This content was updated in June 2022.
Are you ready to book a trip to Europe's Liechtenstein? Well, before you purchase your plane ticket and update your passport, you will need to know the ins and outs of Liechtenstein's visa policy and Schengen membership requirements.
Liechtenstein is a small German-speaking principality nestled between Austria and Switzerland. It doesn't see too many visitors each year, but don't let that stop you. Before you travel you’ll need to determine what the Schengen visa requirements are and what documents you'll need to enter the country hassle-free. Is your passport valid? You'll need to check before applying. iVisa.com provides you with the most up to date information for applying for your Schengen Visa and will provide you with the final document and your own client portal login to our system for any further questions you may have during the process.
Understanding What the Schengen Visa Is
Liechtenstein is not a part of the European Union, but it did accede to the Schengen Agreement officially in 2011. The Schengen Agreement is viewed as one of the foundational and inherent documents of the EU as it is a treaty outlining relaxed border control amongst membership countries, allowing for free travel without the need for individuals to show their valid passport or declare items at every border crossing.
For you, Liechtenstein's Schengen membership makes it so you can visit this country, as well as all the European countries surrounding it, without having to obtain a travel visa for each and every country you visit. However, that does not necessarily mean you won't need a visa at all.
So what's the difference between ETIAS Visa and Schenghen visa?
Starting in May 2023, Schengen and EU authorities will no longer be full document and visa free countries. Instead, anyone visiting Liechtenstein and other Schengen countries will need to apply for an ETIAS stamp. ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System and refers to a new type of travel authorization that is designed to improve the area's border management and overall border security. The good news is that those citizens that used to be from a visa-exempt country will find applying securely online easy.
Who Needs the Schengen Visa for Liechtenstein?
Because Liechtenstein is now a part of the Schengen membership area, visitors no longer need to apply for a specific Liechtenstein visa for tourism purposes. However, depending upon your nationality, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa. Residents of the below countries will need to apply for a Schengen visa before visiting Liechtenstein.
Afghanistan | Algeria | Angola | Armenia | Azerbaijan | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Belarus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belize | Benin | Bhutan | Bolivia | Botswana | Burkina Faso | Burma/Myanmar | Burundi |
Cambodia | Cameroon | Cape Verde | Central African Republic | Chad | China | Comoros | Congo |
Cote Di'Ivoire | Cuba | Democratic Republic of Congo | Djibouti | Dominican Republic | Ecuador | Egypt | Equatorial Guinea |
"Eritrea | Ethiopia | Fiji | Gabon | Gambia | Ghana | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau |
Guyana | Haiti | India | Indonesia | Iran | Iraq | Jamaica | Jordan |
Kazakhstan | Kenya | Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Lebanon | Lesotho | Liberia |
Libya | Madagascar | Malawi | Maldives | Mali | Mauritania | Mongolia | Morocco |
Mozambique | Nambia | Nauru | Nepal | Niger | Nigeria | North Korea | Oman |
Pakistan | Papua New Guinea | Philippines | Qatar | Russia | Rwanda | Sao Tome and Principe | Saudi Arabia |
Senegal | Sierra Leone | Somalia | South Africa | South Sudan | Sri Lanka | Sudan | Suriname |
Swaziland | Syria | Tajikistan | Tanzania | Thailand | Togo | Tunisia | Turkey |
Turkmenistan | Uganda | Ukraine | Uzbekistan | Vietnam | Yemen | Zambia | Zimbabwe |
Note: Even if you are not currently living in one of the above countries, such as US green card holders, if you have citizenship and a valid passport showing citizenship of one of the above countries, you will still need to complete the Liechtenstein visa application process.
My Home Country is Not Listed, Do I Need a Liechtenstein Visa?
If your home country, or the country you claim citizenship in, is not listed above, then you do not need to apply for a Schengen visa or Liechtenstein visa at this time. Prominent countries in this visa-exempt list include the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia.
The Schengen Agreement currently allows citizens of these and other countries to visit any member country and enjoy free travel across member countries for 90 days within every 180 days (the Schengen Rule) without the need for visa services. Note that this will change in 2023.
How Long is the Schengen Visa Valid For?
Once you have the Schengen visa, you can enjoy traveling throughout Liechtenstein and the other Schengen membership countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Called the Schengen 90/180 rule, this rule seems complex but is relatively straightforward and designed to prevent abuse of the overall lax travel rules throughout membership areas. The rule limits all visitors (including those visitors from countries that don't need to apply for a visa) to only being within the membership area for 90 out of 180 consecutive days. And once you complete your 90 days, you will not be able to travel to any Schengen membership country until another 90 days (at least) have passed.
