Liechtenstein Work Permit: Who Needs One and Who Applies
Almost any gainful activity in Liechtenstein needs a permit, however short. A short cross-border service and an EEA commuter's work are notified instead. For a worker from outside the EEA, the Liechtenstein employer applies, and the permit must serve the country's economic interest. EEA nationals can also enter a draw for 28 permits a year. No permit is guaranteed.
Short answer
This page covers work authorisation only: who needs a permit, who applies, the quota and the commuter routes. A move without work is a different question, and the guide on relocating to Liechtenstein from abroad takes it from there. Vaduz Corporate Solutions does not sell permits and does not act in permit procedures. The page states what the statutes say, with the article.
Do you need a permit to work in Liechtenstein?
Yes, with exceptions. A third-country national needs a permit for any gainful activity, whatever the length of stay (Ausländergesetz, AuG, Foreign Nationals Act, Art. 10(1)). EEA and Swiss nationals need one too (Free Movement Act, PFZG, Art. 8(1)(a)). The exceptions are notifications. A provider from outside the EEA and Switzerland, and its staff, may work up to eight days within 90 days if notified at least two working days before, and any visa duty stays (AuG Art. 12(1), (2)). EEA and Swiss providers are notified from the ninth day, in principle up to 90 days in a calendar year, and a permit is needed above that (PFZG Art. 30(1), (2), 31(1)). EEA commuters are notified, not permitted (PFZG Art. 32, 33).
A permit is not an entry visa. Work may start once the assurance or the visa is in hand (AuG Art. 24(1)), and the permit itself is issued once the documents are complete and the in-person registration is done (Art. 23(6)). Many readers search for a "work visa" and expect one document. In Liechtenstein the employment side is the permit, decided by the Migration and Passport Office, and the entry side is the visa, where one is required. The permit rules also differ by status, which is why this page follows three groups: EEA and Swiss nationals, third-country nationals and commuters. Which rules apply to you depends on three things:
- your nationality status: EEA or Swiss, or a third-country national
- whether you live in Liechtenstein or abroad
- how long the job lasts
Which laws and offices decide?
The statutes are in German, and the LGBl. numbers are the references of the official gazette. The cap on the number of permits for employed work sits in AuG Art. 18(1).
Acts and offices in a Liechtenstein work-permit matter
| Act or office | What it governs | Source |
|---|---|---|
| AuG, LGBl. 2008 Nr. 311 | Permits for third-country nationals, conditions, procedure, registration | AuG Art. 10 to 26 |
| ZAV, LGBl. 2008 Nr. 350 | Ordinance to the AuG: labour-market proof, discretion of the authorities, no effect of a company, no entitlement to a letter-form permit | ZAV Art. 12, 17, 20a(2) |
| PFZG, LGBl. 2009 Nr. 348, with PFZV, LGBl. 2009 Nr. 350 | Permits for EEA and Swiss nationals, commuters, the draw | PFZG Art. 8, 15, 19, 20, 30 to 34, 37; PFZV Art. 23, 28, 31 |
| Ausl-GebV, LGBl. 2011 Nr. 440 | Official fees | Ausl-GebV Art. 3, 10, 11, 13, 14 |
| Migration and Passport Office (Ausländer- und Passamt, APA) | Receives applications, issues assurances and permits | AuG Art. 23, 24 |
| Labour market service (Arbeitsmarktservice, AMS FL) | Written confirmation that no suitable worker was found | ZAV Art. 12 |
| Einwohnerkontrolle (municipal residents' registry) and the government | In-person registration; the government may cap permit numbers and issues some B permits | AuG Art. 11, 18(1); Ausl-GebV Art. 10 |
Source: AuG, ZAV, PFZG, PFZV and Ausl-GebV, as read in October 2026.
What do EEA and Swiss nationals need?
EEA and Swiss nationals also need a permit for work. The short-stay permit (L) covers fixed-term stays, and the residence permit (B) covers longer ones. An entitlement to a B permit exists "in the sense of the special solution for Liechtenstein", and the government may set maximum numbers (PFZG Art. 19(2), Art. 10). The short-stay permit has a second condition for EEA and Swiss nationals: it is issued only where daily commuting from abroad is not reasonable (PFZG Art. 15(2)(b)). The B permit is the longer route, up to five years where the stay exceeds a year (Art. 19(1)).
