In addition to the methods of issue described in 'B residence consent: direct issue' , residence permits are also issued to EEA citizens in a balloting procedure. The ballot may take place in a multi-stage process, by means of a preliminary and a final ballot.

The conditions for participating in a preliminary ballot are:

• EEA citizenship;
• Submission of a fully completed application-form by the due date;
• Payment of fee by the due date;
• Applicants making multiple applications are excluded.

When the ballot has taken place those applicants are informed, who:

• are excluded on the grounds that they do not meet all the requirements listed under a) to d);
• have been successful in the preliminary ballot;
• due to non-fulfilment of the conditions or the presence of grounds for exclusion have been excluded from taking part in the final ballot.^[1]

Following the preliminary ballot, those who have not been excluded and have been successful in the ballot take part in the final ballot. Applicants are accepted for the final ballot provided that they fullfill the conditions to take up residence according EEA provision.
Those applicants who are assured of receiving a consent as a result of the final ballot are informed accordingly. The right to a consent acquired through a ballot is strictly personal and is not transferable. The right must be exercised within six months of receipt.
Thus the number of residence permits issued by ballot to economically active persons is 28 and that for economically non-active persons 8. Only one application may be made per applicant, otherwise the applicant is disqualified, For each application to the preliminary ballot a fee of CHF 80.00 and to the final ballot a fee of CHF 200.00 is charged. The period in the case of a single ballot runs from 1 to 31 January, and for a two-stage ballot from 1 to 28 February and from 1 to 31 August.

For detail information on the next ballot see under: Neuigkeiten

[1] This includes the probability of dependence on social welfare, previous offences against regulations prevailing in Liechtenstein concerning aliens, for which restrictions on immigration are still in force (expulsion from the Principality of Liechtenstein, ban on entry), substantial health reasons in the meaning of EEA law (Directive 64/221 of 25 February 1964), a criminal record or endangering internal security or order.