Partner Visa
AustraliaTM
Prospective Marriage Visa: Subclass 300
If your partner holds Australian citizenship or permanent residency and you are engaged to be married, the Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) allows you to come to Australia, marry your partner, and then apply for a partner visa as your pathway to permanent residency. We are a registered migration agent service helping both sponsors and applicants prepare and lodge their Subclass 300 application and manage the transition to a partner visa following the marriage.
What Is the Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)?
The Prospective Marriage Visa is a temporary visa for the engaged partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. It allows the applicant to travel to Australia, marry their sponsor, and then apply for an onshore partner visa as the next step toward permanent residency.
Best suited for
Engaged couples where the applicant is outside Australia and intends to marry their Australian partner and settle in Australia
Visa validity
Up to 15 months from the date of grant
Key condition
The applicant must enter Australia and marry the sponsor before the visa expires
Key benefit
Once married, the applicant can apply for the onshore partner visa (Subclass 820/801) without leaving Australia. A reduced application fee applies at the partner visa stage for Subclass 300 holders
The Subclass 300 is a single-stage visa. It does not lead directly to permanent residency, instead, the pathway to permanent residency is through the subsequent partner visa application lodged after the marriage. The two-year clock for the permanent partner visa stage begins from the date the Subclass 820/801 application is lodged after the marriage, not from the Subclass 300 lodgement date.
Eligibility
Both the applicant and the sponsor must meet separate requirements before the Subclass 300 can be granted.
Applicant Requirements
Location
Must be outside Australia at the time of lodgement and at the time the visa is granted
Relationship
Must be genuinely engaged to an eligible Australian sponsor and intend to marry before the visa expires
Face-to-face requirement
The applicant and sponsor must have met each other in person as adults
Legal impediment
There must be no legal impediment to the marriage under Australian law
Age
Both parties must be of marriageable age under Australian law — generally 18 years or older
Health and character
Medical examination and police clearances required
Sponsor Requirements
Status
Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
Age
18 years or older
Sponsorship history
Sponsorship limitations apply. If the sponsor has previously sponsored a partner visa or been sponsored themselves, waiting periods and approval requirements may apply
Character
Must not have convictions for relevant offences involving violence or harm
What the Department of Home Affairs Assesses
Proving Your Relationship to the Department The Subclass 300 differs from other partner visa subclasses as the evidentiary requirements and 12-month de facto cohabitation requirement do not apply. The focus is on genuine intention to marry and a genuine, continuing relationship. Our registered migration agents build your evidence file to reflect what the Department looks for at assessment.
Met in person
This may include photographs together, travel records, statements from friends and family, and joint bookings.
Know each other personally
This may include records of communication that demonstrate the development of your relationship over time.
Intention to marry
Evidence may include a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM), a letter from your authorised marriage celebrant, and wedding enquiries or plans.
Intention to live together as spouses
Evidence may include financial, household, social and commitment evidence demonstrating your ongoing relationship, as well as plans for growing your connection to a spousal level upon arrival in Australia.
Identity, Health, and Character Documents
Identity, health, and character checks are mandatory for every applicant and must be completed before the visa is granted. The table below sets out what is required and what to watch for.
Prospective Marriage Visa Application Costs
Knowing the full cost upfront lets you plan properly and move forward with confidence. Below is a complete breakdown of the Department of Home Affairs application charges.
Primary applicant
AUD $11,710
Covers both stages. Non-refundable once lodged
Secondary applicant — 18 or older
AUD $5,860
Per additional applicant
Secondary applicant — under 18
AUD $2,935
Per additional applicant
Subsequent partner visa — Subclass 820/801
AUD $1,955
Reduced fee applies for Subclass 300 holders transitioning to the onshore partner visa after marriage
Beyond the government application charge, most applicants will need to budget for additional costs specific to their situation. These typically include health examinations, police clearances from relevant countries, and NAATI-accredited translations for documents not in English. The amounts vary depending on your circumstances and country of origin. Contact us to get a complete picture of the total costs involved in your application.
Please note: Government visa application charges are reviewed and typically adjusted by the Department of Home Affairs each July. The figures in this table reflect the 2026–27 financial year. If you are reading this page after 1 July 2027, some charges may have changed. We recommend confirming current fees at the Department of Home Affairs visa pricing estimator or contacting us directly before you budget for your application.
Prospective Marriage Visa Processing Timeframes
Subclass 300 — Prospective Marriage Visa
| Percentile | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Half of applications | Approximately 13 months |
| Most applications | Approximately 23 months |
Processing times for the Subclass 300 can be lengthy relative to the visa's validity period. Applicants should plan accordingly including considerations toward if the visa is granted close to the end of processing, the available time to enter Australia, arrange and complete the marriage, and lodge the subsequent partner visa application before the visa expires may be limited. A decision-ready application with complete relationship evidence and wedding preparation documentation at lodgement is better positioned for timely processing. Contact us to discuss what a realistic timeline looks like for your specific situation.
Please note: Processing times are published by the Department of Home Affairs as percentile estimates and are updated monthly. The figures above reflect data available in early 2026. Actual processing times vary depending on the complexity of the application, the completeness of evidence provided at lodgement, and application volumes at the time of decision. These figures are a guide only and are not a guarantee of when your application will be decided.
Frequently Asked Questions
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