Key Takeaways
- Yes. An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 or over can sponsor partner from Liechtenstein on a Subclass 820, Subclass 309 or Subclass 300 visa, provided the relationship is genuine and continuing and the sponsorship is approved.
- A Liechtenstein passport is listed as an eVisitor eligible passport, so many couples must decide whether the partner should visit Australia and lodge a Subclass 820 onshore, or lodge a Subclass 309 from Europe.
- The onshore route is open only if the visitor visa does not carry condition 8503, or the condition is waived, and the application is lodged while the visitor visa is still in effect. Otherwise Schedule 3 applies.
- Many people who work in Liechtenstein live in Switzerland or Austria, so police certificates, addresses and evidence of a shared home often come from more than one country.
- A Liechtenstein registered partnership is strong evidence of commitment, but it is not a marriage under Australian law and it does not remove the 12 month de facto requirement. Only registration under a prescribed Australian State or Territory law does that.
To sponsor partner from Liechtenstein, the Australian partner must be an eligible sponsor and the couple must prove a genuine and continuing relationship under the ordinary Australian partner visa law. No special rule applies to Liechtenstein nationals. The real decisions in a plan to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein are practical ones: whether the partner should lodge in Australia after arriving as a visitor or lodge from Europe, how to document a life that may cross the Swiss or Austrian border, and how to use a Liechtenstein registered partnership or marriage as evidence.
This guide is written for the Australian sponsor. It explains who can sponsor, how the eVisitor works for a Liechtenstein passport holder, how to choose between the onshore Subclass 820 and the offshore Subclass 309, what condition 8503 and Schedule 3 mean for that choice, which documents and police certificates are needed, and how a registered partnership is treated. The firm's partner visa lawyers advise sponsors at each step, and the complete guide to partner visas explains the full process.
Liechtenstein is small. DFAT states that it has a resident population of approximately 40,000, that it joined the European Economic Area in 1995 and the Schengen Area in 2011, and that the Swiss franc has been its official currency since 1924. DFAT also states that the Australian Embassy in Bern is accredited to Liechtenstein. A sponsor partner from Liechtenstein application is therefore usually handled online, with any in-person steps arranged in Liechtenstein or a neighbouring country.
Can an Australian sponsor partner from Liechtenstein?
Yes. You can sponsor partner from Liechtenstein if you are an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen, you are at least 18 years old, and you are in a genuine and continuing relationship with your partner as a spouse or de facto partner. An engaged couple can instead use the Prospective Marriage visa.
Your partner makes the visa application. You make the sponsorship. The answer on who can sponsor a partner visa gives the short version of the rules, and the guide to partner visa requirements sets out every criterion the applicant must meet.
A partner who holds Liechtenstein citizenship does not receive any concession because the passport is a low-risk passport for visitor purposes. The relationship test, the health and character criteria and the identity requirements are applied in full. What the Liechtenstein passport changes is the choice of route. Because the partner can usually visit Australia without a lengthy visitor visa process, the question of where to lodge becomes the first strategic decision to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein.
The partner may also be a resident of Liechtenstein who holds another nationality, such as Swiss, Austrian or German citizenship. In that case the visitor visa options depend on the partner's own passport, not on the place of residence. The guide to partner visa eligibility explains the core tests for every applicant. Whatever the partner's nationality, the sponsor partner from Liechtenstein process is built on the same two sets of rules: rules about the sponsor and rules about the applicant.
What must the Australian sponsor prove?
The sponsor must prove Australian citizenship, permanent residence or eligible New Zealand citizenship, must be at least 18, must not be blocked by the sponsorship limitation, and must give the sponsorship undertaking. The sponsor may also be asked for police checks. These sponsor rules apply in every sponsor partner from Liechtenstein matter.
An Australian citizen usually proves status with an Australian passport or citizenship certificate. The guide on proof of citizenship for a sponsor explains what is accepted, and the guide to partner visa sponsor documents lists the rest. An Australian sponsor who has been living and working in Liechtenstein or Switzerland can still sponsor. The guide on a partner visa sponsor living overseas explains how the Department looks at a sponsor who is not yet back in Australia, and the guide on a sponsor returning to Australia covers the move home. A sponsor who intends to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein while still living in Europe should be ready to explain when and how the couple will settle in Australia.
