In 5 steps to starting your business activity

  • Step 1

    Checking the businesstype

    Qualifiziertes Gewerbe

    72 Berufsgruppen zählen zum qualifizierten Gewerbe und bedürfen einer Gewerbebewilligung, bevor die Geschäftstätigkeit aufgenommen werden kann.

    Spezialfälle

    Gewisse Berufsgruppen, wie Finanz- oder Bauwesenberufe, bilden Sonderfälle und benötigen eine Bewilligung nach einem anderen Spezialgesetz.

    Einfaches Gewerbe

    Fällt die Gewerbeart nicht in die Gruppe der 72 qualifizierten Gewerbe und bildet kein Spezialfall, so handelt es um ein einfaches Gewerbe.  

  • Step 2

    Provision of documents

    Qualifiziertes Gewerbe

    • Nachweise über die fachliche Eignung 
    • Strafregisterauszug 
    • Pfändungsregisterauszug
    • Identitätsnachweis / Aufenthaltsausweis
    • Standort der Betriebsstätte / Grundbuchauszug / Mietvertrag oder gleichwertiges Dokument
    • Beschreibung des Gewerbezwecks
    • Bei Juristischen Personen Handelsregisterauszug

    Einfaches Gewerbe

    • Strafregisterauszug 
    • Pfändungsregisterauszug 
    • Identitätsnachweis / Aufenthaltsausweis
    • Standort der Betriebsstätte / Grundbuchauszug / Mietvertrag oder gleichwertiges Dokument
    • Beschreibung des Gewerbezwecks
    • Bei Juristischen Personen Handelsregisterauszug
  • Step 3

    Fee payment

    Qualifiziertes Gewerbe

    • Natürliche Person CHF 500.-
    • Juristische Person CHF 1'000.-

    Einfaches Gewerbe

    • Natürliche Person CHF 250.-
    • Juristische Person CHF 500.-
  • Step 4

    Submission of the documentation

    Qualifiziertes Gewerbe

    Antrag Gewerbegesuch

    Einfaches Gewerbe

    Anmeldung Gewerbe

  • Step 5

    Further procedure

    Qualifiziertes Gewerbe

    Das Amt für Volkswirtschaft prüft  längstens innerhalb von drei Monaten nach Eingang der vollständigen Anmeldung die Ausübungsvoraussetzungen. Sind die Ausübungsvoraussetzungen erfüllt, erhält der Antragssteller einen Auszug aus dem Handelsregister. Bis zur Erteilung der Bewilligung darf die Tätigkeit nicht aufgenommen werden. 

    Einfaches Gewerbe

    Nach Anmeldung des Gewerbes kann die Tätigkeit bei Vorliegen der Ausübungsvoraussetzungen (inkl. Bezahlung der Gebühr) bereits aufgenommen werden. Das Amt für Volkswirtschaft prüft die eingereichten Unterlagen und nimmt, sofern die Voraussetzungen erfüllt sind, die Eintragung ins Gewerberegister vor.

Business registration

If the practice of a simple trade is intended, the business must be registered. The registration can be done electronically.

In addition to the registration form, the following documents must be enclosed with the registration: 

  • Capacity to act (in the case of legal entities, an extract from the Commercial Register)
  • Criminal record extract (original, not older than 3 months)
  • Extract from the garnishment register (original, not older than 3 months)
  • Proof of identity (for third country nationals Liechtenstein residence permit)
  • Location of the business premises / extract from the land register / lease agreement or equivalent document
  • Description of the business purpose

Payment of the fee must also be made at the time of registration. 

Business licence

If the practice of a qualified trade is intended, a business licence must be applied. 

In addition to the application form, the following documents must be enclosed with the application: 

  • Capacity to act (in the case of legal entities, an extract from the Commercial Register)
  • Criminal record extract (original, not older than 3 months)
  • Extract from the garnishment register (original, not older than 3 months)
  • Proof of identity (for third country nationals Liechtenstein residence permit)
  • Professional qualification (diplomas or certificates of examination, certificates of employment or certificates of employment)
  • Location of the business premises / extract from the land register / lease agreement or equivalent document
  • Description of the business purpose

Payment of the fee must also be made at the time of registration. 

If a legal entity (company limited by shares (AG)company with limited liability (GmbH) and Establishments) applies for a business licence, such legal entity must appoint a managing director/general manager. The requirements in respect of the managing director/general manager are as follows:

  • Actual activity
    The managing director of a legal entity must actually lead the business. He must operate in particular with a workload corresponding to the requirements of the company. As evidence, a contract of employment of the managing director or confirmation of the degree of employment must be submitted.
     
  • Nationality
    Any and all persons holding a passport of an EEA/EFTA country are allowed to apply for a business licence in Liechtenstein. Any nationals of a third country such as the United States of America or Russia must have been resident in Liechtenstein for a continuous period of at least 12 years in order to be allowed to apply for a business licence.
     
  • Required qualifications
    Proof of the qualification must be provided by means of diplomas and similar certificates when the legal entity is a qualified trade.
     
  • Proof of a domestic permanent establishment
    The permanent establishment located in Liechtenstein of the enterprise to be formed must be suitable for carrying out the trade involved. If the premises are leased, a lease and a floor plan must be filed. If the real property is owned, an extract from the land register and the relevant floor plan must be submitted.
     

Furthermore the following document have to be provided:

  • Passport copy
  • Extract from the judicial records, not older than three months
  • Extract from the register of pledges
  • Identity card or passport copy or document for foreign nationals

 

Special cases with regard to business licences

These general rules do not apply to certain professions because they require a licence subject to another special law. This applies to the following industries:

  • Financial service industry
  • Lawyers, legal agents
  • Recruitment / staffing
  • Construction industry
  • Freight and passenger transport
  • Interprets
  • Doctors / Health Professions
  • Trade in remedies, with raw materials for medicines and with poisons
  • Veterinarians / Animal Health Professions
  • Peddlers
  • Operation of railways
  • Mediators
  • Conducting money games
  • Trade in the production of weapons and ammunition as well as the operation of shooting ranges

The following applies to persons living in Switzerland, Austria or Germany:

Service providers of a qualified trade must notify the Office of Economic Affairs in writing before providing a service in Liechtenstein for the first time. The notification must be renewed once a year. For persons residing in Switzerland, Austria or Germany:

Germany

A certificate of good conduct (Führungszeugnis) which corresponds to an extract from the judicial records can be obtained from the Federal Office of Justice (Bundesjustizamt). An extract from the debt collection register (Betreibungsregisterauszug) which corresponds to an extract from the register of pledges can be obtained from the competent local court (Amtsgericht) and the original copy thereof must be filed. A report from the German central credit-reporting agency (Schufa) will not suffice.

Austria

A criminal record certificate (Strafregisterbescheinigung) must be obtained from the competent agency. An extract from the register of executions which corresponds to the extract from the register of pledges can be obtained from the competent district court.

Switzerland

An extract from the judicial records (Strafregisterauszug) can be obtained from the federal office of justice. The extract from the debt collection register which corresponds to the extract from the register of pledges can be obtained from the regional debt collection office (Betreibungsamt).

Trade Act (GewG) (German only)

Trade Ordinance (GewV) (German only)

Instruction sheet trade practice (German only)