Asylum in Liechtenstein

The Asylum Act defines refugees as people outside their country because of a well-founded fear of persecution on grounds of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, sex or political opinion, and stateless people in the same position. A well-founded fear exists when life, body or freedom is at risk or measures causing unbearable psychological pressure are threatened, and women-specific grounds must be taken into account. Persecution can come from the state, from groups controlling the state or much of its territory, or from non-state actors when no one else offers protection. The office stresses that there is no right to asylum as such, only a right to have one's reasons examined.

A person in Liechtenstein files the application, in writing or orally, at the Immigration and Passport Office, or at the National Police outside office hours; people who apply at the border or are stopped near it are assigned to the office. A preparation phase follows, normally ten days in a Dublin procedure and at most 21 days otherwise. The office records personal details, asks about the travel route and summarily about the reasons, and checks fingerprints in Eurodac. If another Dublin state is responsible and agrees to take the person back, the application is rejected as inadmissible.

If Liechtenstein is responsible, the office usually interviews the applicant on the reasons for asylum within 20 days. Interviews are held with an interpreter in the applicant's language, are recorded and summarised in minutes, and a representative of the recognised aid organisations attends unless the applicant objects or has a lawyer. Applicants must disclose their identity, hand over travel and identity documents, state their reasons, submit evidence and give biometric data. The Government decides on granting asylum.

Asylum seekers may stay in Liechtenstein until the procedure ends. They may work from the first day with the office's consent and are expected to support themselves where possible; wages are assigned to the state and managed by the Liechtenstein Refugee Aid, which pays a motivation bonus, until asylum or a permit is granted and for at most five years. Assisted persons receive welfare of CHF 10 a day, CHF 10 for the first child and CHF 7 for each further child, and may get CHF 4 pocket money. The state pays compulsory health insurance premiums and necessary dental pain treatment, and children start school normally within 30 days. The Refugee Aid provides housing and care, and the state pays for legal advice, though not for legal representation.

If the Government recognises refugee status, the person receives asylum and a residence permit. If the application is rejected or found inadmissible, removal is usually ordered. Where removal is impossible, not permitted under international obligations or unreasonable, for example because of war or a serious personal emergency, the person is provisionally admitted for one year, after which the situation is reviewed. Decisions of the Government or the responsible minister can be appealed within 14 days of notification to the Administrative Court, and the appeal has suspensive effect; a single judge decides finally on inadmissibility and the related removal.

The Asylum Act also allows the Government to grant temporary protection to groups during a serious general danger such as war; Liechtenstein grants this status S to people from Ukraine since 2022, with information sheets in German, Ukrainian and Russian. Unaccompanied minors receive a curator appointed by the court and a trusted person named by the Office of Social Services. Recognised refugees are cared for by the Office of Social Services. Liechtenstein has applied the Dublin rules since 19 December 2011.