The sponsorship limitation
Regulation 1.20KB of the Migration Regulations 1994 generally prevents a sponsor from sponsoring more than two partners in total, and from sponsoring within five years of a previous partner sponsorship or of the sponsor's own grant as a partner, unless there are compelling circumstances. The page on partner visa sponsorship limitations explains the rule. A sponsor who has sponsored before should check the dates before any plan to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein goes further.
Sponsor police checks
Under regulation 1.20KC, the Department may ask the sponsor for Australian and foreign police checks. A sponsor who has lived in Liechtenstein or Switzerland for 12 months or more may be asked for a certificate from that country as well as an Australian check. The guide to the partner visa sponsor police check explains the request, and the guide to a sponsor criminal record explains how a relevant offence is treated.
The sponsorship form and undertaking
The applicant lodges the visa application online first. The sponsor then lodges the sponsorship online using the application's Transaction Reference Number (TRN). The sponsorship is the online Form 40SP. By signing it, the sponsor undertakes to provide accommodation and financial assistance, as reasonably required, for the partner's first two years in Australia. The guide to the sponsor undertaking explains what that means in practice.
Sponsorship approval is a time of decision criterion under clause 820.221(4), clause 309.222(1) and clause 300.222(1) of Schedule 2. It is decided inside the visa decision, and the sponsor does not receive a separate approval letter. The guide on partner visa sponsorship approval explains the timing. Every sponsor partner from Liechtenstein application therefore depends on the sponsor remaining eligible until the decision is made, not only on the day of lodgement.
Onshore, offshore or engaged: the three routes to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein
There are three routes to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein. The Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 visa is lodged while the partner is in Australia. The Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 visa is lodged while the partner is outside Australia. The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa is for a partner outside Australia who will marry the sponsor within the visa period.
Subclass 820 and Subclass 801
The Subclass 820 visa is the temporary onshore stage, and the Subclass 801 is the permanent stage. The partner must be in Australia when the application is made. The guide to the onshore partner visa explains the process.
Subclass 309 and Subclass 100
The Subclass 309 visa is the temporary offshore stage, and the Subclass 100 is the permanent stage. The partner must be outside Australia when the application is made. The guide to the offshore partner visa explains the process. The rules about where the applicant must be at the time of grant changed in November 2023, so current advice should be obtained rather than relying on older accounts.
Subclass 300
The Subclass 300 visa suits a couple who are engaged and plan to marry in Australia. After the wedding, the partner applies for the Subclass 820 in Australia. The answer comparing a fiancé visa and a partner visa sets out the trade-offs.
The guide on onshore versus offshore partner visas compares the first two routes in general terms. The sections below apply that comparison to a sponsor partner from Liechtenstein case. The right answer depends on where the partner works, whether the couple is ready to live in Australia now, and what the visitor visa allows.
How does the eVisitor work for a Liechtenstein passport holder?
A Liechtenstein passport is an eVisitor eligible passport. The Migration (Specification of eVisitor eligible passport) Instrument (LIN 23/064) 2023, made under regulation 1.11C, lists Liechtenstein at item 19, for a passport that indicates the holder is a national of Liechtenstein.
The Department describes the eVisitor (Subclass 651) as a visa that allows the holder to visit Australia as often as they wish in a 12 month period, staying up to three months each time. It is a visitor visa. It is not a pathway to residence on its own, and it should be applied for honestly. The answer on whether to mention a partner on a visitor visa application explains why the relationship should not be hidden.
Check the grant notice for condition 8503
The single most important document to check before any plan to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein onshore is the eVisitor grant notice. If the visa carries condition 8503 (No Further Stay), the partner cannot validly lodge a Subclass 820 in Australia unless the condition is waived. The answer on condition 8503 and partner visas and the guide to the No Further Stay condition explain the condition. The partner should also check the visa in VEVO and keep a copy of the grant notice with the application file.
Partners who are not Liechtenstein nationals
A partner who lives in Liechtenstein but holds another passport should check the visitor visa options for that passport. The eVisitor list is based on nationality, not residence. A partner who travels on a different passport must use that same passport consistently in the partner visa application. A couple who plan to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein should confirm the partner's nationality and passport before booking flights, because the visitor visa and the onshore option both depend on it.
When does lodging in Australia make sense to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein?
Lodging in Australia makes sense when the partner is ready to move, the eVisitor does not carry condition 8503, and the Subclass 820 can be lodged before the eVisitor ends. In that situation, the partner can usually remain in Australia on a bridging visa while the application is processed, and the couple can live together during processing.
