Liechtenstein is an Alpine nation located between Switzerland and Austria. It is also a member of the Schengen Area and is thus accessible to the rest of the world via a Schengen visa for short stays.
Therefore, Mumbai residents must get a visa (permission) first to enter the country legally. For this purpose, the following article on a Liechtenstein visa from Mumbai will help you learn about the available visa types, collect the required documents, and understand the visa application steps.
Moreover, you can also learn other basic details that will help you during the application process. So, stay tuned!
Why Mumbaikars Travel to Liechtenstein?
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a destination famous for its blend of unique experiences, from rich history and natural landscapes to traditional culture. Although the country is small in size and easily accessible from the rest of the world, it is a perfect place for a short trip.
Meanwhile, the following are the reasons why Mumbai folks visit Liechtenstein annually.
- The country has numerous tourist spots that you can visit during your trip there. For instance, this includes the Vaduz Castle, museums, traditional villages, the Gothic Castle in Balzers, etc.
- Furthermore, your visit to Liechtenstein also offers various outdoor adventures that you can take part in. Hiking, skiing, the Drei Schwestern (Three Sisters) Trail, and cycling are some of the most famous sports in the country.
- Lastly, the small size of Liechtenstein makes it easier for you to explore the charm of the country.
- In addition, public transport is reliable, making it convenient for you to move around the territory.
- Due to its closely connected borders with Switzerland and Austria, you can also plan a day trip to these countries.
What is a Liechtenstein Visa for Mumbaikars?
A Liechtenstein visa is a universal permit that allows the residents of Mumbai to travel to the target country for various purposes. For example, this could be a short-term or long-term stay in Liechtenstein for reasons including tourism, business, study, etc.
Surprisingly, having any kind of Liechtenstein visa makes you eligible to travel to the rest of the 28 Schengen countries without a separate permit. This is because the Schengen Area has no internal border checks, allowing free movement of goods and people.
Liechtenstein Visa Types
A Liechtenstein visa has the following types that you can choose from.
Schengen visa (Type C)
| Description | Subcategories | Validity | Entry type |
| A Schengen or Type C visa allows you to stay in Liechtenstein for short-term purposes, including tourism, business, family visits, cultural events, etc. | Tourist visa, visit visa, business visa, cultural/sports event visa, medical treatment visa. | This short-stay visa is valid for 90 days within six months (180 days). This means that you can spend any three months of the six months. | With a valid Schengen visa, you can enter the country single, double, or multiple times. The entry type will be specified on your visa sticker. |
National visa (Type D)
| Description | Subcategories | Validity | Entry type |
| On the other hand, a National or Type D visa grants you entry to Liechtenstein for long-term reasons, including work, study, or family reunification. | Work visa, family reunification visa, student visa, investor visa, research visa. | Usually, a long-stay visa is valid from 91 days to one year. Moreover, you can also extend or renew it based on the purpose of your trip to the target country. | A National visa is usually issued for a single entry or multiple entries. However, please note that you cannot overstay the specific limit for each time you enter the country. |
Transit visa
Another visa category is an Airport Transit visa that allows you to catch a connecting flight at the International Airport of Liechtenstein. This visa type does not allow you to leave the transit area at the international airport.
In case you want to leave the airport and enter the country (Liechtenstein), you need to get a standard Schengen or Type C visa.
Important: Liechtenstein follows the same visa requirements as Switzerland because of its monetary and customs union with the latter.
Work visa
If you apply for a work visa to Liechtenstein, you need to select a suitable type from the following subclasses.
- A short-term or L permit allows you to work in Liechtenstein and is valid for at least 12 months for contractual projects.
- Contrary to this, a long-term or B permit is renewable for employment and usually has a validity period of one or more years.
- In addition, residents of the neighboring Schengen countries who are working in Liechtenstein need to present a cross-border commuter permit to fulfill this purpose.
What Are the Application Facilities Available for Mumbaikars to Apply for a Liechtenstein Visa?
