Roaming charges vary when travelling between Liechtenstein and Switzerland, so use this guide when you’re making plans.
The Principality of Liechtenstein is one of the most unique countries in all of Europe. It is tiny by most geographic and population standards, but it's also one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Whether visiting on vacation or for business, you are likely to face a lot of expenses. Purchasing a prepaid SIM card from a local provider can be a great way to minimise those expenses so you can put your money towards other things while abroad.
Liechtenstein’s two markets
Liechtenstein is part of two different economic markets: It’s part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which means EU rules apply, but it also shares a network with Switzerland, which is not a part of the EU. This means that customers can roam in Switzerland on Swiss networks without paying additional fees. This is also true for buying Swiss prepaid SIM cards. You don’t have to pay surcharges for roaming in Liechtenstein. However, because Liechtenstein is in the EEA, the roaming charges of other countries still apply. You can purchase a starter pack of minutes, texts and 100MB of data for CHF19.90 (AUD$26.08).
Cell phone carriers in Liechtenstein
There are two main telco operators in Liechtenstein that offer prepaid SIM card plans:
- Salt (formerly Orange CH)
- Swisscom
We’ll provide some information about each of those telcos so that you can compare them and choose your best option.
Swisscom
Swisscom’s prepaid SIM card line is called Natel Easy. A starter pack costs CHF19.90 and has a CHF20 credit included. It’s available in all three sizes: mini, micro and nano, and any size can be swapped out for another size in a Swisscom sales outlet. There are no Swisscom locations in Liechtenstein, so you would have to travel to Switzerland to get access to one. Topping up a card is far easier and can be done at most major service stations, at Migros or Coop supermarkets, at SBB transportation ticket machines or online using a credit card. You can check your current balance by texting *130#. One of the company’s best features is the Swisscom Cockpit. Enter your identification number into this site and it will allow you to check your totals and top up at any time from anywhere in the world.
Swisscom Data Packages
Swisscom offers unlimited data for CHF2 per day, but the company recognises the Fair Use Policy. After you have used 4GB in a month, your download speed will drop to 128Kbps. The four basic data packages are listed below:
| Data | Validity period | Price | Maximum speed |
| 5GB | 24 hours | CHF5 | 21Mbps |
| 200MB | 30 days | CHF9 | 10Mbps |
| 600MB | 30 days | CHF19 | 10Mbps |
| 1.2GB | 30 days | CHF29 | 10Mbps |
You can check your data balance at any time by texting the word “STATUS” to 444.
Swisscom APN: gprs.swisscom.ch, and website: https://www.swisscom.ch/en/
Salt
Formerly known as Orange, Salt Mobile SA is based in Switzerland. Calls to all networks in Switzerland are CHF0.49/call (60 minutes or less). International calls begin at CHF0.01/minute. You can surf the Internet with unlimited uploads and downloads on 4G for CHF1.99/day. The SIM card is CHF10 and comes with a CHF20 credit.
Recharging the card can be done online, in a Salt store or through one of Salt’s partner businesses. Depending on whether you are calling from Switzerland or Liechtenstein, there may be extra tariffs or roaming charges.
Salt APN: click, and website: https://www.salt.ch/en/
Pros and cons of Liechtenstein’s top telco providers
While there are only two options for prepaid SIM cards in Liechtenstein, they each have solid plans with lots of accessories to choose from.
Pros:
- Swisscom’s Cockpit allows you the ability to change plans, top up and check your balances from anywhere in the world.
- Salt’s SIM card comes with a CHF20 credit.
Cons:
- Any calls, texts or surfing in nearby Switzerland are subject to tariffs.
- If you use 4GB of data in a month with Swisscom, your download rate drops to 128Kbps under the Fair Use Policy.
An additional question about finding the best prepaid SIM card in Liechtenstein
Q: How do roaming charges work in Liechtenstein?
A: As a member of the EEA, Liechtenstein falls under the EU rules for Roam-Like-at-Home that came into law in June 2017. Liechtenstein has the lowest VAT of any country in the EU or EEA for roaming at 8%. Its roaming charges are as follows:
- Outgoing calls to any EEA number: CHF0.037
- Inbound calls: CHF0.0125
- Outgoing text message to any EEA number: CHF0.0115
- Data transfer: CHF8.9247/GB
