Adoptive father from 30, adoptive mother from 28 — governed by the ABGB, not the ZGB.

Updated July 2026

👶 Who may adopt a child in Liechtenstein?

With conditions

Quick answer

Adoption is open to whoever meets the age rules and is judged suitable by the Office of Social Services — in practice it almost always concerns children from abroad. Under the Liechtenstein Civil Code (ABGB, § 179 ff, LR 210.0) the adoptive father must be 30 and the adoptive mother 28; both must be at least 18 years older than the child. Married couples usually adopt jointly, and single people may adopt too. The myth: 'In Liechtenstein you simply adopt a local baby.' Wrong — for over 20 years virtually no child has been released for adoption in the country; it is almost entirely international adoption under the Hague Convention (joined in 2009). Unlike Switzerland, Liechtenstein relies here on its Austrian-rooted ABGB, not the ZGB — with its own age limits.

📋 The rules

Minimum age of the adopters: Under § 179 ff ABGB the adoptive father must have completed his 30th and the adoptive mother her 28th year. These limits are higher than in Swiss law and stem from the Austrian tradition.
Age gap of 18 years: The adoptive father and mother must each be at least 18 years older than the child to be adopted. This is meant to reflect a natural parent-child relationship.
The Office of Social Services is in charge: It advises, prepares the social report (home study) and assesses suitability — repute, health, capacity to raise a child and the applicants' economic circumstances.
In practice only foreign adoption: Since hardly any children are released domestically, almost every adoption runs through the Hague Convention of 1993, which Liechtenstein joined in 2009, and the central authority of the country of origin.
Open to all couples: Since marriage for all, married couples adopt jointly regardless of sex; step-child adoption for same-sex couples has been possible since 2023.

🔓 Exceptions

Single-person adoption: A single person may also adopt a child; the suitability assessment is the same. Liechtenstein law prescribes no minimum length of marriage.
Law of the country of origin: In addition to the Liechtenstein requirements, the conditions of the sending state apply — such as its own age limits or a minimum length of marriage, which can be stricter than here.
Adult adoption: The ABGB also allows, under conditions, the adoption of adults; it follows different rules from the adoption of a child and mostly serves to secure existing bonds.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

An adoption without approval is not an adoption — without the Office of Social Services and the court order no legal parent-child relationship arises. Whoever brings a child in from abroad past the authorities risks the adoption not being recognised, leaving the child without secure status. The costs are considerable: experience puts them between CHF 10'000 and 20'000, plus an office fee of CHF 900. A procedure often takes two to four years, and even then a match is not guaranteed. Less obvious: whoever deals with dubious intermediaries edges towards child trafficking — exactly what the Hague Convention is meant to prevent. And whoever fails to deliver the required follow-up reports to the country of origin jeopardises future adoptions for everyone.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

How old must I be to adopt in Liechtenstein?

Under the Liechtenstein ABGB the adoptive father must have completed his 30th and the adoptive mother her 28th year. In addition both must be at least 18 years older than the child, which is why the limits are higher than in Swiss law.

Can I adopt a local child in Liechtenstein?

That is practically hardly possible, because for over 20 years almost no child has been released for adoption within the country. In reality it is nearly always international adoptions under the Hague Convention.

May same-sex couples adopt?

Yes, since marriage for all in 2025 married couples may adopt jointly regardless of sex. Step-child adoption has been open to same-sex couples since 2023, after the Constitutional Court struck down the earlier ban.

What does an adoption cost and how long does it take?

Experience puts the costs between CHF 10'000 and 20'000, plus an office fee of CHF 900 for the Office of Social Services. A procedure usually takes two to four years, and even then there is no guarantee that a child will actually be matched.

Do I have to be married to adopt?

No, a single person may also adopt a child and goes through the same suitability assessment. Liechtenstein law prescribes no minimum length of marriage, though the country of origin sometimes does.

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