application.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be EEA nationals (Swiss nationals and UK nationals are excluded). 

All applicants for the lottery must meet the following conditions:

Lottery Participation Requirements

• EEA nationality (Swiss nationals and UK nationals cannot participate in the draw)
• Submission of a fully completed application form by the published deadline
• No multiple applications; each applicant may submit only one entry per draw
• Timely payment of the preliminary draw fee of CHF 100 (approx. US$115)

Final Draw Requirements

Applicants drawn in the preliminary lottery must provide the following additional documents to participate in the final draw:

• Valid passport copy
• Proof of sufficient financial means to sustain themselves and any included family members without recourse to social assistance in Liechtenstein
• Proof of approved accommodation in Liechtenstein
• Comprehensive health insurance covering all risks in Liechtenstein
• Clean criminal record
• No existing entry ban and no threat to public safety, public order, or public health

Applicants are admitted to the final draw only after verification of general requirements and review of the exclusion criteria under Art. 38 PFZG. Reasons for exclusion from the final draw include false declarations, an existing entry ban, and threats to public safety, order, or public health.

Fees

• Preliminary draw participation fee: CHF 100 (approx. US$115)
• Final draw participation fee: CHF 500 (approx. US$575)
• Permit issuance fee if approved: CHF 1,060 (approx. US$1,219)
• Processing fee if application is rejected: CHF 80 (approx. US$92)

Route to Citizenship

The B permit is issued annually and must be renewed each year. After five years of continuous lawful residence in Liechtenstein on a B permit, holders become eligible to apply for permanent residence (C permit or settlement permit), which grants the right to reside in Liechtenstein indefinitely.

Liechtenstein citizenship by naturalization is among the most restrictive in the world. The facilitated naturalization pathway, which does not require a municipal vote, requires a minimum of 30 years of continuous lawful residence in Liechtenstein. Years spent in Liechtenstein before the age of 20 count double toward this requirement, meaning a person who resided in Liechtenstein continuously from birth could qualify in fewer calendar years. 

An alternative ordinary naturalization pathway exists after 10 years of residence but requires approval by a public ballot of the local municipality in which the applicant resides. In practice, this route is extremely rarely successful and cannot be guaranteed or appealed.

All applicants for naturalization must demonstrate German language proficiency, integration into Liechtenstein society and knowledge of its laws and political structure, sufficient income, and a clean criminal record. 

Liechtenstein does not permit dual nationality. Applicants who are naturalized as Liechtenstein citizens are required to relinquish all prior citizenships. 

Mobility and Taxation

Mobility

Liechtenstein citizens can access approximately 172 destinations visa-free or visa-on-arrival, including all EU and EEA member states, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and Canada. 

As a member of the European Economic Area, Liechtenstein citizens enjoy full freedom of movement across all 30 EEA member states, as well as Switzerland under the bilateral Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. 

Tax

Liechtenstein taxes residents on worldwide income and wealth. Residents are subject to income tax at a flat national rate of 8%, supplemented by a municipal multiplier that varies by commune, resulting in an effective combined rate of approximately 12% to 17% for most residents. The first CHF 15,000 of income is exempt. 

Wealth tax applies to all global assets held by residents at a low rate. Dividends and capital gains from qualifying shareholdings are generally exempt from income tax for individual residents, making Liechtenstein particularly attractive for holders of investment portfolios or business equity. 

Income from foreign real estate is exempt from Liechtenstein income tax.

There is no inheritance tax and no gift tax. The standard VAT rate is 8.1%, aligned with Switzerland under the customs and currency union. 

How to Apply

The program is administered by the Migration and Passport Office of the Liechtenstein National Administration, under Art. 37 and Art. 38 of the Personenfreizügigkeitsgesetz (PFZG, LGBl. 2009 No. 348). 

The process typically runs as follows.

• Step 1: Confirm EEA nationality eligibility and check the current draw schedule and submission deadline published at llv.li; the form for the upcoming draw is available on the official portal.
• Step 2: Submit the fully completed application form for the preliminary draw online through the official counter at llv.li before the published deadline; pay the preliminary draw fee of CHF 100 (approx. US$115) with value date at the Liechtensteinische Landesbank before the deadline.
• Step 3: If drawn in the preliminary lottery, receive notification from the Migration and Passport Office requesting additional documents; compile and submit the required documents including passport copy, proof of financial means, proof of accommodation in Liechtenstein, comprehensive health insurance confirmation, and a clean criminal record certificate.
• Step 4: Pay the final draw participation fee of CHF 500 (approx. US$575); the Migration and Passport Office verifies general requirements and reviews exclusion criteria before admitting the applicant to the final draw.
• Step 5: If drawn in the final lottery, receive the residence permit B; pay the permit issuance fee of CHF 1,060 (approx. US$1,219); if not drawn, the CHF 80 (approx. US$92) processing fee applies.

Step 6: Renew the B permit annually at the Migration and Passport Office; after five years of continuous residence, apply for permanent residence at the Migration and Passport Office.