Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the structure establishment, including banking and payment rails.
Set up a trust in Liechtenstein.
The Alpine trust that predates most of its competitors: the Treuhänderschaft under Articles 897 to 932 of the Persons and Companies Act, in a jurisdiction that is party to the Hague Trusts Convention, inside the EEA, with professional trustees licensed by the FMA and subject to fines up to CHF 100,000 for operating without one.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Liechtenstein in brief
A civil-law state that codified the trust a century ago.
Liechtenstein wrote the trust into its Persons and Companies Act in 1926 and has been administering them ever since. The Treuhänderschaft sits at Articles 897 to 932 of the PGR - a codified trust in a civil-law system, which is why the principality is one of very few continental jurisdictions where the instrument is native rather than imported. Liechtenstein is also a party to the Hague Convention on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition, which matters when a structure has to be recognised abroad. Alongside the trust sit the Stiftung and the Treuunternehmen - the foundation and the registered trust enterprise - giving families a genuine choice of vehicle rather than one instrument stretched to fit.
The trustee side is properly policed. Anyone offering trustee services professionally needs an FMA licence under the Professional Trustees Act, must carry the legally required liability insurance, must supply accurate information to the regulator, and may use the protected title only if licensed. Unlicensed trustee activity, failure to provide information or non-compliance with FMA directives carry fines of up to CHF 100,000, with a Professional Ethics Committee handling discipline alongside the courts. Add the Swiss franc, EEA membership and a 12.5% corporate rate at the company layer, and Liechtenstein gives families an Alpine structure with union market access - a combination Switzerland cannot offer. We design the vehicle, draft it and place it with a licensed trustee.
A civil-law state with a codified trust: the Treuhänderschaft at PGR Articles 897 to 932, in force since 1926, in a jurisdiction party to the Hague Trusts Convention - plus the foundation and the registered trust enterprise as native alternatives.
Professional trustees hold an FMA licence under the Professional Trustees Act with mandatory liability insurance; unlicensed activity carries fines to CHF 100,000. EEA membership, Swiss franc, 12.5% at the company layer.
The two builds
The trust - or the foundation.
Liechtenstein is one of the few places where the choice is real: a codified trust or a civil-law foundation. The family's objectives decide, not the brochure.
The codified trust - or the Liechtenstein foundation.
01 - TREUHÄNDERSCHAFT
The Liechtenstein trust
A trust under PGR Articles 897 to 932 with a licensed professional trustee. The common-law instrument, codified, in a jurisdiction that is party to the Hague Trusts Convention.
A trust under PGR Articles 897 to 932 with a licensed professional trustee. The common-law instrument, codified, in a jurisdiction that is party to the Hague Trusts Convention.
- ✓PGR Art. 897-932
- ✓FMA-licensed professional trustee
- ✓Hague Convention recognition
- ✓Protector role available
- ✓Registration or deposit per the rules
- ✓Swiss franc, EEA position
02 - STIFTUNG / TREUUNTERNEHMEN
The foundation route
The Liechtenstein foundation or registered trust enterprise. A separate legal person rather than a relationship, often the better fit for civil-law families and for assets that need an owner.
The Stiftung or registered trust enterprise. A legal person with a council rather than a trustee, often the better fit for civil-law families.
- ✓Foundation as a legal person
- ✓Registered trust enterprise option
- ✓Council instead of trustee
- ✓By-laws and regulations drafted
- ✓Recognised across the continent
- ✓Chosen on objectives, not habit
Reflects PGR Articles 897 to 932 and the Professional Trustees Act as of 2026. Registration or deposit formalities are confirmed with the Office of Justice at establishment.
Why Liechtenstein
Six reasons families choose the principality.
✓
A century of practice
The trust has been codified in the PGR since 1926. This is not a recently imported instrument being tested.Codified since 1926.
✓
Hague Convention party
Liechtenstein's accession to the Hague Trusts Convention supports recognition of the structure in other contracting states.Recognition supported.
✓
Licensed, insured trustees
FMA licensing under the Professional Trustees Act, with mandatory liability insurance and fines to CHF 100,000 for operating without a licence.CHF 100,000 for breach.
✓
Trust or foundation
Both instruments are native here. Civil-law families get a foundation, common-law families get a trust, and nobody is forced to compromise.Both native here.
✓
EEA plus the franc
Union market access with Swiss currency and customs integration. The combination Switzerland itself cannot provide.Switzerland can't match.
✓
Discipline with teeth
A Professional Ethics Committee, the public prosecutor and the courts all sit behind the licensing regime.Ethics committee, courts.
How it compares
How Liechtenstein differs from other trust jurisdictions.
Numbers next to numbers: Alpine discretion with EEA standing, and a genuine choice between trust and foundation.