For many couples who sponsor partner from Liechtenstein, living together in Australia while the application is decided is the main attraction of the onshore route. Shared accommodation, joint bills and a common social circle in Australia then become part of the evidence. The answer on lodging a partner visa while on a visitor visa and the guide to moving from a tourist visa to a partner visa explain the mechanics.
Lodge while the eVisitor is still in effect
A partner who lodges a Subclass 820 while still holding the eVisitor is generally treated as having held a substantive visa at the time of application. If the eVisitor has already ended, the partner is applying without a substantive visa and the Schedule 3 criteria apply unless there are compelling reasons not to apply them. The guide on applying before the visa expires explains the timing, and the page on Schedule 3 waivers explains what happens when the deadline is missed. A sponsor partner from Liechtenstein file should record the exact date the eVisitor stay ends for each entry. Leaving lodgement to the final days of a visit is a common and avoidable risk, because documents, translations and the online forms all take time to prepare.
What happens after lodgement
A partner who validly lodges a Subclass 820 while holding a substantive visa is usually granted a bridging visa, which comes into effect when the eVisitor ends. The answer on the Bridging visa A for partner visa applicants explains how it works. Work and travel conditions on the bridging visa should be checked on the grant notice. The guide to bridging visa work rights and the guide to a Bridging visa B explain work rights and travel while the application is pending.
What Tribunal decisions have recorded about earlier visits
In Salise (Migration) [2024] AATA 1932, decided on 14 June 2024 and concerning a Subclass 820 visa, the reported issues were the circumstances of meeting and the progress of the relationship, previous visits on tourist visas, and that the couple were validly married. The decision under review was remitted. In Hassan (Migration) [2021] AATA 2159, decided on 12 April 2021 and concerning a Subclass 820 visa, the reported issues were that the applicant did not hold a substantive visa at the time of application and that compelling reasons existed. That decision was also remitted. Neither case involved a partner from Liechtenstein. They show that earlier visits and the timing of lodgement are examined closely, and that the evidence on those points must be clear. They do not mean that every similar case will succeed. For a sponsor partner from Liechtenstein couple, the lesson is simple: keep the visitor visa history consistent, honest and documented.
When is the offshore Subclass 309 the better way to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein?
The offshore Subclass 309 is often the better choice when the partner wants to keep working in Liechtenstein or Switzerland during processing, when the eVisitor carries condition 8503, or when the couple is not yet ready to relocate. The application is lodged online from outside Australia, and the partner keeps their life in Europe until the visa is granted.
Many partners in Liechtenstein hold secure jobs in finance, industry or professional services. Leaving that work to wait in Australia on a bridging visa is a serious decision. A Subclass 309 lets the partner keep that income while the case is assessed, and the sponsor can continue to visit. The guide to partner visa offshore lodgement explains the steps. For a sponsor who wants to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein without asking the partner to give up a career early, the Subclass 309 is often the safer plan.
A partner with a pending Subclass 309 may be able to visit Australia during processing on a visitor visa. The answer on visiting Australia while a Subclass 309 is processed and the guide to a visitor visa during partner visa processing explain the conditions and the risks. A sponsor partner from Liechtenstein couple using this route should keep travel records for every visit, because those trips become relationship evidence.
The application must be lodged while the partner is physically outside Australia. The answer on an offshore application lodged in Australia explains why lodging from the wrong place causes an invalid application. The answer on whether the partner must be outside Australia when the Subclass 309 is granted covers the grant stage.
Comparing cost and processing time for each route
The visa application charge for a partner visa is from AUD 11,710 as at October 2026, whichever route is used to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein. The difference between the routes lies in processing time, where the partner lives during processing, and the risk created by visitor visa conditions.
As at October 2026, the Department reports that 50% of Subclass 820 applications are processed in 22 months and 90% in 30 months, and that 50% of Subclass 309 applications are processed in 21 months and 90% in 32 months. For the permanent stage, the Department reports 8 months and 19 months for the Subclass 801, and 9 months and 21 months for the Subclass 100. The guide to partner visa processing times and the answer comparing onshore and offshore processing times explain these figures.
The guide to partner visa cost sets out the charges in more detail. The answer comparing the Subclass 820 and Subclass 309 summarises how a sponsor might weigh the two routes, and the answer on the best time to lodge a partner visa helps with timing. There is no single correct route to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein. The choice should be made on the couple's facts before the partner travels, not after arrival.