As discussed earlier, Liechtenstein follows the visa requirements of Switzerland. Moreover, Liechtenstein has no diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) in India currently.
This results in applying for a visa through the Swiss Embassy or Consulate located in India, as they are responsible for representing Liechtenstein for visa matters in the state.
Therefore, you can use any of the following two facilities to apply for a Liechtenstein visa from Mumbai.
Submission to the Swiss Consulate
Generally, the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi, India, handles the Liechtenstein visa applications for Indian residents. Therefore, the Mumbaikars need to apply for a visa through the Swiss Consulate. However, avoid direct consulate submissions as they are rare and reserved for diplomatic situations only.
Alternatively, you can use the second method in this regard.
Visa application via VFS Global
The Swiss Embassy is officially in partnership with VFS Global for application submissions. Therefore, you can visit the VFS Global Visa Application Center in Mumbai at:
Address: Trade Centre, 3rd Floor, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai, 400051
Services offered:
The following are the primary services offered by the VFS Global visa application center in Mumbai.
- Submission of documents and biometric enrollment
- Premium services for faster processing
- Application tracking through SMS/email updates
What Are the Legal Requirements for a Liechtenstein Visa from Mumbai?
The Liechtenstein visa from Mumbai makes it mandatory for you to fulfill the following requirements. These are the general documents needed, irrespective of the visa type you apply for.
Passport
The first requirement is to have your Indian passport, which should be valid for almost three months ahead of your stay in Liechtenstein. Moreover, it should not be older than the last ten years and contain two blank pages.
Visa application form
Furthermore, do not forget to download a visa application form from the website of the Swiss Embassy/Consulate or VFS Global. After completing it out carefully, make sure that you put the current date and your signatures.
- For a Schengen visa
- For a Type D visa
Photographs
In addition, you also need to stick two recent passport-size photographs to the visa application form. Make sure that they have a size of 35*45 mm with a white background. Besides, the pictures should fulfill the following Schengen photo requirements.
Flight itinerary
Another document needed is proof of flight itinerary to be submitted with the rest of the papers. This document demonstrates your travel intentions and flight details, such as the flight number, the aircraft name, travel dates, times, departure and arrival airport names, IATA codes, 6-digit PNR, etc.
A Schengen visa requires you to book round-trip flights to show that you will return to your home country before your visa expires.
Accommodation proof
Moreover, accommodation proof will help the authorities analyze that you have a place to stay in Liechtenstein. For this purpose, you can either submit a hotel booking, an invitation letter, or a rental contract for an apartment.
Also, make sure that the document mentions the name, address, and contact details of the chosen facility.
Cover letter
Coverletterforvisa.com can help you provide an additional document, which is a cover letter for a visa. This document provides you with a margin to present your case from a subjective stance.
For this purpose, you can add details, including the trip’s purpose, the stay duration, the intended return, etc.
Travel health insurance
Your trip to Liechtenstein, which is a Schengen country, makes it necessary for you to have travel health insurance, with a coverage amount of 30,000 to 45,000 euros. This amount will help you bear expenses related to medical and travel emergencies, including,
- Accident
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- Repatriation
- Evacuation
Also, make sure that it is valid for the entire Schengen region and the whole duration of your stay in Liechtenstein.
Financial proof
Financial documents, including a bank statement, a salary slip, or an income tax return, will help prove to the visa officer that you can support yourself during your stay in Liechtenstein.
Besides, make sure that you have at least 92 euros per day (8,000 to 10,000 Indian Rupees) to manage your food, accommodation, and transportation.
Character certificate
Other than the above documents, you need to get a character certificate from the local police station in your home country to represent that you are not involved in any illegal or criminal activities.
Visa payment receipt
Lastly, after depositing the visa application fee, do not forget to submit the payment receipt with the rest of the documents as proof that you have paid the specific amount.
4+ Vital Application Steps to Apply for a Liechtenstein Visa from Mumbai
Following the steps will make you apply for a Liechtenstein visa from Mumbai easily.
