Liechtenstein citizenship by naturalisation

Ten-year ordinary procedure

The ordinary route requires at least ten years of qualifying ordinary residence and assurance of admission to a municipality's citizenship. Government examination is followed by Parliament's consent and the Prince's grant; meeting the conditions does not create an entitlement. Adults must take the citizenship oath after the grant.

Qualifying residence and alternative route

Qualifying ordinary residence requires a residence, permanent-residence or settlement permit and no revocation or expulsion ground. Merely retaining a permit during an approved absence does not count. The separate facilitated route requires thirty credited years, counting years before age twenty twice, plus continuous ordinary residence during the five years before application; its other requirements still apply.

German proof and alternatives

Recognised German diplomas at CEFR B1 are an accepted proof route. Alternatives include the specified school evidence of passing German at grade-nine level or a qualifying vocational qualification; native German also satisfies the statutory proof requirement. Defined age, health and capacity exceptions require the statutory conditions and, where prescribed, an official medical assessment.

Civic knowledge is separate

Applicants ordinarily demonstrate knowledge of Liechtenstein's legal and political system through a written civics examination. Specified domestic schooling, vocational completion or documentary proof can replace that examination. German-language proof alone is not the civics requirement; the Act also defines exceptional and minor-applicant rules.

Conduct and secure livelihood

The Act sets criminal-record, pending-proceedings, public-order, security and immigration-conduct exclusions. Secure livelihood requires evidence, at decision, of the preceding three years of fixed regular resources from the listed lawful sources sufficient for future living without social assistance. Supporting documents and truthful cooperation are required.

Existing nationality normally relinquished

The ordinary route requires a renunciation declaration or release confirmation, or proof that a renunciation declaration is ineffective under the previous country's law. Section 7 also requires evidence of completed release before proceedings conclude. The home-law exception must be assessed by the authority; this is not general permission to keep every existing nationality.