How do Swiss and Austrian links affect a plan to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein?
They often add a second or third country to the application. Official Liechtenstein statistics record that at 31 December 2020, 22,511 of the 40,328 people employed in Liechtenstein commuted from abroad, which is 55.8%. Of those commuters, 58.1% lived in Switzerland and 38.0% in Austria.
That means a partner connected to Liechtenstein may live in Switzerland or Austria and work in Liechtenstein, or may be a Liechtenstein national who has studied or worked in Zurich, St. Gallen or Vienna. Each of those facts must be reflected consistently in the application. In a sponsor partner from Liechtenstein case, the forms should record every address and employer, in every country, for the period the forms ask about.
Police certificates from each country
Under Department practice, the applicant provides a police certificate from each country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16. A partner who has lived in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, or Liechtenstein and Austria, will usually need a certificate from each country. The Swiss Federal Office of Justice states that the Swiss criminal record extract is ordered online through the federal criminal record service or at a Swiss post office. The guide to overseas police certificates explains the general rule, and the answer on police checks for partner visas gives a summary.
Evidence of a home on the other side of the border
A couple who lived together in Switzerland or Austria, while one of them worked in Liechtenstein, must prove that shared home with records from the country where the home was. Lease documents, municipal registration records, utility accounts and bank statements showing the same address carry weight. The answer on living together overseas for 12 months and the answer on what counts as living together explain what the Department looks for. A sponsor partner from Liechtenstein case is stronger when every cross-border address is explained in the relationship statements.
Couples who live apart for work
Some couples keep separate homes during the week because of work in different countries. The guide on living apart for work explains how that is assessed, and the guide on temporary separation explains how to present periods apart. A sponsor partner from Liechtenstein application that explains why the couple lived apart, for how long, and how they stayed connected, is far stronger than one that leaves the gap unexplained.
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Is a Liechtenstein registered partnership recognised when you sponsor partner from Liechtenstein?
A Liechtenstein registered partnership is strong evidence of a de facto relationship and of commitment, but it is not a marriage for an Australian partner visa. The couple applies as de facto partners, and the relationship must meet the de facto definition in section 5CB of the Migration Act 1958.
The Liechtenstein National Administration states that, from 1 January 2025, marriage is open to both same-sex and mixed-sex couples, and that no new registered partnerships can be established in Liechtenstein from that date. It states that couples whose registered partnership was concluded before 31 December 2024 may keep it without taking any action, or may convert it into a marriage. A sponsor partner from Liechtenstein case may therefore involve a registered partnership, a converted marriage or a marriage entered into directly. Each of those situations is presented differently, and the couple should identify which one applies before the application is drafted.
The 12 month de facto requirement
For de facto applicants, regulation 2.03A(3) generally requires the de facto relationship to have existed for at least 12 months immediately before the application. Department policy explains that this requirement does not apply where the relationship is registered under a prescribed Australian State or Territory law, under regulation 2.03A(5). A Liechtenstein registered partnership is not a registration of that kind. It does not remove the 12 month requirement, although it helps prove the relationship. The answer on an overseas registered relationship and the guide to the Subclass 820 de facto 12 month rule explain the position.
Registering the relationship in Australia
A couple who cannot show 12 months may be able to register the relationship under a prescribed Australian State or Territory law, if they qualify to register in that jurisdiction. Department policy states that registration after lodgement but before the decision can still satisfy regulation 2.03A(5), but a receipt for a pending registration is not enough. For a couple who want to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein soon after deciding to move together, this can be important. The answer on where to register a relationship in Australia, the answer on registering a relationship while the partner is overseas and the answer on registering after lodging explain the options.
Marriages, including same-sex marriages
Department policy states that, from 9 December 2017, Part VA of the Marriage Act 1961 recognises foreign same-sex marriages that were valid where they were solemnised. A marriage entered into in Liechtenstein that was valid under Liechtenstein law is generally recognised. Where a registered partnership was converted into a marriage, the couple should obtain advice on how the conversion is recorded and which date the Department should treat as the date of marriage. The answer on same-sex marriage and the spouse visa, the page on the LGBTI partner visa and the answer on whether an overseas marriage is recognised explain the rules.
In 2306750 (Migration) [2026] ARTA 1754, decided on 11 May 2026 and concerning a Subclass 820 visa, the reported issues were that the couple were de facto at the time of application and were now validly married, had resided together, and held joint bank accounts. The decision under review was remitted. The case did not involve Liechtenstein. It shows that the status of a relationship can change during processing, and that shared residence and joint finances remain central evidence. It does not mean that every similar case will succeed.
