Liechtenstein · Work
Liechtenstein Manager and specialist permit
First stay: 3 yrs
Three-year residence permit for managers and specialists of international companies (Art. 26(4) AuG)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Manager and specialist permit is a work route for Liechtenstein. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- CHF 200 ≈ $240 · +2 more
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government feesCHF 200 ≈ $240 · +2 more
- CHF 200 (≈ $240)Fee for the first residence permit when issued by the Immigration and Passport Office; CHF 1,000 (≈ $1,200) when the Government issues it (Ausl-GebV Art. 10).
- CHF 30 (≈ $36)Fee for recording biometric data for the residence card.
- CHF 20 (≈ $24)Fee for producing the residence card.
RenewalRenewable
Granted for up to three years and extendable if the integration agreement is kept.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
A settlement permit can be granted after 5 uninterrupted years on a residence permit, with a civics test, German in speech and writing, and secure income.
CitizenshipAfter 30 years of residence
Ordinary naturalisation needs 30 years of ordinary residence in Liechtenstein (years from birth to age 20 count double), the last 5 years continuous, and renunciation of other citizenship.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Liechtenstein
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant is a manager or specialist and is employed abroad by an international company with a business establishment in Liechtenstein when applying.
- Managers lead the company or a department; specialists are highly qualified people indispensable to the employer for a specific service.
- The Liechtenstein employer applies and the general work-permit conditions other than the priority test are met.
What you must show1
- Sufficient funds so that social assistance is not needed.
Documents3
- Valid passport, birth certificate and current passport photograph, submitted as originals.
- Proof of a suitable dwelling, such as a lease or land-register extract.
- Proof of statutory health insurance covering all risks in Liechtenstein.
Steps2
- Obtain an assurance of the permit or an authorisation to issue a visa; work may only start after it is received.
- Register in person with the residents’ registration office of the municipality of residence; the permit is only issued afterwards.
After you arrive1
- The permit can run for up to three years.
When you become tax resident
How Liechtenstein decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 3 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
Domicile is the place where a person stays with the intention of staying permanently; habitual abode is a stay of more than six months that is not merely temporary.
- Foreign-source income
Residents are taxed on worldwide income and wealth through a national tax rising to 8% of income above CHF 211,400 (≈ $253,000) (single), with a municipal surcharge of 150% to 250% of the national tax; employees get a CHF 1,600 (≈ $1,920) flat expense deduction and pay no income tax below a subsistence minimum of CHF 2,100 (≈ $2,520) gross a month (single).
All tax rules for Liechtenstein Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Proof of statutory health insurance covering all risks in Liechtenstein
- Accommodation
Proof of a suitable dwelling, such as a lease or land-register extract
- Police certificate and civil documents
Valid passport, birth certificate and current passport photograph, submitted as originals
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence permit of up to three years for managers and specialists who work abroad for an international company with a business establishment in Liechtenstein; the labour-market priority test does not apply. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- A fee of CHF 200 (≈ $240) · Fee for the first residence permit when issued by the Immigration and Passport Office; CHF 1,000 (≈ $1,200) when the Government issues it (Ausl-GebV Art. 10). 3
- A fee of CHF 30 (≈ $36) · Fee for recording biometric data for the residence card. 3
- A fee of CHF 20 (≈ $24) · Fee for producing the residence card. 3
Requirements
- The applicant is a manager or specialist and is employed abroad by an international company with a business establishment in Liechtenstein when applying. 1
- Managers lead the company or a department; specialists are highly qualified people indispensable to the employer for a specific service. 2
- The Liechtenstein employer applies and the general work-permit conditions other than the priority test are met. 1
- Sufficient funds so that social assistance is not needed. 1
- Valid passport, birth certificate and current passport photograph, submitted as originals. 2
- Proof of a suitable dwelling, such as a lease or land-register extract. 2
- Proof of statutory health insurance covering all risks in Liechtenstein. 2
- Obtain an assurance of the permit or an authorisation to issue a visa; work may only start after it is received. 1
- Register in person with the residents’ registration office of the municipality of residence; the permit is only issued afterwards. 1
- The permit can run for up to three years. 1
Stay
- Up to three years.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Applies to nationals of states other than EEA member states and Switzerland. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
Work for the Liechtenstein employer in the managerial or specialist post.
Family
The spouse or registered partner and joint unmarried children under 18 (including adopted and foster children) can join once the holder has a residence or settlement permit, suitable housing and secure means or a Liechtenstein bank guarantee; the spouse abroad needs basic German.
Official sources
- Foreigners Act (Ausländergesetz, AuG), LGBl. 2008 No. 311, version of 12 June 2026 · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
- Ordinance on admission and residence of foreigners (ZAV), LGBl. 2008 No. 350 · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
- Ordinance on fees under foreigners law (Ausl-GebV), LGBl. 2011 No. 440 · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship Act (Buergerrechtsgesetz, BueG), LGBl. 1960 No. 23 · Liechtenstein legal portal (gesetze.li) · checked 2026-10-11
Manager and specialist permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager and specialist permit | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Work residence | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Short-stay work permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Blue Card Portugal | Needs income from €1,726 a month ≈ $1,930 | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Employee visa Spain | – | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Manager and specialist permit?
A fee of CHF 200 (≈ $240). Fee for the first residence permit when issued by the Immigration and Passport Office; CHF 1,000 (≈ $1,200) when the Government issues it (Ausl-GebV Art. A fee of CHF 30 (≈ $36). Fee for recording biometric data for the residence card. A fee of CHF 20 (≈ $24). Fee for producing the residence card.
How long can I stay on the Manager and specialist permit?
Up to three years.
Can I work on the Manager and specialist permit?
Work for the Liechtenstein employer in the managerial or specialist post.
Can I bring my family on the Manager and specialist permit?
The spouse or registered partner and joint unmarried children under 18 (including adopted and foster children) can join once the holder has a residence or settlement permit, suitable housing and secure means or a Liechtenstein bank guarantee; the spouse abroad needs basic German.
Who can apply for the Manager and specialist permit?
Applies to nationals of states other than EEA member states and Switzerland. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the Manager and specialist permit lead to permanent residence in Liechtenstein?
Time on the Manager and specialist permit counts toward permanent residence in Liechtenstein, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Manager and specialist permit counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 30 years of residence.
How are Manager and specialist permit holders taxed in Liechtenstein?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Manager and specialist permit. The standard rules apply: Residents are taxed on worldwide income and wealth through a national tax rising to 8% of income above CHF 211,400 (≈ $253,000) (single), with a municipal surcharge of 150% to 250% of the national tax; employees get a CHF 1,600 (≈ $1,920) flat expense deduction and pay no income tax below a subsistence minimum of CHF 2,100 (≈ $2,520) gross a month (single).
More in Liechtenstein
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Foreigners Act (Ausländergesetz, AuG), LGBl. 2008 No. 311, version of 12 June 2026 · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
- Ordinance on admission and residence of foreigners (ZAV), LGBl. 2008 No. 350 · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
- Ordinance on fees under foreigners law (Ausl-GebV), LGBl. 2011 No. 440 · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship Act (Buergerrechtsgesetz, BueG), LGBl. 1960 No. 23 · Liechtenstein legal portal (gesetze.li) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.