---
title: "Liechtenstein Manager and specialist permit requirements 2026"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/liechtenstein/manager-specialist-transfer/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-11
---

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 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **First stay:** 3 yrs (Up to three years.)
- **Who can apply:** Most passports (Applies to nationals of states other than EEA member states and Switzerland.)
- **Family:** Family can join (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.)

## 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 fees: CHF 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.

**Renewal: Renewable**

Granted for up to three years and extendable if the integration agreement is kept.

[Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein](https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2008311000)

**Permanent residence: After 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.

[Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein](https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2008311000)

**Citizenship: After 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.

[Liechtenstein legal portal](https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/1960023000)

## 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 apply

- 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 show

- Sufficient funds so that social assistance is not needed.

#### Documents

- 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.

#### Steps

1. Obtain an assurance of the permit or an authorisation to issue a visa; work may only start after it is received.
2. Register in person with the residents’ registration office of the municipality of residence; the permit is only issued afterwards.

#### After you arrive

- 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/liechtenstein/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026

## 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. (sources 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). (source 3)
- A fee of CHF 30 (≈ $36) · Fee for recording biometric data for the residence card. (source 3)
- A fee of CHF 20 (≈ $24) · Fee for producing the residence card. (source 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. (source 1)
- Managers lead the company or a department; specialists are highly qualified people indispensable to the employer for a specific service. (source 2)
- The Liechtenstein employer applies and the general work-permit conditions other than the priority test are met. (source 1)
- Sufficient funds so that social assistance is not needed. (source 1)
- Valid passport, birth certificate and current passport photograph, submitted as originals. (source 2)
- Proof of a suitable dwelling, such as a lease or land-register extract. (source 2)
- Proof of statutory health insurance covering all risks in Liechtenstein. (source 2)
- Obtain an assurance of the permit or an authorisation to issue a visa; work may only start after it is received. (source 1)
- Register in person with the residents’ registration office of the municipality of residence; the permit is only issued afterwards. (source 1)
- The permit can run for up to three years. (source 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.

Checked 2026-10-11

## Official sources

1. [Foreigners Act (Ausländergesetz, AuG), LGBl. 2008 No. 311, version of 12 June 2026](https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2008311000) · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
2. [Ordinance on admission and residence of foreigners (ZAV), LGBl. 2008 No. 350](https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2008350000) · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Ordinance on fees under foreigners law (Ausl-GebV), LGBl. 2011 No. 440](https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2011440000) · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [Citizenship Act (Buergerrechtsgesetz, BueG), LGBl. 1960 No. 23](https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/1960023000) · 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/liechtenstein/work-residence-b/) | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| [Short-stay work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/liechtenstein/short-stay-work/) | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) Portugal | Needs income from €1,726 a month ≈ $1,930 | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| [Employee visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/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

[Special-interest residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/liechtenstein/special-interest-residence/) [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/liechtenstein/student/) [EEA residence lottery](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/liechtenstein/eea-lottery-residence/)

## Work visas elsewhere

[🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) [🇫🇷 Talent · Company officer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-corporate-officer/) [🇬🇧 Graduate visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/graduate-visa/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## 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.

1. [Foreigners Act (Ausländergesetz, AuG), LGBl. 2008 No. 311, version of 12 June 2026](https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2008311000) · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
2. [Ordinance on admission and residence of foreigners (ZAV), LGBl. 2008 No. 350](https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2008350000) · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Ordinance on fees under foreigners law (Ausl-GebV), LGBl. 2011 No. 440](https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2011440000) · Legal Service of the Government of Liechtenstein (Lilex) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [Citizenship Act (Buergerrechtsgesetz, BueG), LGBl. 1960 No. 23](https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/1960023000) · Liechtenstein legal portal (gesetze.li) · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.