Documents a Liechtenstein partner should prepare
The partner should prepare a valid passport, civil status documents, police certificates from each country of residence, and English translations of every document not in English. Most Liechtenstein documents are issued in German.
Identity and civil status documents
The partner's passport should remain valid for the life of the application. The answer on an expired passport during processing and the guide on a change of passport explain what to do when a passport is renewed. Birth, marriage and partnership records are held by the Civil Registry Office of the Liechtenstein National Administration. The guide on the partner visa marriage certificate explains what the Department expects to see. Names and dates of birth must match across every document in a sponsor partner from Liechtenstein application.
The Liechtenstein police certificate
Liechtenstein's criminal register is kept by the Landgericht (Princely Court of Justice) under the Act of 2 July 1974 on the criminal register. Article 8 of that Act allows the person concerned to request a certificate of the entries in the register, or confirmation that there are none, and the request must be refused if the applicant cannot prove their identity. The partner should obtain this certificate and any Swiss or Austrian certificate needed. The guide on expired police checks and the answer on police certificate and health check validity explain timing. To sponsor partner from Liechtenstein without delay, the certificates should be requested early enough to be current when the case is decided.
Translations, health and biometrics
Documents in German must be accompanied by accurate English translations. The guide to partner visa evidence translation explains the standard. The partner must also complete a health examination with a panel physician approved by the Department. The guide to the partner visa medical examination explains the process. If the Department asks for biometrics, the request will say where to provide them, and the guide to partner visa biometrics explains the step. A sponsor partner from Liechtenstein application should not assume that every appointment can be completed within Liechtenstein itself.
What relationship evidence works for couples from Liechtenstein?
The evidence must cover the four aspects in regulation 1.15A, the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment, across every country where the couple has lived. The guide to the four pillars of a partner visa explains each aspect.
For a sponsor partner from Liechtenstein case, useful evidence often includes a joint lease or registration at the same address in Liechtenstein, Switzerland or Austria, a registered partnership certificate, joint accounts or transfers in Swiss francs, travel records showing visits to Australia, and messages and calls between visits. The guide to partner visa financial evidence, the guide to household evidence and the guide to travel evidence explain each type.
Couples who keep separate finances, which is common where each partner has a career and assets in a different country, should explain that arrangement. The guide on separate finances explains how the Department looks at it. The relationship statements should tell the story in order, as the guide on relationship statements explains, and Form 888 witness statements from Australian citizens or permanent residents who know the couple support it. The answer on statements from overseas friends explains how friends in Liechtenstein can help. Evidence should be organised by date and by country, so that the officer can follow the sponsor partner from Liechtenstein story without guessing how the pieces fit.
What if the partner visa is refused?
If the visa is refused, the refusal can usually be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. The review application must be made within 28 days after notification of the refusal, or 7 days if the applicant is in immigration detention, and the period cannot be extended.
For a Subclass 820 or Subclass 309 refusal, the visa applicant applies for review. For a Subclass 300 refusal, the sponsor applies. The Tribunal fee for Part 5 migration review is AUD 3,727 as at October 2026, with a 50% reduction available for financial hardship, and it must be paid before the deadline. The page on partner visa refusals explains how the firm acts on review, and the guide to the ART review process explains the steps. A partner whose onshore application was refused should also read the guide to a bridging visa after refusal. A refused sponsor partner from Liechtenstein application should be reviewed immediately, because the 28 day period runs from notification.
Mistakes that weaken a plan to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein
The most common mistakes are travelling to Australia without checking the eVisitor for condition 8503, letting the eVisitor stay end before lodging the Subclass 820, and lodging a Subclass 309 while the partner is still in Australia.
Other mistakes include treating a Liechtenstein registered partnership as if it were a marriage, assuming that a foreign registration removes the 12 month de facto requirement, leaving out Swiss or Austrian addresses and police certificates, and using different passports in different forms. The guide to partner visa application mistakes lists more, and the guide to an invalid partner visa application explains what happens when an application is made from the wrong place or at the wrong time. The answer on having a lawyer check a partner visa before lodging explains the value of a review before anything is submitted. Most of these problems can be prevented if the plan to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein is checked before the partner books travel or lodges anything.
