Liechtenstein settlement permit

You must have held a residence permit without interruption for the last five years, passed a civics test and have the required knowledge of German in speech and writing, be in a stable job that secures your living or have enough money to avoid social assistance, have no conviction for a crime or misdemeanour in the last five years and no pending criminal case, have received no social assistance in the last two years, and give no ground for revocation or expulsion. Time spent temporarily abroad with a retained permit does not count towards the five years.

Apply to the Immigration and Passport Office. Complete files are usually decided within three months; incomplete ones are returned with a single 30-day deadline. People permanently exempt from an integration agreement, or who had lived in Liechtenstein for over 15 years before the law took effect, are exempt from the civics test and language requirement.

The application for the settlement permit (C) must reach the office complete at least 14 days before the residence permit expires. For third-country nationals the German requirement means a certificate at level A2 together with a passed civics test; the integration agreement sets out the individual steps. The grant or re-grant of the settlement permit costs CHF 120, extending the card's control period CHF 80 and the biometric card CHF 30 plus CHF 20, under the fee ordinance in force since 1 January 2026.

Anyone who will spend most of the time, more than six months, abroad and wants to keep the permit must apply for retention (Beibehalt) at least four weeks before leaving; it costs CHF 60. People who study abroad but return to Liechtenstein daily do not need it, but must confirm the daily return in writing. A former holder who held the C permit for at least ten years and lived abroad for no more than five years applies for re-grant four weeks before moving back.

A former holder can receive the settlement permit again if they held it for at least ten years, lived abroad for no more than five years, stayed closely connected with Liechtenstein and meet the language, income and good-conduct conditions.

The permit is unlimited and cannot be tied to conditions. The residence card is issued for three years to check actual presence in the country and must be presented in person for renewal at least two weeks before the control period ends.