ETIAS VISA WAIVER FOR LIECHTENSTEIN

LIECHTENSTEIN AND THE EU

Liechtenstein has had human settlements since 5300 BC. Throughout its history, the land has seen Alpine tribes, the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the beginning of the Alemanni, a Germanic community, Frankish dominance, East Francia possession, and finally, in 1719, combining lands from feudal lords and obtaining different territories to become a Roman Principality.

In the centuries that followed, Liechtenstein would see political upheaval as a result of the Napoleonic Conflicts, the Austrian Empire, and the twentieth-century world wars.

As we enter the twenty-first century, Liechtenstein has one of the world’s best levels of life and is one of the world’s richest countries.

IS LIECHTENSTEIN AN EUROPEAN COUNTRY?

Although Liechtenstein is not a member of the European Union, it is a member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe. It is also a member of the European Free Trade Association.

Despite not being a member of the EU, Liechtenstein is part of the Schengen Area and the European Economic Area, thus it is subject to the regulations of this political zone. Liechtenstein will be subject to the ETIAS rule.

TRAVELLING TO LIECHTENSTEIN

Despite its tiny size, Liechtenstein features a number of notable tourist sites. Liechtenstein’s intriguing museums, historical sites, ornate churches and castles, breathtaking landscapes, and unique athletic activities will delight visitors.

Visa liberalisation in Europe has made it simpler for qualified tourists to visit Liechtenstein and numerous European countries in a single holiday.

Visitors who can enter Liechtenstein without a visa can apply for an ETIAS visa waiver online beginning in November 2023. ETIAS holders visiting Liechtenstein will be permitted to cross the border for a day excursion or longer to neighbouring Switzerland and Austria.

MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR LIECHTENSTEIN

Is health insurance essential for visitors to Liechtenstein? In a nutshell, it depends.

Although having medical insurance when visiting Liechtenstein gives many visitors peace of mind, it is only required for specific nationalities.

Furthermore, the need to obtain health insurance prior to entering Liechtenstein is linked to the purpose and duration of the trip.

HEALTH INSURANCE FOR SCHENGEN VISA LIECHTENSTEIN

Foreign citizens entering Liechtenstein with a passport from a country that requires a Schengen visa must get health insurance.

Medical insurance must cover at least 30,000 euros for Schengen visa holders travelling to Liechtenstein. The insurance must be valid within the Schengen Area.

Applicants for Schengen visas who do not meet the visa criteria, including medical insurance, may have their application refused and will be unable to go to Liechtenstein.

MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR ETIAS LIECHTENSTEIN

Before applying for a visa waiver for Liechtenstein, eligible travellers must ensure that they have all of the ETIAS requirements.

The qualifications for an ETIAS are straightforward; candidates must have:

• A current machine-readable passport, issued by an eligible country, that remains valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area
• An email address the applicant has access to
• A credit or debit card to pay for the ETIAS fees

International travellers from ETIAS-eligible countries are not required to purchase medical insurance during their stay in Liechtenstein.

Travellers from the European Union are protected by their free European Health Insurance Card in Liechtenstein (EHIC).

LIECHTENSTEIN BORDER CONTROL: WHAT TO EXPECT AT

In terms of its exterior boundaries, the Schengen Area, which includes Liechtenstein, acts as a single country.

Non-EU visitors from visa-exempt countries can enter Liechtenstein with a valid passport and no further documents at the time of writing. Nonetheless, ETIAS is set to debut in November 2023 and will soon become a required entrance requirement for visitors from visa-free nations.

Prior to departure, travellers must complete an online application, which should take no more than 10 minutes. Liechtenstein’s ETIAS visa waiver should be processed in fewer than three business days.

The ETIAS will be digitally linked to the applicant’s passport if granted, and border control personnel will be able to read the visa waiver when scanning the traveller’s passport upon arrival at Liechtenstein border crossings.

Visitors who arrive with an authorised ETIAS and meet the country’s entrance requirements will be logged in the European Entry-Exit System. Those who do not comply will also have their entrance refusal to Liechtenstein recorded in the EES.

Passengers who require a Schengen visa will be examined upon arrival. Those who have a valid entrance permission and meet the appropriate conditions will be permitted to enter Liechtenstein.

A Schengen visa is necessary. When visiting Liechtenstein, visitors should bring the following items:

• A valid passport with approved Schengen visa
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover their expenses during their stay in Liechtenstein
• Medical insurance
• A return or onwards ticket

When entering Liechtenstein, European Union passport holders are simply needed to possess a national identity document.

ARRIVING IN LIECHTENSTEIN BY PLANE, TRAIN OR ROAD

There is a heliport at Balzers but no airport in Liechtenstein. The following international airports are the closest:

• Saint Fallen-Altenrhein Airport in Switzerland
• Friedrichshafen Airport in Germany

There are many flights every week from several European cities, including:

• London to Zurich takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Barcelona to Zurich takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Paris to Zurich takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes

Travelers can reach Liechtenstein by car or train after landing in Zurich or Friedrichshafen.

The following are some common train and bus routes to Liechtenstein:

• Buchs or Sargans in Switzerland to Vaduz
• Feldkirch in Austria to Vaduz

VISITING LIECHTENSTEIN: TOURIST INFORMATION

Summer and winter mountain activities are available in Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein is a wonderful holiday destination for both adventurous travellers and families. Whatever the weather, there are resorts to suit all types of guests.

The Walser Heimatmuseum in Triesenberg and the Kuntsmuseum in Vaduz — its fine arts museum for modern and contemporary art — are two museums worth seeing in Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein’s Hofkellerei wine cellars are especially appealing to wine enthusiasts. Visitors may experience the wine-making process from grapevine to glass, thanks to courteous employees and award-winning wines, as well as hikes along the wine path.

Many tourists appreciate visiting Liechtenstein to see its distinctive architecture:

• Vaduz castle —the Prince of Liechtenstein’s official residence located in Vaduz
• Saint Florin Cathedral —a Roman Catholic neo-Gothic church in Vaduz
• Gutenberg Castle —a castle built in 1100 that is open to the public free of charge
• Schellenberg Castle Ruins —an upper and lower castle dating back to 1200 and 1250
• Old Rhine Bridge —a wooden bridge that connects Valuz and Switzerland over the Rhine River

Hiking paths and scenic landscapes abound for nature lovers and adventure seekers, including the Prince’s Way Hike through the Rätikon Mountains, the Eschenberg Trail, and the Malbun Ski Region.

ETIAS FOR LIECHTENSTEIN FAQS