Liechtenstein vs other trust jurisdictions
| Feature |  Liechtenstein | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Legal base | PGR Art. 897-932, since 1926 | 1984-2019 trust acts |
| Alternative vehicle | Foundation, trust enterprise | Trust only |
| Trustee regulation | FMA - Professional Trustees Act | JFSC, GFSC, MFSA |
| Position | EEA · Swiss franc | Crown Dependency, EU, offshore |
Legal base
LiechtensteinPGR Art. 897-932, since 1926
Other jurisdictions1984-2019 trust acts
Alternative vehicle
LiechtensteinFoundation, trust enterprise
Other jurisdictionsTrust only
Trustee regulation
LiechtensteinFMA - Professional Trustees Act
Other jurisdictionsJFSC, GFSC, MFSA
Position
LiechtensteinEEA · Swiss franc
Other jurisdictionsCrown Dependency, EU, offshore
Country by country
| Country | Instrument | Trustee regulation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liechtenstein | Trust - PGR Art. 897 ff | FMA-licensed trustees | EEA, foundation option |
 Switzerland | Foreign-law trusts recognised | Portfolio managers via FINMA | No domestic trust statute |
 Malta | Trust - Cap. 331 | MFSA · Article 43 | EU, 125-year duration |
 Jersey | Jersey trust - 1984 Law | JFSC trust company business | The benchmark |
LiechtensteinInstrumentTrust - PGR Art. 897 ff
Trustee regulationFMA-licensed trustees
NotesEEA, foundation option
SwitzerlandInstrumentForeign-law trusts recognised
Trustee regulationPortfolio managers via FINMA
NotesNo domestic trust statute
MaltaInstrumentTrust - Cap. 331
Trustee regulationMFSA · Article 43
NotesEU, 125-year duration
JerseyInstrumentJersey trust - 1984 Law
Trustee regulationJFSC trust company business
NotesThe benchmark
Before you establish
What a Liechtenstein structure actually requires.What establishment requires.
Codified law, licensed trustees and real supervision. The checklist below is what a sound establishment covers.
01
Vehicle choice. Trust, foundation or registered trust enterprise, decided on objectives rather than habit.
02
Trust deed or foundation documents. Drafted under the PGR to the family's succession intention.
03
Licensed trustee. An FMA-licensed professional trustee or trust company, with liability insurance in place.
04
Beneficiary class or purpose. Defined precisely enough to work and flexibly enough to last.
05
Protector or supervisory body. Where wanted, with drafted powers.
06
Registration or deposit. The commercial register or Office of Justice formalities completed per the applicable rules.
07
Source of wealth. Documented to the standard the trustee and Liechtenstein banks require.
08
Underlying structure. Holding companies and asset entities designed with the vehicle.
09
Beneficial ownership. Reporting obligations met under the applicable framework.
10
Banking. Accounts with Liechtenstein or Swiss institutions in the franc or another currency.
11
Tax analysis. Settlor, structure and beneficiaries modelled in every relevant residence.
01
Vehicle chosen on objectives.
02
Deed or foundation documents.
03
FMA-licensed trustee.
04
Beneficiaries or purpose set.
05
Protector where wanted.
06
Registration or deposit done.
07
Source of wealth documented.
08
Holding layer designed.
09
Beneficial ownership reported.
10
Banking arranged.
11
Tax modelled everywhere.
Reflects the PGR, the Professional Trustees Act and FMA supervision as of 2026. Registration formalities are confirmed with the Office of Justice.PGR + Professional Trustees Act, 2026.
How it works
From first call to a working Liechtenstein structure.
01
Objectives and vehicle
Family, assets and home-country law, and whether a trust or a foundation actually fits.Trust or foundation?
02
Design
Trustee or foundation council, beneficiary class and the underlying holding structure designed as one.All layers together.
03
Drafting
Deed, by-laws and regulations written under the PGR. Specific to the case.Specific to the case.
04
Establishment
Licensed trustee appointed, assets settled, registration or deposit completed, banking opened.Settled and registered.
05
Administration
Records, accounts and distributions maintained under FMA-supervised trusteeship.FMA-supervised.
Quick facts
InstrumentTreuhänderschaft
StatutePGR Art. 897-932
In force since1926
Trustee licenceFMA - Professional Trustees Act
Liability insuranceLegally required
Unlicensed activityFines to CHF 100,000
AlternativesFoundation · trust enterprise
PositionEEA · Swiss franc
The protected title and the CHF 100,000 fine exist for a reason: Liechtenstein treats unlicensed trusteeship as an offence, not an irregularity.
On the ground in Liechtenstein
Run from our Vaduz office.
