Moving to Liechtenstein – no customs border, with Swiss guide prices

As summarised above, Liechtenstein belongs to the Swiss customs territory under the customs treaty. What does this mean in practice for a move from Switzerland to the Principality? This section adds background, VAT and the points that still need to be dealt with despite the open border.

A hundred years of the customs treaty

Switzerland and Liechtenstein signed the customs treaty on 29 March 1923; according to the BAZG (Federal Office for Customs and Border Security) it came into force on 1 January 1924. For as long as the treaty applies, no duties may be levied and no import or export restrictions imposed at the common border. The FDFA describes the relationship as a de facto customs union with open borders.

For your move this means: unlike moving away to Germany or Austria, the EU conditions for duty-free household removal goods – minimum residence, period of use, blocking period – are not an issue here. A list of furniture and boxes is still useful, for example as an overview for packing, load planning and insurance.

Moving day itself also becomes simpler: the route depends on access and parking at the new home, not on the opening hours of a customs office. Where needed, a furniture lift lets us deliver even to a house with a narrow stairwell.

VAT: the same law as in Switzerland

By treaty, Liechtenstein has committed to introducing Swiss VAT law in parallel and adopting any changes. According to the BAZG, the territory including Liechtenstein counts as Swiss domestic territory for import tax; the import tax is collected by the BAZG, the domestic tax by the Liechtenstein tax administration.

However, Liechtenstein's accession to the EEA in 1995 created a legal gap in the movement of goods. Anyone transporting goods from the EEA alongside their household effects, for example for a company, should clarify the treatment with the BAZG in advance. For a business relocation to the Principality, we can schedule the transport outside operating hours on request.

Vehicle and registration in the Principality

Under an exchange of notes between Switzerland and Liechtenstein, a vehicle must undergo an official inspection before registration in the new country of residence if national law requires such an inspection. If a vehicle fails the inspection at the Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung (national administration), llv.li says there are two ways to remedy the defects within 30 days; otherwise a complete new inspection follows.

Foreign nationals moving in with an assurance of a permit must, according to the Ausländer- und Passamt (immigration and passport office), register in person with the Einwohnerkontrolle (residents' registration office) within eight days of arrival and then with the Ausländer- und Passamt. A change of residence within Liechtenstein must also be reported within eight days.

• Clarify your residence status with the Ausländer- und Passamt before the moving date is fixed.
• Plan for registration with the Einwohnerkontrolle within eight days.
• Prepare the vehicle inspection for registration in Liechtenstein.
• Handle company goods from the EEA separately from household effects and clarify them in advance.
• Deregister with your current Swiss municipality of residence.

The information from the Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung and the BAZG is authoritative. During the free viewing, we clarify carrying routes, parking space and vehicle size. Heading further east, see removals to Austria.

Frequently asked questions

Who reserves the space for the removal truck outside the new flat in Vaduz or Schaan?
We do: if the vehicle has to stand on public land, we submit the application to the relevant office of the Liechtenstein municipality and coordinate it with moving day. Any fees are charged to you directly by the authority. On the Swiss side, we likewise take care of the parking space at the move-out address.

Who packs the household goods for a move to the Principality?
On request, our team with the packing service, for individual rooms or the entire household. We wrap crockery, glasses and pictures individually in protective material, label each box with its destination room and get it ready for transport, so that unpacking in Liechtenstein goes quickly.

How does the removal truck get from the St. Gallen Rhine Valley to Bendern or Ruggell?
Directly across the Rhine, for example over the bridge from Haag to Bendern, without stopping at a customs office. The journey time therefore depends only on traffic. What matters for planning are access and parking at the destination in the Principality, which we determine during the viewing.

How does a move back from Liechtenstein to Switzerland work?
Likewise without customs clearance, because both countries form a common customs territory. We load in the Principality, drive directly to the Swiss address and reassemble everything there. The customer portal adds deregistration in Liechtenstein and registration with the new Swiss municipality to the checklist based on your moving date.

Where can furniture wait until the flat in Balzers or Eschen is free?
Our dry, climate-controlled furniture storage, secured by an alarm, holds them until the flat in Liechtenstein is free. We collect everything from the Swiss address, bridge the waiting period and deliver directly to the new flat as soon as you have the keys. That way you do not need a second interim solution.

What changes if the move continues from Liechtenstein to Austria?
Then you cross a real customs border, because Austria belongs to the EU and not to the common customs territory. We handle the complete customs clearance, i.e. export and import, and draw up the necessary inventory list with you. We discuss Austria's requirements for duty-free household removal goods during the free viewing.