What if I am Just Transiting Through the Liechtenstein?
If you step foot in any European Economic Area airport or traverse over any road or railway, you will need a Schengen visa or (in the future) ETIAS approval. There will be a simpler application form for what is called the Airport Transit Schengen Visa who will only be in the zone for a flight change.
Travel Requirements & Required Documents for the Liechtenstein Visa Application
For those who will need to prepare a Liechtenstein visa application, don't despair! There are quite a few documents required, but once gathered, the process is fairly easy.
The required documents include:
- A completed visa application form, which is something our team members at iVisa.com can help with
- Your actual passport from your country of citizenship - Is your passport valid? You'll need to make sure it has at least 3 months left on it and this must be your original passport. (No older than 10 years and not due for renewal for at least three months after your departure from Liechtenstein)
- Proof of medical insurance with a minimum medical treatment coverage of 30,000 euros
- A cover letter dictating why you are traveling (if the reason involves visiting a family member, consider adding a support letter from them)
- A full itinerary or travel document that includes both the travel date you plan to enter Liechtenstein and leave as well as intended stay information (ie are you staying with relatives or have you booked hotel accommodations)
- Travel documents showing you have sufficient funds to support yourself throughout your stay in Liechtenstein and the greater Schengen zone (think bank statements and/or employer information)
How to Apply for the Liechtenstein Visa Online with iVisa.com
Our team at iVisa.com can offer you information on the Liechtenstein visa requirements and the application completely online via our client portal login. Note that there will be some countries for whose citizens we cannot fully process the Liechtenstein visa or Schengen visa application.
- Step 1 - Provide your personal and travel information to complete the application form
- Step 2 - Attach any required documents and double-check the Schengen visa requirements information provided is correct.
- Step 3 - Choose your processing option and complete the payment using a credit or debit card.
Once we have your travel visa documents ready, we will email you the completed document in a secure manner. You will need to then get this formal package to the Liechtenstein embassy for final review (if you are traveling from a country that does not grant visa-free travel to the Schengen area). Those approved will receive an official sticker that must be adhered to their passport for easy review upon entrance into Liechtenstein.
What are the Costs and Processing Time for Schengen Travel Visas?
We don't have exact pricing options yet as the product has not been launched, but we can assure you that iVisa.com will provide 3 different processing options to cover your travel needs:
- Standard Processing Time for the planner and budget traveler.
- Rush Processing Time for those who like to have everything in a row quickly but also affordably.
- Super Rush Processing Time for the last-minute traveler and those who need their Schengen urgently.
Traveling With Minors
Everyone traveling to the Schengen area will need a passport, including minors. Minors will need to apply for a Schengen visa if their home country is on the aforementioned list.
COVID-19 Restrictions
The Liechtenstein government lifted all COVID-19 restrictions and measures on April 1, 2022. This includes the abolishing of public transit mask requirements and vaccine certificate requirements.
Can I Immigrate to Liechtenstein?
Liechtenstein is a tiny country with a population that has never grown beyond 40,000 residents and it wavers between being the richest and second-richest country in the world per capita. This small size and high GDP make many who visit Liechtenstein want to extend their short stay visa into something more permanent. Unfortunately, it is not so easy to join this EU member state due to both immigration control restrictions Liechtenstein has placed on itself and those accepted as part of the Schengen treaty). So while one can immigrate to Liechtenstein, it is very, very hard.
How Do I Apply for Immigration to Liechtenstein?
Liechtenstein has a very restrictive immigration policy for foreign citizens. Every year, the government only grants 89 residence permits. Of these, half are awarded by a lottery system, and the other half are chosen by officials. The best way for someone who is not an EEA citizen to apply for immigration to Liechtenstein is to be married to a citizen.
If you want to study at a Liechtenstein institution, you can do so by showing a no objection letter from your home country, an invitation letter from the Liechtenstein educational institution, and proof of official enrollment. You can obtain a short-term student visa by this way.
If you have been offered employment by a Liechtenstein institution, then it is possible to obtain a temporary work visa by showing the same information but from your employer, not the education institution.
Where Can I Learn More?
Here at iVisa.com, we have the tools and support to help you complete your visa application 24/7. So wherever you are in the world, you can reach out to our customer support team and enjoy a fast response. If our website hasn't answered your visa guidance questions, contact us at [email protected].
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