Swiss nationals are covered by the same PFZG rule on permits (Art. 8(1)(a)). They are excluded from the residence permit draw, which the next section explains.
Permit rules for EEA and Swiss nationals under the PFZG
| Permit or rule | What the statute says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Any gainful activity | A permit is needed, however short, subject to the notification rules of PFZG Art. 30 to 33 | PFZG Art. 8(1)(a) |
| Short-stay permit L | Fixed-term stays up to one year in total | PFZG Art. 15(1) |
| Condition for L | Daily commuting from abroad is not reasonable | PFZG Art. 15(2)(b) |
| Residence permit B | Stays of up to five years | PFZG Art. 19(1) |
| Entitlement to B | In the sense of the special solution for Liechtenstein | PFZG Art. 19(2) |
| Maximum numbers | The government may set maximum numbers for permits | PFZG Art. 10 |
Source: Free Movement Act (PFZG), LGBl. 2009 Nr. 348.
How do the quota and the twice-yearly draw work?
Residence permits are also issued to EEA nationals by draw, without prejudice to the ordinary procedures (PFZG Art. 37(1)). A total of 28 residence permits for gainfully employed EEA citizens are drawn each year (page state 2026, Migration and Passport Office). The draw is held twice a year, in spring and in fall, and has two stages, an advance draw and a final draw (PFZG Art. 37(2)).
Only EEA nationals without a right of permanent residence can take part (PFZV Art. 23(1)). Swiss and UK nationals cannot, and gainful employment abroad is not permitted. A place is by lot, so no one can be promised one. The right that a winner receives is personal and not transferable. The winner must give the Migration and Passport Office the entry date within five months, or a waiver is presumed (PFZV Art. 31), and the right lapses if it is not used within six months of the notification (PFZG Art. 37(3)). A participant owes the participation fee of the stage entered (Ausl-GebV Art. 3(1), (2), Art. 11(1)), and the amounts are in the table below. This page prints no dates beyond the window text of the ordinance, because the decision for later years is not in the sources read.
Draw rules for EEA residence permits (page state 2026)
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permits drawn for employed EEA citizens | 28 a year | Migration and Passport Office, draw page |
| Frequency | Twice a year, spring and fall | Migration and Passport Office, draw page |
| Application windows | 1 to 28 February and 1 to 31 August | PFZV Art. 28(1) |
| Who may take part | EEA nationals without a right of permanent residence | PFZV Art. 23(1) |
| Excluded | Swiss and UK nationals; employment abroad is not permitted | Migration and Passport Office, draw page |
| Stages | Advance draw and final draw | PFZG Art. 37(2) |
| A won right | Personal, not transferable; entry date due within five months or a waiver is presumed; lapses after six months if unused | PFZV Art. 31; PFZG Art. 37(3) |
| Participation fee, advance draw | CHF 100 | Ausl-GebV Art. 11(1)(a) |
| Participation fee, final draw | CHF 500 | Ausl-GebV Art. 11(1)(b) |
Source: Migration and Passport Office, draw page, page state 2026; PFZV, LGBl. 2009 Nr. 350; PFZG, LGBl. 2009 Nr. 348.
What must a hire from outside the EEA meet?
The conditions below apply to every third-country national who applies for an L or B permit for employed work (AuG Art. 13(1)), while EEA and Swiss nationals follow the PFZG instead. A G permit for commuters has a shorter list (Art. 22(c)). The authority decides with discretion and must weigh the economic interests of the country (ZAV Art. 17(1)). For a letter-form permit there is no entitlement (ZAV Art. 20a(2)). Each condition comes with its article, so you can read the original wording. The permit must be requested by a Liechtenstein employer, and the worker does not file it. The permit also has to fit the economic interest of the country, which is a judgement of the authority and not a number you can calculate. The list is long because the conditions apply together, not as alternatives.
- The permit serves the economic interest of the country (AuG Art. 13(1)(a)).
- A Liechtenstein employer applies (Art. 13(1)(b)).
