What you should do
You should:
Coronavirus
You should follow the advice of the Liechtenstein Government and your local authority. You can also read our Liechtenstein travel advice for our latest guidance.
For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Liechtenstein see our coronavirus travel advice.
Stay up to date
You should:
The British Embassy regularly holds events for UK nationals in Liechtenstein and online (Facebook). To keep up to date on working and living in Liechtenstein, you can also read the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement.
Visas and residency
If you were legally resident in Liechtenstein before 1 January 2021, you will be able to stay and your current residence permit will remain valid. You will need to renew your residence permit when your current one expires.
Read the Liechtenstein government’s guidance on residency.
Moving to Liechtenstein
Check the entry requirements for Liechtenstein.
If you move to Liechtenstein, you must register at your local office of resident services. If you intend to stay for more than three months, you will need to apply for a residence permit with your local authority.
Read the Liechtenstein government’s guidance on entry requirements and residency permits.
Passports and travel
You should carry your residence permit, as well as your valid passport when you travel. If you have applied but not yet received your card, carry your certificate of application.
If you have not yet applied for a residence permit, you should carry evidence that you are resident in Liechtenstein. This could include a tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020.
If you cannot show that you are resident in Liechtenstein, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen area, and your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Liechtenstein.
Passports
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You can apply for or renew your British passport from Liechtenstein.
You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Liechtenstein, and you are in scope of the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement.
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
Renew your passport before booking your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. You may also need to show a return or onward ticket.
Entry requirements
You can travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.
To stay longer than 90 days in any 180-day period, to work or study, or for business travel, you must meet the entry requirements set out by the country you are travelling to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit.
Periods of time authorised by a visa or permit will not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.
Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.
Travel to the UK and Ireland has not changed.
Healthcare
Social security coordination is covered by the Separation Agreement for those residing in Liechtenstein. Current healthcare arrangements will continue to apply in full to UK nationals who were resident in Liechtenstein before 1 January 2021, for as long as they remain in scope.
Read our guidance on accessing healthcare in Liechtenstein and make sure you’re correctly registered.
If your UK employer has sent you to Liechtenstein temporarily, your access to healthcare is different. Find out how to access healthcare as a posted worker.
State healthcare: S1
If you have a registered S1 form and were living in Liechtenstein before 1 January 2021, your rights to access healthcare will stay the same if you are either:
- receiving a UK State Pension
- receiving some other ‘exportable benefits’
- a frontier worker who lives in Liechtenstein and commutes to work in the UK
Read our guidance on using an S1 form in Liechtenstein to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
If you are resident in Liechtenstein, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC for healthcare in Liechtenstein.
If you were living in Liechtenstein before 1 January 2021, you may be eligible for a new UK-issued EHIC if you’re:
- a UK student in Liechtenstein
- a UK State Pensioner with a registered S1
- a frontier worker with a registered S1
An EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.
For more information read our guidance on healthcare when travelling in Europe and advice on foreign travel insurance.
You should also read guidance on:
Working in Liechtenstein
If you were legally resident in Liechtenstein before 1 January 2021, you have the right to work, as long as you remain legally resident.
If you are planning to come to Liechtenstein to work, you may need a visa. Read the Liechtenstein government’s guidance on residency and work permits.
If you live abroad and require a police certificate from the UK, you can apply for one through the ACRO Criminal Record Office.
Frontier workers
If you were legally resident in Liechtenstein and regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, you may need a permit to prove that you are a frontier worker. We will update this guidance when more information is available.
Money and tax
The UK has a double taxation agreement with Liechtenstein to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.
Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Liechtenstein have not changed.
Read the guidance on:
You should get professional advice on paying tax in Liechtenstein. You can find English-speaking lawyers in Liechtenstein.
National Insurance
Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Liechtenstein.
Banking
Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation. Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. If you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.
Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on banking, insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.
Pensions
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Liechtenstein.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
If you retire in Liechtenstein you can claim:
Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
Benefits
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Liechtenstein.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
Liechtenstein benefits
You may be eligible to claim some Liechtenstein social security benefits. Read Liechtenstein social security benefits.
Driving in Liechtenstein
If you are resident in Liechtenstein, you have 12 months to exchange your UK licence for a Liechtenstein one.
For information on driving in Liechtenstein, read the guidance on:
Driving in the UK with a Liechtenstein licence
You can use your Liechtenstein licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test. We will update these pages if there are any changes to the rules, as soon as information is available.
Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Liechtenstein
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
Read the EU´s guidance on car registration and taxes in Liechtenstein. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.
Voting
You may be able to vote in some UK elections.
Births, deaths and getting married
If your child is born in Liechtenstein, you will need to register a birth abroad.
If someone dies in Liechtenstein:
Find out about how to get married abroad
You may also need:
Accommodation and buying property
Read the guidance on buying a property abroad.
Pets
If you have a pet passport issued by Liechtenstein or an EU member state, you can use it to travel with your pet to Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU.
A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. You should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.
Read guidance on:
Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.
Emergencies
You can dial the European emergency number 112 in Liechtenstein or:
- 117 for police
- 118 for fire brigade
- 140 for alpine rescue
If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Berne.
Returning to the UK
Tell the UK and the Liechtenstein authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.
To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.
If you get healthcare in Liechtenstein through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.
Disclaimer
Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Liechtenstein authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
