Immigration
Tight quotas and a residence lottery, even for EEA citizens
Despite being in the EEA, Liechtenstein applies a special arrangement allowing it to cap immigration, so residence is quota-limited and famously allocated in part by lottery. Third-country nationals face still stricter conditions, and the small size of the country makes residence permits scarce and highly sought.
Key rules
- Residence is subject to annual quotas; a share of permits for EEA nationals is allocated by lottery (Auslosung).
- EEA nationals have facilitated access to the labour market but still need a residence permit to live in the country.
- Third-country nationals are admitted only under strict conditions, typically for qualified work or family reasons.
- Long residence and integration conditions are required before naturalisation.
Governing law
- Act on the Free Movement of Persons (for EEA/Swiss nationals)With Liechtenstein's special quota arrangement
- Foreigners Act (Ausländergesetz)Third-country nationals
In practice
Many people work in Liechtenstein but live in neighbouring Switzerland or Austria as cross-border commuters, precisely because residence permits are so limited. The lottery for EEA residence permits is a genuinely unusual feature.