- Employment level of at least 50 % for L and 80 % for B (Art. 13(1)(c)).
- No previous conviction for a Verbrechen or Vergehen (Art. 13(1)(d)).
- Qualifications and integration prospects (Art. 13(1)(e)).
- Sufficient means, so no social assistance is needed (Art. 13(1)(f)).
- Usual local wages and working conditions are met (Art. 15).
- Only managers, specialists and other qualified staff (Art. 14).
- No suitable worker on the permit-free labour market (Art. 16(1)); an AMS FL confirmation counts as proof (ZAV Art. 12).
- Adequate housing (Art. 17).
- Commuting from abroad is not reasonable (Art. 13(1)(h)).
- The government may cap the number of L and B permits for employed work (Art. 18(1)).
Managers and specialists employed abroad, at the time of the application, by an internationally active company with a business establishment in Liechtenstein can receive a B permit for up to three years, and the local-worker priority of Art. 16 does not apply (Art. 26(4)). Departures from the conditions of Art. 13 to 20 are possible in hardship cases or for important public interests (Art. 21(1)).
Wondering what a move does to your tax position?
Employing staff from abroad can raise payroll and tax questions. A licensed Liechtenstein partner handles tax advice; we prepare the file and coordinate.
How does the employer's application run, step by step?
For a third-country hire the procedure runs in seven steps. Each step names who acts, because the employer, the authority and the worker each hold a different part. Where a person wants legal representation, it is by a lawyer. Vaduz Corporate Solutions files nothing in this procedure. The sequence matters more than any single step: a worker who starts before the assurance arrives breaks the rule in step 7, and a worker who has not registered within eight days breaks the rule in step 6.
The employer checks the role, the level and the housing
Qualified staff only, 50 % or 80 % employment, adequate housing (AuG Art. 13(1)(c), 14, 17).
The employer proves that no suitable local worker was found,
usually with the AMS FL confirmation (AuG Art. 16(1); ZAV Art. 12).
The employer files the application
with the Migration and Passport Office. The worker does not file it.
The authority decides,
usually within the statutory times (AuG Art. 23(3)).
The assurance (Zusicherung) is issued
It is valid at most six weeks for L and usually three months for B (AuG Art. 24(4)). The worker waits abroad for it (Art. 24(2)).
The worker enters and registers in person
with the residents' registry within eight days (AuG Art. 11(1)). The permit is issued once all required documents are in and the registration is done (Art. 23(6)).
Work starts only after the assurance or visa
(AuG Art. 24(1)). A B or G permit is extended by a request at least two weeks before expiry (Art. 23(7)).
From application to first working day
Check role, level, housing
Who acts: Employer
Prove no suitable local worker
Who acts: Employer
File with the Migration and Passport Office
Who acts: Employer
Decision
Who acts: Authority
Assurance issued, worker waits abroad
Who acts: Authority
Register in person within eight days, permit issued
Who acts: Worker, authority
Start work after assurance or visa
Who acts: Worker
Is there a Liechtenstein work visa, and what about applicants from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh?
The searched phrase "work visa" points to the permit described here. The entry visa is a separate question (AuG Art. 24(1)). The conditions in the section above apply to every third-country national who applies for an L or B permit, whatever the country of origin. The AuG conditions read for this page contain no list of countries and no different rule for applicants from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. Visa-agent pages answer with a sales frame, and this page answers with the statute: the authority decides with discretion (ZAV Art. 17(1)), and a letter-form permit carries no entitlement (ZAV Art. 20a(2)).
For a digital nomad permit, none was found in the AuG and PFZG texts read for this page. The routes the sources describe are the employer-sponsored permit, the G permit for commuters, the draw for EEA nationals and, for EEA and Swiss nationals, the ordinary L and B permits, including for self-employed work (PFZG Art. 15(2)(a)2, 20(1)(a)2).
Two further conditions apply to a person from outside the EEA who applies for an L or B permit for employed work. A previous conviction for a Verbrechen or Vergehen stands in the way (AuG Art. 13(1)(d)), and sufficient financial means are needed so that no social assistance is claimed (Art. 13(1)(f)). Departures from the conditions are possible in hardship cases or for important public interests (Art. 21(1)), and no one can count on them. Four of the conditions, which must all be met together with the rest, are:
- the employer's request (AuG Art. 13(1)(b))
- the economic interest of the country (Art. 13(1)(a))
- the employment level (Art. 13(1)(c))
- a qualified role (Art. 14)
Can you live abroad and work in Liechtenstein?
