Guidance

Liechtenstein: providing services and travelling for business

Guidance for UK businesses on rules for selling services to Liechtenstein.

From:
Department for Business and Trade, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Department for International Trade and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Published
6 March 2019
Last updated
20 December 2021 — See all updates

Read this page in combination with the general guidance for EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The authoritative source for Liechtenstein market regulations is the Liechtenstein government. This guidance links to official Liechtenstein sources wherever possible.

Trade and services regulations in Liechtenstein

If you’re a UK business providing services in Liechtenstein, you need to follow specific regulations including those concerning residency, nationality or authorisation requirements, as set out in Annexes XVI and XVII of the UK-Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Where there are no additional restrictions as listed in the FTA annexes, service suppliers will still have to follow all local regulations.

You will need to know about:

  • getting an authorisation or a licence to provide a service
  • complying with local business regulations
  • EEA nationality requirements which could prevent you from providing services in some sectors

Liechtenstein’s e-government portal for service providers can help you to:

  • find out what you need to know about providing services in Liechtenstein
  • understand local regulations
  • complete the relevant administrative procedures online

Consider appointing an English-speaking lawyer in Liechtenstein to help you comply with specific regulations.

To find out if EEA nationality requirements apply to you, contact the appropriate competent authority.

Ownership of companies registered in Liechtenstein

If you have a UK business, you might face restrictions on your ability to own, manage or direct a company registered in Liechtenstein or any other EEA country.

For information about setting up and running a business in Liechtenstein, visit the e-government portal for service providers (website in German).

Read more about this in our guidance relating to the EEA and Switzerland.

If you’re a UK legal professional who has investments in law firms in Liechtenstein, contact the Liechtenstein Bar Association for information on the implications for your investment.

Business travel and entry requirements

UK business travellers and service providers may need a visa, work permit or other documentation.

Check our travel to Liechtenstein for work guide for detailed information on:

  • types of visa and work permit routes that may be available
  • exemptions that may apply to you or the activity you are planning to undertake

Check Liechtenstein Business Location for more information about:

  • visas including intra-corporate transfers
  • work and residence permits
  • supporting documentation
  • other conditions

Check which actions travellers visiting the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein need to take.

Social security payments for employees

Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Liechtenstein.

Recognition of professional qualifications

To check what you need to do in Liechtenstein, read our guidance on professional qualifications in the EEA and Switzerland.

You need to have your UK professional qualification officially recognised if you want to work in a profession that is regulated in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. It needs to be recognised by the appropriate regulator for your profession in each country where you intend to work. You need to do this even if you’re providing temporary or occasional professional services.

If you need to take action to secure the recognition of your professional qualification in Liechtenstein, these sources can help you:

UK statutory auditors working in Liechtenstein

For UK statutory auditors, the Financial Market Authority Liechtenstein should be able to provide further information.

If you’re a UK-qualified lawyer working in Liechtenstein, using a professional title from either Liechtenstein or the UK, you should contact the local Bar association in the region in which you are working.

For specific advice, contact:

Data transfer and GDPR

The EU formally adopted ‘adequacy decisions’ for the UK. ‘Adequacy decisions’ allow for the ongoing free flow of personal data from the EU/EEA to the UK.

This was delivered through Article 45 of the GDPR and Article 36 of the Law Enforcement Directive.

Read guidance on using data in your personal business or other organisation.

Updates to this page

Published 6 March 2019
Last updated 20 December 2021 + show all updates

  1. Updated information due to the UK-Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein Free Trade Agreement.

  2. Minor edit

  3. Added 'Trade reservations' guidance. Updated 'Recognition of professional qualifications' with new UK contact point.

  4. Updated the following sections to reflect the changes created by the UK and EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement: overview, trade regulations, VAT on sales of digital services, business travel and entry requirements, social security payments for employees, recognition of professional qualifications, and data transfer and GDPR.

  5. Guidance for ‘Recognition of professional qualifications’ and ‘Social security payments for employees’ updated.

  6. Change to title to include travelling for business

  7. Update to 'Business travel and entry requirements' section

  8. First published.

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