How My Migration Lawyers helps you sponsor partner from Liechtenstein
My Migration Lawyers acts for Australian sponsors whose partners live in Liechtenstein, or who live in Switzerland or Austria and work in Liechtenstein. The firm deals with complex partner visa cases, acts in many sponsor matters of this type, and is capable of handling a plan to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein where the route is not obvious, where the couple has lived in more than one country, or where a registered partnership or converted marriage must be explained.
For a sponsor partner from Liechtenstein matter, the firm's work typically includes:
- advising whether the Subclass 820, Subclass 309 or Subclass 300 suits the couple's work, family and timing, before the partner travels;
- checking the eVisitor grant notice for condition 8503 and setting the latest safe lodgement date for an onshore application;
- confirming the sponsor's eligibility, the sponsorship limitation and any police check the sponsor may be asked for, including from Liechtenstein or Switzerland;
- identifying every country where police certificates are needed, and planning the Liechtenstein, Swiss and Austrian requests;
- explaining how a registered partnership, a converted marriage or the 12 month de facto requirement applies to the couple, and whether an Australian registration is available;
- organising German-language civil records with English translations, and presenting the couple's own account and evidence of their shared life across borders in the form the law requires; and
- responding to Department requests and acting on Tribunal review if a refusal is made.
The firm does not create evidence or history. It presents the couple's own facts clearly, and it tells the sponsor plainly where the evidence is not yet strong enough to lodge.
If you plan to sponsor partner from Liechtenstein, or you need to decide quickly whether your partner should lodge in Australia during a visit, Book a Consultation with My Migration Lawyers. You can also call 1300 040 300. The partner visa questions hub answers many related questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sponsor my partner from Liechtenstein to Australia?
Yes. An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 or over can sponsor a partner from Liechtenstein for an Australian partner visa. The couple must prove a genuine and continuing relationship as spouses or de facto partners, or must be engaged for a Prospective Marriage visa. The partner can apply for the onshore Subclass 820 while in Australia or the offshore Subclass 309 while outside Australia. The sponsor lodges the sponsorship online after the visa application is lodged.
Can a Liechtenstein citizen visit Australia on an eVisitor?
Yes. A Liechtenstein passport is listed as an eVisitor eligible passport in the Migration (Specification of eVisitor eligible passport) Instrument (LIN 23/064) 2023. The Department describes the eVisitor as allowing the holder to visit Australia as often as they wish in a 12 month period, staying up to three months each time. A partner who lives in Liechtenstein but holds another nationality must check the visitor options for that other passport, because eligibility depends on nationality, not residence.
Can my Liechtenstein partner apply for a partner visa while in Australia on an eVisitor?
Often, yes, but only if the eVisitor does not carry condition 8503 (No Further Stay) or the condition has been waived. The Subclass 820 should be lodged while the eVisitor is still in effect. If the visitor stay has ended, the partner is applying without a substantive visa and the Schedule 3 criteria apply unless there are compelling reasons not to apply them. The grant notice should be checked before the partner travels, and the lodgement date planned carefully.
Is it better to apply onshore or offshore for a partner from Liechtenstein?
It depends on the couple's circumstances. The onshore Subclass 820 lets the couple live together in Australia during processing, but only works if the eVisitor has no condition 8503 and the application is lodged in time. The offshore Subclass 309 suits a partner who wants to keep working in Liechtenstein or Switzerland during processing. The visa application charge is the same, and the Department's published processing times for the two routes are similar as at October 2026.
Is a Liechtenstein registered partnership accepted for an Australian partner visa?
A Liechtenstein registered partnership is accepted as evidence of the relationship, but it is not a marriage for an Australian partner visa. The couple applies as de facto partners and must meet the de facto definition in section 5CB of the Migration Act 1958. The registered partnership also does not remove the 12 month de facto requirement, because only registration under a prescribed Australian State or Territory law has that effect under regulation 2.03A(5).
Does the 12 month de facto rule apply if we registered our partnership in Liechtenstein?
Yes. Regulation 2.03A(3) generally requires a de facto relationship to have existed for at least 12 months before the partner visa application. The exception in regulation 2.03A(5) applies only to relationships registered under a prescribed Australian State or Territory law. A Liechtenstein registration does not qualify. A couple without 12 months may consider registering in an Australian State or Territory if they are eligible there, or may rely on compelling and compassionate circumstances if those genuinely exist.
Are same-sex marriages from Liechtenstein recognised in Australia?