Yes, as a cross-border commuter, and the commuter routes are separate from the residence permits. A third-country national with a permanent right of residence in an EEA state or Switzerland, who returns home daily, can be granted a G permit (AuG Art. 22(a), (b)) if the employer's request, the economic interest, a clean record, local wages and the local-worker priority are also met (Art. 22(c)). The application is made at least 14 days before the planned start, and the job may only be taken up after the permit is issued (Migration and Passport Office, G permit page, page state 2026).
For an EEA national who commutes daily, the work is notified within ten days of the start (PFZG Art. 33(1)), and the employer notifies for employed work (Art. 32). No notification rule for Swiss commuters was found in the PFZG text read, because Art. 32 names EEA nationals only, so this page states none. Commuters are not subject to the eight-day registration rule (AuG Art. 11(5)). For a commuter, the question is not where the employer sits but where the worker lives and whether the worker returns home every day. The L permit for EEA and Swiss nationals ties in here, because it needs that commuting from abroad is not reasonable.
Commuter routes by status
| Status | Route | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Third-country national, permanent right of residence in an EEA state or Switzerland, daily return | G permit, if the other conditions of Art. 22(c) are met | AuG Art. 22(a) to (c) |
| EEA national commuting daily | Notified within ten days of the start of work; the employer notifies for employed work | PFZG Art. 33(1) (ten days), Art. 32 (employer) |
| Swiss national commuting daily | No notification rule found in the text read | PFZG Art. 32 names EEA nationals only |
| Short-stay permit L for EEA and Swiss nationals | Condition: commuting from abroad is not reasonable | PFZG Art. 15(2)(b) |
Source: AuG, LGBl. 2008 Nr. 311; PFZG, LGBl. 2009 Nr. 348; Migration and Passport Office, G permit page, page state 2026.
Two commuter routes
Who
G permit: Lives abroad, returns home dailyEEA commuter notification: Employer, for employed workLead time
G permit: Apply 14 days before startEEA commuter notification: Notified within ten days of the start of workFee
G permit: CHF 80 for a new oneEEA commuter notification: CHF 60 per person
Does founding a Liechtenstein company give you a right to a permit?
No, not by itself. Under the AuG ordinance, forming a company or holding a stake has no influence on how the discretion is exercised in the permit procedure (ZAV Art. 17(2)), and there is no entitlement to a letter-form permit (ZAV Art. 20a(2)). EEA and Swiss nationals who start a business follow the PFZG instead, where the self-employed route requires meeting the professional and trade-law conditions for the activity (PFZG Art. 15(2)(a)2, 20(1)(a)2).
A company is still a place to employ people. Setting one up, for example by registering a Liechtenstein company through a licensed trustee, is a corporate matter and creates no right to a permit. Once staff are employed, payroll and accounting kept in order by a licensed bookkeeper are run with a Liechtenstein bookkeeper, and that sentence makes no claim about permits. What counts instead is the test above: the employer request, the economic interest and the other conditions.
From our practice
We prepare and coordinate company administration with a licensed Liechtenstein partner. We do not file permit applications, represent anyone before the authority or advise on an individual case, because professional legal advice is reserved to lawyers (RAG Art. 8(1)(a)). Where a person wants representation, a lawyer provides it.
How long does a decision take, and when may work start?
The statutes give "usual" decision times, not guarantees. This page names no agency timeline and no fast track. Work may start only after the assurance or the visa is received (AuG Art. 24(1)). The assurance is valid at most six weeks for L and usually three months for B (Art. 24(4)). A right won in the draw needs an entry date within five months (PFZV Art. 31) and lapses after six months if unused, as the draw section above notes (PFZG Art. 37(3)). A decision time runs from receipt of a complete application, so a missing document moves the date. The statutes do not say that an authority must decide faster for a skilled role or a large employer.