Choose the visa type
For the first step, choose between a Schengen (Type C) visa and a National (Type D) visa.
Gather documents
The second step requires you to collect all the necessary documents for the visa application. For this purpose, you can either consult the section given above or visit the website of VFS Global for the document checklist.
Book an appointment
After that, you need to schedule an appointment online through VFS Global. This requires you to create or log in to an account and select the available appointment slot.
Submit your application
Then, attend the visa appointment in person by reaching the VFS Global visa application center in person. This day makes it mandatory for you to submit the essentials (documents and application form) and provide your biometric data.
Pay visa fees
On the same day, you also have to pay the fee according to the selected visa type. You need to pay 90 euros for an adult Schengen visa and 45 euros for children between the ages of six and twelve. Contrary to this, the application fee for a National visa varies based on the visit purpose.
If applied through VFS Global, deposit 1,600 INR for service charges.
Wait for the processing time
Once all the above steps are completed, wait for the standard processing time, which is 15-30 working days. Meanwhile, you can also track the application’s status through the VFS Global online portal.
Collect your passport
Lastly, after your application is reviewed, you will be notified about the visa approval. If denied, you will receive a rejection letter.
Typical Liechtenstein Visa Rejection Reasons from Mumbai
After submitting your Liechtenstein visa application, you may come across two results: approval or rejection. If your visa gets rejected, it could be due to the following typical reasons.
- Insufficient funds, such as not showing 92 euros per day, can lead to rejection
- Furthermore, an incomplete visa application form, including unfilled boxes or missing signatures at the end
- Using expired or invalid travel health insurance, with a coverage below 30,000 euros
- In addition, unclear travel purpose, vague itineraries, or lack of supporting documents, including a cover letter, letter of invitation, or a sponsorship letter, may alter the expected outcome
- Lastly, past visa violations or pending criminal charges against you will badly affect your visa application
Best Practices to Submit Your Liechtenstein Visa Application in Mumbai Successfully
You can practice the following best tips to submit your Liechtenstein visa application in Mumbai successfully and to avoid the rejection reasons mentioned above.
- Make sure to apply early for a Liechtenstein visa from Mumbai. Also, avoid traveling during the peak seasons (summer and December)
- Moreover, for faster application review, choose VFS premium services for priority processing and document checking assistance
- In addition, ensure that all the mandatory documents are collected because missing paperwork is the top reason for visa rejection
- Besides, do not forget to recheck the requirements of the pictures, as they should be according to the Schengen photo guidelines
- Last but not least, writing and submitting a strong cover letter can help you clearly outline your itinerary and financial stability.
Conclusion
Securing a Liechtenstein visa from Mumbai requires you to prepare the application carefully. However, the application process has been made simple when done through VFS Global.
For this purpose, make sure that you fulfill the document guidelines, apply early, and avoid the common traps to ace the process. As a result, you can get your Liechtenstein visa and explore the culture, medieval castles, and Alpine trails with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I apply for a Liechtenstein visa from Mumbai without an appointment?
No. Submission of an application is not possible without an appointment. Therefore, you need to book it via VFS Global when applying for a Liechtenstein visa from Mumbai.
- When should I submit my Liechtenstein visa application?
Make sure that you apply for a Liechtenstein visa from Mumbai at least 4-6 weeks before your intended departure date to account for any delays in the processing time.
- Is it necessary to have travel health insurance?
Yes. Having travel health insurance is mandatory for a Liechtenstein visa from Mumbai. Make sure that it has enough coverage to bear medical and travel expenses.
- Can I visit other Schengen countries with a Liechtenstein visa?
Yes, a Liechtenstein visa allows you to travel across the rest of the 28 Schengen countries easily. However, you can stay for up to 90 days only.
- What can I do if my Liechtenstein Schengen visa is rejected?
If your Liechtenstein Schengen visa is rejected, you can either appeal the decision within 30 days or reapply for a new visa by submitting supporting documents.
Read Also: Visa Information System