Europe

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• There is no resident British diplomatic mission in the Principality of Liechtenstein. The British Ambassador to Liechtenstein resides in Berne, Switzerland.  Routine consular matters are covered by the British Embassy in Berne.
  
  
• Around 3,000 British nationals visit Liechtenstein every year (source: Liechtenstein Office for Statistics - Tourism Yearbook 2008). Most visits are trouble-free. 
  
  
• There is one ski resort in Liechtenstein, Malbun. There is a moderate danger of avalanches at some times during the year. Visitors to this ski resort should take advice on weather and avalanche conditions before travel and during their stay. You should exercise due care and attention and observe all written notices and warning instructions. See General - Sports Activities and Winter Sports.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Alpine conditions can be hazardous and you should ensure that your insurance covers winter/mountain activities. See General - Insurance.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
Most visits to Liechtenstein are trouble-free. There is a low rate of crime, but as in any European country petty crime can occur. You should take the usual precautions to protect your passport and money, and be alert to pickpockets in public places frequented by tourists. You should not become involved with drugs of any kind.

Security and Security - Scams
Foreign visitors and residents can be targeted by scam artists. These financial scams can pose great financial loss to victims. If you receive an e-mail purporting to be from HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) offering a tax refund on provision of your bank details you should make absolutely sure that it is not part of a scam. Further advice on scams is available online at http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert.

See our Victims of Crime page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel
Access into Liechtenstein is mainly by road. The nearest international airport is Zurich (approx 70 miles away). An extensive bus network connects Vaduz with the bus and railway stations in Sargans and Buchs (SG) (Switzerland), and Feldkirch (Austria).  If you plan to travel to Liechtenstein via the motorways in Switzerland or Austria you must purchase and display a motorway vignette or face large on-the-spot fines in these countries.

All road users should follow instructions given by local police and officials on the main alpine transit routes, at bottlenecks and areas of heavy traffic congestion. A warning triangle is compulsory and must be kept within easy reach (not in the boot). Radar detectors are prohibited in Liechtenstein whether in use or not. The limit for alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.05% and police may request any driver to undergo a breath test or drugs test. Traffic regulations are strenuously enforced. Any serious breach of the regulations can result in heavy fines and/or imprisonment.

Alpine winters often make driving more difficult. You should equip your car with winter tyres and snow-chains, and check road conditions prior to departure.  

A full (i.e. not provisional) valid UK, or other EU/EEA, driving licence is sufficient for driving in Liechtenstein.  There is no need for an International Driving Permit.  Information about rail services is available at: http://mct.sbb.ch.

Further advice on driving outside the UK can be obtained from motoring organisations such as the AA and RAC and our Driving Abroad page.

You should respect the local laws and customs of Liechtenstein at all times.

See our Your Trip page.

Switzerland handles immigration and customs matters for Liechtenstein.  Entry requirements are the same as for Switzerland. There is no customs border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Entry Requirements - Visas
If you are a British Citizen or British Subject with Right of Abode in the United Kingdom, you will not need a visa to enter Liechtenstein. Other British passport holders should confirm the current entry requirements with the nearest Swiss Diplomatic mission.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Liechtenstein. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

During the spring there is an increased risk of contracting illnesses through tick bites. Ticks are common in Switzerland at altitudes of up to 1500m and may transmit infections or illnesses such as Lyme disease or tick-borne encephalitis (FSME). Around 3,000 people are affected every year. There are vaccinations against FSME (over age of 6 years only). If outdoors, please wear long clothing and a hat and possibly use tick spray to protect yourself from ticks. Most importantly, check your body for ticks after having been outdoors and immediately see a physician if you have any physical symptoms.

You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as a resident of Liechtenstein.  It also does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. See out EHIC page.

An agreement between the EU and Liechtenstein came into force on 1 June 2002.  If you are a national of the UK or any other EU country, a Liechtenstein national, a stateless person or refugee and you live in the UK, you can use the EHIC to get reduced cost immediately necessary healthcare when visiting Liechtenstein. Your dependent family members and survivors are also covered, regardless of their nationality.

If you claim treatment under the EHIC scheme in Liechtenstein you should only be charged the proportion of your healthcare costs for which you remain responsible. Detailed information about the EHIC scheme, the treatment available under the EU/Liechtenstein healthcare agreement can be obtained from the Department of Health's website at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAdviceForTravellers/fs/en.

Liechtenstein has one hospital, the Liechtensteinisches Landesspital, in Vaduz.  The Amt fur Gesundheit (National Office of Health) generally needs to approve your admission, except for emergency treatment.  For more serious conditions, patients may need to be referred to a nearby hospital in Switzerland.

Tick-borne encephalitis is fairly common in forested areas in the area of Vaduz, especially in the summer months.

You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Liechtenstein and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our Travel Health page.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. You should ensure that this includes cover for mountain sports and air ambulance costs. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas, then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Sports Activities and Winter Sports
Alpine travellers should take out supplementary insurance to cover extra medical costs such as repatriation. Ensure you are covered for sports activities such as skiing, potholing and mountaineering. Travel insurance must also include mountain rescue services and helicopter costs.

You should be aware of the risks involved in the more hazardous sports activities.

The following alpine hazards exist throughout the yea r:

• Avalanches and snow drifts
• Landslides and flooding
• Glacial crevasses and hollows
• Rockfall
• Thunder storms and lightning
• Altitude sickness
• Sun exposure
• Sudden weather changes
  
  

Please DO :

• Take note of weather forecasts and conditions
• Make sure you are physically fit and have the necessary experience
• Be in a team of at least TWO
• Inform someone of your plans.
• Take warm clothes and wet weather gear.
• Use sun block (SPF20 or higher) and sun glasses.

Many accidents happen due to insufficient information, inappropriate equipment or overestimation of one’s own capabilities. Follow the advice given by local authorities and guides; to ignore such advice could put yourselves and other mountain users in danger.

General - Registration
You should register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Money
The local currency is the Swiss Franc (SFr / CHF).

General - Contact Details

Liechtenstein

Address:

Please direct all enquiries to our embassy in Berne, Switzerland:

British Embassy
Thunstrasse 50
3005

Telephone:
(41) (31) 359 7700

Fax:
(41) (31) 359 7701 General
(41) (31) 359 7769 Political, Press and Public Affairs
(41) (31) 359 7765 Consular

Office hours:

General: GMT: 0730-1130 and 1230-1600
Local Time: 0830-1230 and 1330-1700

Consular: GMT: 0730-1130
Local Time: 0830-1230

Website: http://ukinswitzerland.fco.gov.uk/en