Generally, yes. Department policy states that from 9 December 2017, Part VA of the Marriage Act 1961 recognises foreign same-sex marriages that were valid where they were solemnised. The Liechtenstein National Administration states that marriage has been open to same-sex couples since 1 January 2025. Where a registered partnership was converted into a marriage, the couple should obtain advice on how the conversion is recorded and which date should be treated as the date of the marriage.
Which police certificates does a partner from Liechtenstein need?
Under Department practice, the partner needs a police certificate from each country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16. That usually means a Liechtenstein certificate, which is issued from the criminal register kept by the Landgericht. A partner who has lived in Switzerland or Austria for 12 months or more will usually also need a certificate from that country. The Swiss criminal record extract is ordered through the Swiss Federal Office of Justice.
My partner works in Liechtenstein but lives in Switzerland. Does that matter?
Yes. The application must record the partner's actual addresses and employment in each country, and police certificates may be needed from both Switzerland and Liechtenstein. If the couple lived together in Switzerland, the evidence of their shared home should come from Swiss records, such as a lease, municipal registration and utility accounts. Official Liechtenstein statistics show that more than half of the people employed in Liechtenstein commute from abroad, so this situation is common and must be explained clearly.
Do Liechtenstein documents need to be translated for a partner visa?
Yes. Any document not in English must be accompanied by an accurate English translation. Most Liechtenstein civil status documents, police certificates and municipal records are issued in German. The translation should be complete, including stamps and notes, and the names and dates must match the passport. Inconsistent spellings across German and English documents should be explained, because the Department relies on identity details being consistent across every form and document.
How long does a partner visa take for a partner from Liechtenstein?
The same published processing times apply as for any other applicant. As at October 2026, the Department reports that 50% of Subclass 820 applications are processed in 22 months and 90% in 30 months, and that 50% of Subclass 309 applications are processed in 21 months and 90% in 32 months. A complete application with consistent documents from every country of residence gives the Department fewer reasons to send requests for further information.
Can I sponsor my partner from Liechtenstein while I am living there?
Yes. An Australian citizen can sponsor while living overseas, and the couple will usually lodge an offshore Subclass 309 from Liechtenstein or Switzerland. The sponsor still gives the undertaking to provide accommodation and financial assistance for the partner's first two years in Australia, so the sponsor should be able to explain plans to return. A permanent resident sponsor living overseas should check that their own status and travel facility remain in place.
Can my partner from Liechtenstein visit me in Australia while a Subclass 309 is processed?
Possibly. A partner with a pending Subclass 309 may apply for a visitor visa to visit Australia during processing, and a Liechtenstein national may be able to use an eVisitor. The visit must be a genuine visit. The partner should check any condition 8503 on the visitor visa and should not lodge another visa application while in Australia without advice. Each visit should be documented, because travel together is useful relationship evidence.
Does the Australian Embassy in Bern handle partner visas for Liechtenstein?
DFAT states that the Australian Embassy in Bern is accredited to Liechtenstein. Partner visa applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount, not at the embassy, and the sponsor lodges the sponsorship online using the application's Transaction Reference Number. The Department will tell the partner if biometrics are needed and where to provide them, and the health examination is completed with a panel physician approved by the Department.
Should we use the Prospective Marriage visa if we want to marry in Australia?
It can suit a couple who are engaged, have met in person, and want to marry in Australia. The Subclass 300 is lodged while the partner is outside Australia, and the couple must marry within the visa period before applying for the Subclass 820. Couples who are already in a de facto relationship of 12 months or more often apply for a Subclass 309 or Subclass 820 instead. The right choice depends on timing and evidence.
What happens if the partner visa for my Liechtenstein partner is refused?
The refusal can usually be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. The application must be made within 28 days after notification of the refusal, or 7 days if the applicant is in immigration detention, and the time cannot be extended. For a Subclass 820 or Subclass 309 refusal the visa applicant applies, and for a Subclass 300 refusal the sponsor applies. The Tribunal fee is AUD 3,727 as at October 2026, with a reduction for financial hardship.
Weiwei Zhang is the Principal Lawyer and Managing Director of My Migration Lawyers. My Migration Lawyers is one of Australia's leading immigration law firms, dedicated exclusively to Australian immigration law. The firm represents individuals, families and businesses across all areas of migration law, with particular expertise in complex immigration matters, Partner Visas, Protection Visas, corporate migration, visa refusals, Administrative Review Tribunal reviews, judicial reviews and visa cancellations.