Usual statutory decision times
| Who and which permit | Usual decision time | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Third-country national, G and L permits | Two weeks | AuG Art. 23(3) |
| Third-country national, B and C permits | Three months | AuG Art. 23(3) |
| EEA and Swiss national, letter-form, short-stay (L) and permanent (D) permits | Two weeks | PFZG Art. 34(2) |
| EEA and Swiss national, all other applications | Four weeks | PFZG Art. 34(2) |
Source: Foreign Nationals Act (AuG) Art. 23; Free Movement Act (PFZG) Art. 34, cited by article only.
What are the official fees, and who pays them?
These are the fees of the fee ordinance, as facts of law, with the fee schedule state 2026. They are not prices of Vaduz Corporate Solutions. For a work permit or a G permit only the employer, as applicant, owes the fee (Ausl-GebV Art. 3(3)). Otherwise whoever applies for or causes the act pays, applicant and causer jointly, for example a draw participant (Art. 3(1), (2)).
The fees of Art. 10(1) are charged cumulatively per person and procedure. A refusal still carries a fee. A new B permit costs CHF 200 when the Migration and Passport Office issues it and CHF 1000 when the government does (Ausl-GebV Art. 10(1)(c)). The fee for assurance and the fee for the permit itself are both charged, because Art. 10(1) is cumulative per person and procedure. Nothing here is an agency charge or a fee of Vaduz Corporate Solutions.
Official fee schedule, state 2026
| Item | Official fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Assurance of a permit | CHF 60 | Ausl-GebV Art. 10(1)(a) |
| New G, L or letter-form permit | CHF 80 | Ausl-GebV Art. 10(1) |
| New B permit issued by the Migration and Passport Office | CHF 200 | Ausl-GebV Art. 10(1)(c) |
| New B permit issued by the government | CHF 1000 | Ausl-GebV Art. 10(1)(c) |
| Commuter notification confirmation | CHF 60 per person | Ausl-GebV Art. 13(2) |
| Processing a refusal | CHF 80 | Ausl-GebV Art. 14(1) |
| Participation in the advance draw | CHF 100 | Ausl-GebV Art. 11(1)(a) |
| Participation in the final draw | CHF 500 | Ausl-GebV Art. 11(1)(b) |
Source: Ausl-GebV, LGBl. 2011 Nr. 440, as read in October 2026.
What happens when a short-stay permit ends, and what about short assignments?
An L permit can be extended once, by at most six months, on proof of an extraordinary need (AuG Art. 25(3)). After an L permit, a new one can be issued only after a break of at least six months since deregistration and departure (Art. 25(4)). The extension of a B or G permit is requested at least two weeks before expiry, and the article does not name the L permit (Art. 23(7)).
For what follows a first permit, read about Liechtenstein permanent residence. A short cross-border service is different: a provider from outside the EEA and Switzerland, and its staff, may work up to eight days within 90 days, notified at least two working days before rather than permitted, with any visa duty staying (Art. 12(1), (2)). A short stay therefore needs planning from the start. A worker who expects the job to continue should read how the longer permits work before the L permit runs out, because the break rule means a gap in employment. The points to keep in mind for a short stay are:
- an L permit is extended once, by at most six months
- a new L permit follows only after a six-month break
- the request to extend a B or G permit goes in two weeks before expiry
- a short service is limited to eight days within 90 and notified two working days before
- work may not start before the assurance or visa
Sources
The statute figures were read in October 2026, and the facts from the Migration and Passport Office pages are the page state of 2026.
Frequently asked questions about a Liechtenstein work permit
Can I get a Liechtenstein work permit by forming a company there?
Under the AuG ordinance, founding a business or holding a stake has no influence on how the discretion is exercised in the permit procedure (ZAV Art. 17(2)), and a letter-form permit carries no entitlement (ZAV Art. 20a(2)). EEA and Swiss nationals follow the PFZG, including its self-employed route (Art. 15(2)(a)2). This page promises no outcome.
Does owning a Liechtenstein company give me a right to a permit?
No, not by itself. The same ordinance article applies to a stake (ZAV Art. 17(2)), and a person from outside the EEA also needs the employer's request and the economic interest of the country (AuG Art. 13(1)(a), (b)). EEA and Swiss nationals follow the PFZG instead. This page promises no result.
