Applying for a Prospective Marriage Visa?
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Are you in a relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and planning to get married soon? If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, you could be eligible for an Australian Prospective Marriage visa.
If granted, a Prospective Marriage visa will give you:
-
The right to enter Australia for up to
15 months - The right to work and study in Australia during your visa
- The ability to travel to and from Australia as often as you need
Is this visa right for me?
Are you eligible to apply for the subclass 300 visa?
You may be eligible to apply if you:
- Are outside Australia at the time of application
- Are at least 18 years old
- Are engaged to an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen
- Have met your partner in person at least once
- Intend to marry within 9 to 15 months of the visa being granted
- Meet all health and character requirements
- Have a sponsor who is willing and eligible to support your application
Intention to marry your Australian partner
As part of your application, you must demonstrate a clear and genuine intention to marry your partner. This includes lodging a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) with a registered celebrant in Australia and providing information about your planned wedding.
The Department of Home Affairs also requires evidence that you and your partner plan to live together as spouses after marriage. This helps confirm the relationship is authentic and long-term in nature.
Intention to live together as spouses
The Department of Home Affairs also requires evidence that you and your partner plan to live together as spouses after marriage. This helps confirm the relationship is authentic and long-term in nature.
How do I get ready to apply?
The prospective marriage visa application condition
To apply for the 300 visa, you must be located outside of Australia at the time of application. You must be engaged to an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Once the visa is approved, it provides a stay of up to 15 months, during which you must marry your partner and apply for a partner visa.
How to file your application for the visa subclass 300?
Lodging a subclass 300 application involves preparing detailed evidence of your relationship, intent to marry, and eligibility. At Hansen Migration, our process includes:
- A free consultation to confirm your eligibility
- A tailored document checklist and relationship evidence support
- Full preparation and lodgement of your application
- Ongoing monitoring and updates to the application.
- Guidance on your next steps, including applying for the Partner Visa after marriage
How can you apply for the subclass 300 visa?
Applications must be submitted online through the Department of Home Affairs’ ImmiAccount system. Many applicants choose to work with a Registered Migration Agent to ensure the process is handled professionally and efficiently, reducing the risk of errors or delays.
The type of evidence to be provided includes the following:
- Photographs together across different times and places
- Travel bookings or itineraries showing shared trips
- Screenshots of messages, emails, or call logs
- A letter of support from a Marriage Celebrant in Australia, or marriage confirmation
- Statements from friends or family who know the relationship
- A personal statement describing how your relationship began and how it developed
What will it cost?
The current application fees for lodging a subclass 300 visa application
The following are government fees as of the latest update:
- Main applicant: $9,365 AUD
- Each additional applicant 18 or older: $4,685 AUD
- Each additional applicant under 18: $2,345 AUD
These fees do not include health checks, police clearances, or professional service fees.
Other expected costs
In addition to the visa application fee, you should budget for:
- Health examinations
- Police clearance certificates from any country where you’ve lived
- Certified translations of documents (if not in English)
- Agent or legal service fees (if applicable)
How long will it take?
How long will it take for a decision to be made on your subclass 300 application?
The prospective marriage visa subclass 300 processing time varies depending on your case and current government workloads. In our experience most applications are processed within 9 to 18 months.
Can you visit your partner in Australia whilst the subclass 300 visa is being processed?
Yes. You can apply separately for a Visitor Visa to visit your partner while your 300 Visa is under assessment.
What happens after a decision is made?
What happens if the subclass 300 visa is granted?
If approved, you’ll be allowed to:
- Live in Australia for up to 15 months
- Work and study with no restrictions
- Travel freely in and out of the country
Get married and apply for the onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801)
What happens if the subclass 300 visa is refused?
A refusal may occur if the Department is not satisfied with your relationship evidence, if required documents are missing, or if eligibility criteria aren’t met. In some cases, you may be able to appeal the decision. Working with an experienced migration agent significantly reduces the risk of refusal.
The 300 visa process to permanent residency
This visa is the first step in a three-stage migration pathway:
- Stage 1: Apply for the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa while outside Australia
- Stage 2: Marry your partner during the timeframe which the Prospective Marriage is valid, then apply for a Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) onshore.
- Stage 3: Lodge stage 2 of the partner visa application after 2 years.
The Prospective Marriage visa is also one of the best pathways to a permanent Partner visa. If you want to try living in Australia before deciding to settle permanently, or are still building supporting evidence for your partner visa, a Prospective Marriage visa could be a great solution.
And don’t worry – if you’re not sure what your best course of action might be, we can help! At Hansen Migration, we specialise in Australian Marriage and Partner visas. Our Registered Migration Agents have lodged applications for people from all over the world, with a 100% approval rate.
Give yourself the best chance of a fast, successful visa application. Book your free consultation today.
What is a Prospective Marriage visa?
A Prospective Marriage visa (also known as a fiancé visa, or a subclass 300 visa) is a temporary visa. It allows you to travel to Australia to marry your partner. If you decide you want to stay in Australia permanently, you can then apply for a permanent Partner visa, without having to leave the country.
If granted, a Prospective Marriage visa can give you:
- The right to stay in Australia for up to 15 months from the date of grant
- The ability to work and study in Australia during your stay
- The ability to travel to and from Australia as often as you need during this period
Who is eligible for a Prospective Marriage visa?
A Prospective Marriage visa is available to prospective spouses of Australian citizens,
permanent residents of Australia, and eligible New Zealand citizens. If you are in a genuine, committed relationship with one of the above, you may be able to apply.
You may also be able to include eligible family members in your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll need to submit a range of documents showing your history together — including photographs, travel records, communication logs, wedding confirmation or a marriage celebrant letter of support, and personal statements that show the progression of your relationship.
Yes. If you have dependent children, they can be included in your application. They are eligible for the same rights and conditions as you.
Yes. The visa requires a formal intention to marry. This is typically demonstrated by lodging a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) with a celebrant and providing other evidence such as wedding planning details.
Absolutely. The 300 Visa is available to all eligible couples, including same-sex couples. Australia recognises same-sex marriages and engagement relationships equally under migration law.
That’s completely acceptable — as long as you’ve met in person at least once and can show you’ve built a real, committed relationship, your application can still be considered strong.
Once you marry your partner in Australia, you’ll be eligible to apply for the onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801). After two years, if the relationship continues, stage 2 of the partner visa application can be lodged with the Department of Home Affairs.
Download Your Free Family Visa Handbook
Looking for more details on the different visas and the requirements? We’ve put together this handy guide to help answer your questions. Just click below to download a copy today.
If you’ve still got questions after reading it, don’t stress – we can help. Book a free consultation with one of our Registered Migration Agents today.