Prifinance - Liechtenstein
Vaduz · Liechtenstein
Vaduz, Liechtenstein
01
Vehicle choice
Trust or foundation. Argued from the family's objectives and home-country law, not from a default.Argued, not defaulted.
02
Drafting
The deed or foundation documents written under the PGR for this family's succession.Under the PGR.
03
Licensed trustee
An FMA-licensed trustee or trust company appointed, with insurance and terms confirmed.Insured, appointed.
04
Structure and banking
Holding layer and Liechtenstein or Swiss accounts arranged with the vehicle.Banked with the vehicle.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Good to know
Taxation of Liechtenstein structures.
A flat 12.5% at the entity layer inside the EEA. With the real analysis wherever the family lives.
12.5% corporate tax
The flat rate at company level. Among Western Europe's lowest, inside an EEA member state.Entity layer.
Private asset structures
Liechtenstein's regime for qualifying private asset structures is confirmed against current law per case, not assumed.Confirmed per case.
No dividend withholding
Distributions leave without local withholding. Unusual for a European jurisdiction.Rare in Europe.
Residence drives the outcome
Settlor and beneficiary residence determines the real position. Liechtenstein solves its own side only.Family location rules.
Reporting applies
Exchange of information and beneficial ownership obligations apply. Structures are built to report correctly.Built to comply.
Swiss franc and customs
The franc as operating currency with Swiss customs integration. Alpine stability, EEA market rights.Alpine stability.
Tax summary
Corporate tax12.5% flat
Private asset structuresConfirmed per case
Dividend withholdingNone
ReportingExchange of information applies
Planning levelEvery relevant residence
*Position as of 2026 per the Liechtenstein tax administration. Cross-border outcomes are modelled with advisers in each relevant residence.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Liechtenstein vehicle, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a working structure.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Liechtenstein · PGR
Set up your Liechtenstein trust with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from vehicle choice and drafting to licensed trustee appointment, registration and banking - run through our Vaduz office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Trust or foundation for your family?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, structure, or route fits your situation.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Liechtenstein trust: the practical answers.
Does Liechtenstein really have a trust?+
Yes - a codified one. The Treuhänderschaft sits at Articles 897 to 932 of the Persons and Companies Act and has been part of Liechtenstein law since 1926, making the principality one of very few civil-law jurisdictions where the trust is native rather than imported.
Is a Liechtenstein trust recognised abroad?+
Liechtenstein is a party to the Hague Convention on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition, which supports recognition in other contracting states. Recognition in any specific country is still checked as part of the design.
Who may act as trustee?+
Professional trustee services require an FMA licence under the Professional Trustees Act. Licensed trustees must carry the legally required liability insurance and may use the protected professional title; unlicensed activity carries fines of up to CHF 100,000.
Trust or foundation?+
Both are native instruments here. A foundation is a legal person that owns assets and is run by a council; a trust is a relationship where a trustee holds them. Civil-law families and asset-holding purposes often suit the foundation; common-law families and beneficiary-focused planning usually suit the trust. We argue it from your facts.
What is a Treuunternehmen?+
A registered trust enterprise - a further Liechtenstein vehicle combining features of trust and company. It is a genuine option in specific cases and one reason the principality's toolkit is unusually broad.
Is the structure registered?+
Registration or deposit formalities apply through the commercial register and the Office of Justice depending on the vehicle and its terms. We confirm the applicable route at establishment rather than assuming it.
How is it taxed?+
The entity layer sits at Liechtenstein's flat 12.5% corporate rate with no dividend withholding, and the regime for qualifying private asset structures is confirmed per case. What decides the real outcome is settlor and beneficiary residence.
Liechtenstein or Switzerland?+
Switzerland has no domestic trust statute - it recognises foreign trusts under the Hague Convention but you cannot create a Swiss trust. Liechtenstein has its own codified trust, its own foundation, the same franc and EEA membership on top. For a trust, the principality wins.
How long does establishment take?+
Weeks once the vehicle is chosen and source-of-wealth documentation is ready - licensed trustees decline what they cannot verify.
Why Prifinance for Liechtenstein?+
Vehicle choice argued rather than defaulted, drafting under the PGR for the actual family, and a licensed trustee appointed with insurance and terms confirmed - from our Vaduz office.
A real trust?+
Codified, PGR 897-932.
Recognised abroad?+
Hague Convention party.
Who is trustee?+
FMA-licensed professional.
Trust or foundation?+
Argued from your facts.
Treuunternehmen?+
Registered trust enterprise.
Registered?+
Per vehicle and terms.
Taxes?+
12.5%; residence decides.
Or Switzerland?+
No Swiss trust exists.
How long?+
Weeks once documented.
Why you?+
Choice argued properly.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
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One message away from your Liechtenstein structure.
Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: trust or foundation, and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of FMA Liechtenstein or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.