Can I start work before the permit arrives?
Not before you hold the assurance or the visa (AuG Art. 24(1)). The permit itself is issued after the in-person registration (Art. 23(6)). The assurance is valid at most six weeks for a short-stay permit and usually three months for a residence permit (AuG Art. 24(4)).
Is there a Liechtenstein work visa or a digital nomad visa?
No digital nomad permit was found in the AuG and PFZG texts read for this page. Almost any gainful activity needs a permit (AuG Art. 10(1)). The routes the sources describe are the employer-sponsored permit, the G permit, the draw for EEA nationals and the ordinary L and B permits for EEA and Swiss nationals (PFZG Art. 15, 19).
Who applies for the permit, me or my employer?
For a third-country national, the Liechtenstein employer files the request (AuG Art. 13(1)(b)). For a work permit or a G permit, only the employer owes the official fee (Ausl-GebV Art. 3(3)). The worker registers in person within eight days of arrival (AuG Art. 11(1)).
Can a non-EEA citizen get a work permit in Liechtenstein, and for which jobs?
Only managers, specialists and other qualified staff (AuG Art. 14), on an employer request, in the economic interest of the country, with no suitable local worker found and adequate housing (Art. 13(1), 16(1), 17). Permits can be capped (Art. 18(1)). The authority decides with discretion (ZAV Art. 17(1)).
Do I need a work permit as an EU or EEA citizen?
Yes, for any gainful activity, whatever the length of stay (PFZG Art. 8(1)(a)). A short-stay permit L covers stays up to one year in total, and a residence permit B runs up to five years (PFZG Art. 15(1), 19(1)). Short services and commuters are notified instead (PFZG Art. 30 to 33); an EEA commuter's employer notifies (Art. 32).
Do Swiss citizens need a work permit in Liechtenstein?
Yes. The PFZG rule on permits for gainful activity covers EEA and Swiss nationals (Art. 8(1)(a)). Swiss nationals cannot take part in the residence permit draw. No Swiss commuter notification rule was found in the text read, so this page states none.
What is the quota, and how does the draw work?
A total of 28 residence permits a year are drawn for gainfully employed EEA citizens (page state 2026). The draw is held twice a year, in two stages (windows 1 to 28 February and 1 to 31 August). A winner gives the entry date within five months (PFZV Art. 31). The right lapses after six months (PFZG Art. 37(3)).
Can I live in Switzerland, Austria or Germany and work in Liechtenstein?
A third-country national with a permanent right of residence in an EEA state or Switzerland who returns home daily can be granted a G permit if the other conditions are met (AuG Art. 22). An EEA commuter's work is notified within ten days of the start (PFZG Art. 33(1)), by the employer for employed work (Art. 32).
What is a cross-border commuter permit (G) and who can get one?
The G permit is for third-country nationals with a permanent right of residence in an EEA state or Switzerland who live abroad and return home daily, if the other conditions are met (AuG Art. 22). Apply at least 14 days before the planned start. The job begins after issue. A new G permit costs CHF 80 (Ausl-GebV Art. 10(1)).
How long does a decision take?
For third-country nationals, usually two weeks for G and L permits and three months for B and C permits (AuG Art. 23(3)). For EEA and Swiss applicants, two weeks for letter-form, short-stay and permanent permits and four weeks for all other applications (PFZG Art. 34(2)).
What are the official fees, and who pays them?
The assurance costs CHF 60, a new G, L or letter-form permit CHF 80, and a refusal CHF 80. A new B permit costs CHF 200 from the Migration and Passport Office or CHF 1000 from the government (Ausl-GebV Art. 10(1), 14(1), state 2026). For work and G permits the employer pays.
What happens when a short-stay permit expires?
An L permit can be extended once, by at most six months, on proof of an extraordinary need (AuG Art. 25(3)). A new L permit follows only after a break of at least six months since deregistration and departure (AuG Art. 25(4)).
How do I move to Liechtenstein?
This page covers the work-permit side only. A stay without work has its own permit rules, and the relocation guide takes the other routes from there. This page chooses no route for you. Legal representation, where wanted, is by a lawyer.