Schaanwald border crossing: clearing a vehicle from Austria via Liechtenstein
By Anna Katharina Finsler, Managing Director, Finsler Customs GmbH · Last updated:
In Schaanwald we clear vehicles from Austria in the Basic package for CHF 350 incl. VAT. The crossing is in Liechtenstein, but the customs office is Swiss: it clears Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 17:30. Since autumn 2026 the Austrian side runs on Smart Border Austria; we handle the declaration.
Where is the Schaanwald (Liechtenstein–Austria) border crossing?
Schaanwald belongs to the municipality of Mauren in northern Liechtenstein. Opposite lies Tisis, a district of Feldkirch in Vorarlberg. The office «Schaanwald» (CH003201) at Vorarlbergerstrasse 233 is a FOCBS customs office.
Why a Swiss customs office in Liechtenstein? Since the customs treaty of 1923, Liechtenstein and Switzerland have formed a single customs territory. The border with Austria is therefore also the Swiss customs border, and importing here means importing into Switzerland.
Who is Schaanwald (Liechtenstein–Austria) a good fit for?
Schaanwald suits vehicles from southern Vorarlberg, from Feldkirch or Bludenz, and vehicles from Tyrol coming over the Arlberg. On the Swiss side the St. Gallen Rhine valley, the Sarganserland and Graubünden are close.
Smart Border Austria and the new procedures in the Rhine valley
On the Austrian side, since 16 September 2026 goods may only cross the border with Smart Border Austria or under the transit procedure (Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance, newsletter 25/2026). The FOCBS lists Schaanwald among the Rhine valley customs offices where procedures changed on 1 October 2026. We handle the Smart Border Austria declaration; you take care of the date and the drive.
How customs clearance works with Finsler Customs
- Enter the order online. In the import calculator you choose the Basic package and the Schaanwald (Liechtenstein–Austria) crossing. Then you upload the purchase contract, registration certificate and COC and set the day you will cross the border.
- Declaration. We file the electronic import declaration for the vehicle. On site, a customs partner we work with handles the clearance for us.
- Collect the papers. On the agreed day you cross at Schaanwald (Liechtenstein–Austria) and collect the assessment notice and the inspection report 13.20 A at the counter in Schaanwald.
- Charges. The 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT go through our customs account and are passed on without mark-up; import duty has been CHF 0 since 1 January 2024. Our flat fee: CHF 350 incl. VAT, the same at every crossing.
Export formalities in the country of origin are not part of the Basic package: the export declaration is made there by the seller or a customs agent. If you want us to handle transport and export as well, choose Comfort or Premium. With the inspection report 13.20 A you then book the vehicle inspection (MFK) and registration in your canton.
Opening hours for vehicle imports
| Day | Import and clear a vehicle |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 07:30–17:30 |
| Saturday | closed |
| Sunday, public holidays | closed |
Retrieved on 28 October 2026 from the FOCBS directory of customs offices (Dienststellenverzeichnis des BAZG) for the office Zoll Ost – Schaanwald (CH003201), service «Strassenfahrzeug direkt bei der Einfuhr verzollen» (clear a road vehicle directly on import). The directory is always authoritative.
The Swiss customs office
| Address | Vorarlbergerstrasse 233, 9486 Schaanwald |
|---|---|
| Customs office | Zoll Ost – Schaanwald (CH003201) |
| Phone | +41 58 466 77 62 |
| zoll.sgfl_schaanwald@bazg.admin.ch |
Crossings nearby
The price is the same everywhere. These crossings are the nearest:
- St. Margrethen (Austria)
- Kreuzlingen–Konstanz (Germany)
- Thayngen–Bietingen (Germany)
Read on
- All 17 border crossings on the map
- Thayngen customs office: our head office and the border procedure in detail
- Importing a car from Austria
- Import calculator: work out the charges and choose your crossing
Frequently asked questions
Is clearing a vehicle in Schaanwald a Swiss import?
Yes. Since the customs treaty of 1923, Liechtenstein has been part of the Swiss customs territory, and the Schaanwald office is a FOCBS office. You get the same papers as at any other crossing, including the inspection report 13.20 A.
Schaanwald or St. Margrethen?
From Feldkirch, Bludenz and Tyrol, Schaanwald is usually closer; from Bregenz and Dornbirn, St. Margrethen. Schaanwald is open longer, until 17:30 instead of 16:00. At both we handle Smart Border Austria.
When can I clear a vehicle in Schaanwald?
The customs office in Schaanwald clears vehicles Mon–Fri 07:30–17:30, closed on Saturdays, never on Sundays or public holidays. The hours come from the FOCBS directory of customs offices. Plan your trip so you are not at the counter just before closing time.
What does customs clearance via Schaanwald (Liechtenstein–Austria) cost?
Our Basic package costs CHF 350 incl. VAT, the same as at every other crossing. On top come the charges: 4 % automobile tax and 8.1 % import VAT; import duty is CHF 0. The import calculator shows what that means for your vehicle.
Sources and legal basis
The statements on this page rest on the following official publications. The wording of the enactments in force is always decisive.
- FOCBS – Importing vehicles into Switzerland
- FOCBS – Customs declaration and taxes on a vehicle import
- Automobile Tax Act (AStG, SR 641.51) (German text)
- Federal Act on Value Added Tax (VAT Act, SR 641.20)
- FOCBS – Frequently asked questions on clearing vehicles through customs
- FOCBS – Passar, the goods traffic system for customs declarations
- FOCBS – Opening hours of the customs offices
Company
Services
- All services
- Vehicle import DE→CH
- Customs clearance
- Vehicle sourcing
- Document service
- Import advice
- Vehicle detailing
Calculators and tools
- Import calculator
- Swiss customs fees
- CO₂ calculator
- CO₂ penalty
- Transport calculator
- Car transport to CH
- Check the Stammnummer
- FlexiMoto.ch
Location
Import by country of origin
- Importing a car from Germany into Switzerland
- Importing a car from Austria into Switzerland
- Import a car from France into Switzerland
- Import a car from Italy to Switzerland
- Import a car from the Netherlands into Switzerland
- Import a car from Belgium to Switzerland
- Importing a car from Luxembourg into Switzerland
- Importing a car from Czechia into Switzerland
- Importing a car from Poland into Switzerland
- Import a car from Sweden into Switzerland
- Import a car from Norway to Switzerland
Import by vehicle type
- Importing a passenger car into Switzerland
- Importing a motorcycle into Switzerland
- Importing a van up to 3.5 t into Switzerland
- Importing a motorhome into Switzerland
- Importing a caravan into Switzerland