Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300)

The Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) allows people who are engaged to Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to come to Australia to get married. This is a temporary visa that gives you 9 to 15 months to travel to Australia, marry your fiancé(e), and apply for a longer-term Partner visa if you want to stay.

With this visa, you can start your life in Australia and prepare for marriage, knowing that it also opens a pathway to apply for permanent residency after you’re married. Once married, you can apply for the Partner visas (Subclass 820 and 801) to live in Australia long-term. This visa is a great option for couples who want to build their future together in Australia.

Benefits of the Subclass 300 Visa

Temporary Residency

Live, work, and study in Australia for 9 to 15 months from the visa grant date

Travel in and out of Australia

You are free to travel in and out of Australia during the visa's validity period.

Settle in Australia

If you want to reside in Australia, you can apply for a partner visa (subclass 820 and 801) after you are married and before your subclass 300 visa ends.

Subclass 300 Visa

MAIN REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa, you must meet the following requirements:

Sponsorship
You must have a sponsor both when you apply and throughout the time you hold this visa. Your sponsor will be your fiancé(whome you met in person at least once, and they must be approved….), and they must be approved by us to qualify as your sponsor. Your prospective spouse must be an:
- Australian Citizen
- Australian permanent resident or;
- Eligible New Zealand citizen

Current Location Requirement
You must be outside Australia when you apply for this visa.

Age Requirement
You and your sponsor must be 18 years old or older when you apply for this visa.

Visa Application History in Australia
If you've previously had a visa canceled or an application refused, you may not be eligible for this visa.

Health and Character
You and any family members included in your application must meet Australia’s health and character requirements, including medical exams and police checks.

Not had a visa canceled or an application refused

Supplementary information

  • Your relationship can be with someone of the same or different sex.

  • If you are experiencing domestic and family violence, You can apply for consideration to be granted your temporary and permanent visa. More information about the Family Violence Provisions.

Steps to apply for the Subclass 300 Visa

Gather Documents

Collect the necessary documents to prove your identity, relationship with your fiancé(e), and intention to marry. This may include personal identification documents, evidence of your engagement, and wedding plans.

  1  

Submit the Application

Lodge your application online through ImmiAccount. Your Australian fiancé(e) will need to complete a sponsorship form as part of the application.

  2  

Health and Character Checks

Complete your health examinations and provide police clearance certificates from any country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

  3  

Await Decision

The Department of Home Affairs will assess your application. During this time, they may request further documentation to verify your relationship and wedding plans.

  4  

Visa Grant

If your application is approved, you will be granted the Subclass 300 visa, allowing you to travel to Australia and marry your fiancé(e) within the 9-month period.

  5  

Current Processing Time: Subclass 300 Visa

When it comes to the processing timeline, several factors can impact your application. These include the quality of submitted documents and the volume of applications received by the Department.

50% applications are processed in 90% applications are processed in
13 Months 25 Months

Eligibility criteria for the permanent Partner visa (subclass 820 and 801)

If you and your fiancé plan to settle in Australia, you should apply for a Partner visa (subclass 820 and 801) after your marriage and before your Prospective Marriage visa expires. By applying before your Prospective Marriage visa ends, you’ll pay a lower fee for the Partner visa.

Frequently

Asked       

Questions

  • The current average processing time for the subclass 300 visa is between 13 and 25 months (covering 50-90% of applications). This is an estimate and may vary. Your processing time will depend on factors like submitting all required documents in the correct format and whether any issues arise, such as questions about your genuine intention to live together as spouses. These issues may lead to additional investigations, which can extend processing time.

  • Due to the long processing times for the subclass 300 visa, you may consider applying for a visitor visa to visit your partner in Australia during this period. A visitor visa is typically granted for a short stay (usually 3 months) and requires you to meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement, which means you must show that your visit is temporary and for a specific purpose, such as visiting your partner.

  • If you and your fiancé plan to settle in Australia, you can apply for a Partner visa (subclass 820 and 801) after your marriage and before your Prospective Marriage visa expires. By applying before your Prospective Marriage visa ends, you’ll pay a lower fee for the Partner visa.

  • This temporary visa is valid for up to 9 to 15 months, giving the applicant time to travel to Australia, marry their partner, and apply for a Partner visa (Subclass 820 and 801) to further stay in Australia.