How long does compulsory schooling last in Liechtenstein's school system?

Compulsory schooling lasts nine school years for children who live in Liechtenstein. It can be fulfilled through a public school, an approved private school, a recognized school abroad or approved private instruction.

How is the move from primary school to lower secondary school decided in Liechtenstein?

The class teacher assesses learning, work and social behaviour together with learning checks and considers the parents' wishes. Agreement leads to a joint statement to the School Office; disagreement leads to a transfer examination, after which the School Office decides the placement in Oberschule, Realschule or Gymnasium.

What support is available for children with insufficient German or disabilities in Liechtenstein's schools?

Schools offer additional German instruction, classroom or individual support and access to school-psychology services. Children with substantial disabilities may receive free special education at the Sonderpädagogische Tagesschule Schaan at HPZ or, where necessary, at a suitable special school in Switzerland or Austria.

School in Liechtenstein

Q: How do families register a child for public school after moving to Liechtenstein?

Families need a valid residence permit and normally register a child at the school in the relevant municipal school district. German-speaking children generally attend kindergarten or primary school in their municipality, while the School Office coordinates secondary placement and support for children who do not yet speak sufficient German.

Liechtenstein's school system provides general education from kindergarten through primary school and lower secondary school. Compulsory schooling lasts nine school years for children who live in Liechtenstein. Kindergarten normally lasts two years and is free, while public schools provide free tuition and school materials. The system includes municipal schools, state schools, approved private schools and recognized alternatives abroad or through approved private instruction.

Tip

For most families, the public municipal or state school system is the most straightforward option because access, school districts and costs are clearly regulated. The main risks are missing a registration deadline, choosing the wrong school district, overlooking German-language support or treating a secondary-school placement as permanent. Keep written confirmations for registration, approvals, support arrangements and school transfers.

byJulia&Elias

Kindergarten begins from the completed fourth year of life and normally precedes compulsory schooling by two years. Attendance is voluntary in general, but the second kindergarten year is compulsory for children who do not have sufficient German. Primary school has five grades and begins compulsory schooling. Children normally enter it when they have reached their sixth birthday by the end of June. Lower secondary school lasts four years and includes Oberschule, Realschule and the lower level of the Liechtensteinisches Gymnasium. Oberschule provides practical and career-oriented general education in grades 6 to 9. Realschule provides broader and more advanced performance-oriented general education in the same grades. The long-form Gymnasium lasts seven years from the fifth primary grade, while the short form lasts four years; its upper level leads to the Matura and access to tertiary education. The public curriculum LiLe has applied since 2019 and is coordinated with Switzerland's Lehrplan 21. A school year lasts at least 38 and at most 40 weeks, and Saturdays are free of lessons. Public kindergarten, primary school, lower secondary school and special education are generally free. School materials and teaching resources are free in kindergarten, primary school, special education and lower secondary grades 1 to 4. Families may still pay contributions for meals at camps, trips, excursions and theatre visits. Approved private schools, including the Liechtensteinische Waldorfschule and formatio, charge school fees. Public municipal schools provide kindergarten and primary school in Balzers, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz, Schaan, Planken, Eschen/Nendeln, Mauren/Schaanwald, Gamprin, Schellenberg and Ruggell. State lower secondary schools operate in Balzers, Eschen, Triesen and Vaduz; the Liechtensteinisches Gymnasium is in Vaduz, and the new secondary school centre in Ruggell is planned for summer 2027. The Government has overall supervision and issues regulations. The School Office (Schulamt) handles planning, operation, supervision, teaching materials, school psychology, educational support, school social work and school-transfer decisions. The School Council (Schulrat) decides or reviews disputes about admission, changes of school type, special-education placement and permits for private schools, foreign schools or private instruction. Municipal school councils handle school-district and municipal school matters. Children who live in Liechtenstein fulfil compulsory schooling through a public school, an approved private school, a recognized school abroad or approved private instruction. Public primary-school registration normally takes place at the school in the child's school district. Families moving to Liechtenstein need a valid residence permit. German-speaking children generally attend kindergarten or primary school in their municipality, while the School Office coordinates secondary-school placement and support for children who do not yet speak sufficient German. Families moving between municipalities deregister at the former school and register in the new municipality or school district. The move from primary school to lower secondary school is based on a whole-child assessment by the class teacher, including learning, work and social behaviour and learning checks. Parents' wishes are considered. If the school and parents agree, they submit a joint statement to the School Office; if they disagree, the child takes a transfer examination and the School Office decides the placement. Movement between school types remains possible under the relevant conditions, including from Oberschule to Realschule and from Realschule to Gymnasium. Children coming from private or foreign schools can generally enter Oberschule without an examination. Admission to Realschule or Gymnasium requires the applicable conditions or proof of equivalence; otherwise a written examination covers German, mathematics, English and, at most, one promotion subject, with 60 to 120 minutes for each subject. Schools provide classroom, group and individual support, additional German instruction and school-psychology services. Newly arrived children and young people without sufficient German can receive intensive German support for six to twelve months, with younger children integrated into kindergarten or the first primary class and older children taught in classes or groups before integration into regular schooling. School psychology advice is voluntary, free and designed to be easily accessible. Special education is provided locally through the state-guaranteed, publicly recognized Sonderpädagogische Tagesschule Schaan at HPZ. Placement follows an assessment by the school psychology service and a decision by the School Office or School Council. Support can address significant language or speech difficulties, cognitive, multiple or developmental disabilities and may include speech therapy, psychomotor therapy, early intervention, language-support kindergarten, introductory classes, foundation classes and support classes. Children with substantial mobility, behavioural or sensory disabilities may also attend a special school in Switzerland or Austria. Special education is free, and the aim is integration into mainstream schooling where possible or the greatest possible independence in the relevant setting. Parents or guardians must ensure regular and punctual attendance, follow the school rules and report absences without delay. Justified absence requires approval. Breaches of compulsory schooling can result in a fine of up to CHF 5,000. Families have a right to regular meetings, written information about performance, behaviour and absences, and advice about educational pathways. Students may participate in decisions in a manner appropriate to their age and development. Exclusion from school is reserved for serious danger or disruptive behaviour, and alternative schooling must continue while compulsory schooling remains in force. For the 2026/27 school year, school begins on 17 August 2026. The reported new enrolments include 396 children in kindergarten, 379 in the first primary grade and 373 in the first lower-secondary grade, including 116 in Oberschule, 162 in Realschule and 95 at the Liechtensteinisches Gymnasium.