Requirements for starting a business
Anyone wishing to start a business in the Principality of Liechtenstein requires a trade licence on the basis of the applicable trade law, issued by the Office of Economic Affairs [in German: Amt für Volkswirtschaft]. If the activity falls under a special Act (e.g. Health Act, Transport Act), prior to commencing the activity the applicant must obtain a licence in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Act.
Qualified or simple business
Find out here whether your activity counts as a qualified business [in German: Liste der qualifizierten Gewerbe].
All EEA/EFTA nationals can apply for a trade licence. Nationals of non-member states (Example: USA) require uninterrupted residence in Liechtenstein of at least 12 years. All persons can form a company irrespective of their nationality. However, to receive a trade licence [in German: Gewerbebewilligung] the registered managing director must satisfy the above criteria.
Licence request for company operating in Liechtenstein
Submission of request for trade licence
After you have found the right corporate form for your activity, you need a trade licence before commencing the actual activity.
The following notes give you important advice for completing the request for a trade licence and the documents to accompany it. Should you not need this information, there is a direct link here to
Request for trade licence (new issue & amendment of purpose) for natural persons and legal entities (domicile in Liechtenstein)
[in German: Gewerbegesuch]
If you need further assistance, please contact:
+423 236 6996, .
Actual practice
The managing director of a legal entity must actually work, and work in a managing capacity, in the company. This will be verified, for example by stating the level of employment. According to the activity to be carried out, it is assessed whether this is also possible from a foreign place of residence. There are attendance obligations. You can find a summary of the attendance obligation through the following document.
Business purpose
An activity is commercial if it is carried out regularly, independently and with the intention of making a profit. In all these cases a trade licence is necessary. For certain trades, e.g. catering, the Trade Act contains special provisions. The carrying out of a trade (qualified business) is subject to the fulfilment of professional qualifications. You can see further below whether your activity counts as a qualified business.
Private employment services and hiring of services also require a licence. The Act on Employment Services and the Hiring of Services, LGBl. 2000 No. 103, forms the legal basis.
The description/listing of your activity, i.e. the actual purpose, must be covered by your capability (training, certificate of apprenticeship, masterclasses, confirmations of employment, etc.). For this reason we also make a distinction between a qualified business, for which, due to a special need for protection, evidence of professional suitability is to be provided, and a simple business with stricter requirements.
Combined businesses
Combined businesses are businesses made up of at least two individual qualified businesses and which are comparable due to their use of tools and machines as well as the type of work to be carried out and the necessary specialist knowledge. If he has the specialist knowledge for one of the combined businesses, the applicant can practice both businesses.
You can see from the two lists whether your activity is classified as a qualified business or a combined business:
- List of qualified businesses
[in German: Liste der qualifizierten Gewerbe] - List of combined businesses
[in German: Liste der verbundenen Gewerbe]
If you need further assistance, please contact:
+423 236 6996, .
Place of business
Anyone wishing to run a business in Liechtenstein requires an appropriate place of business suitable for the particular type of business. For this purpose, together with the request for a trade licence you must submit the relevant lease agreement [in German: Mietvertrag] or proof of ownership [in German: Eigentumsnachweis] and the ground plan [in German: Grundrissplan] of the place of business. If you are planning to firstly commence business activity from your own home, please firstly contact us in order to ensure that the purpose of your activity is in harmony with the residential or commercial zone. In this connection we require confirmation that zonal location requirements are satisfied.
Evidence of reliability
The granting of the trade licence is in addition contingent upon your reliability. You can provide evidence of this by submitting an
- Extract from the Garnishment Register
[in German: Pfändungsregisterauszug] and an - Extract from the Criminal Register [in German: Strafregisterauszug]
Both documents can be collected from the Court of Justice of Liechtenstein without advance notification/ordering. Important: You must be able to provide ID!
An additional charge for collection fees will be made for postal delivery.
Applicants with place of residence abroad: Please send your current character reference (original copy, not more than 3 months old) together with a currently valid extract from the Garnishment Register. In the latter case we will also accept a notarially authenticated sworn declaration that you are free of debt and are not subject to garnishee orders.
Summary
With the fully completed application for a trade licence please send the following documents as described above:
- Evidence of qualifications by means of certificate of apprenticeship, diplomas, etc.
- Employment contract of the managing director or confirmation of the level of employment
- Lease agreement or evidence of ownership (e.g. Land Register extract) with ground plan
- Criminal Register extract
- Garnishment Register extract
- ID or copy of passport
If you need further assistance, please contact:
+423 236 6996, .
Provided that all requirements are satisfied, you will receive the definitive trade licence after you have entered the company in the Commercial Register. In this connection please send us an extract from the Commercial Register without delay after the entry is made.
Natural persons who do not need to make an entry in the Commercial Register will receive the definitive trade licence directly as soon as the other requirements are satisfied.