For couples planning to build a life together, the subclass 300 prospective marriage visa offers a clear pathway to reunite in Australia before marriage. It allows you to focus on building your life side by side while preparing for your wedding and the next stage of your relationship.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through each step so that you can plan ahead and make the right choice to live in Australia with your spouse.
What is the Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300?
The subclass 300 visa is a temporary visa that allows an engaged person to marry their Australian fiancé in the same region. Once the visa is granted, you can stay in Australia for up to 9 to 15 months.
During this period, you are expected to marry your partner and then you can apply for a Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) to continue living with them in the country. The subclass 300 visa also allows you to work and study in Australia.
Advantages of a Prospective Marriage Visa
The prospective marriage visa subclass 300 not only allows couples to be together but also smooths the transition to long-term settlement. It supports both relationship development and future visa planning in the following ways:
- Stronger Evidence for Partner Visa: Living together in Australia helps you build joint financial, social and household evidence.
- Flexibility in Wedding Planning: Since the visa is valid for several months, you can freely choose a date, location and arrangement that suits both families.
- Work and Study Rights: You are allowed to work and study in Australia during your stay, which helps you stay financially independent and gain more knowledge in your field of study.
- Travelling Freedom: With a subclass 300 visa, you can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want till the validity of the visa.
Eligibility Criteria of Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa
To apply for the subclass 300, both the applicant and the sponsor must meet a set of requirements. The following eligibility criteria are made to ensure that the relationship is genuine and that both individuals are legally and practically ready for marriage:
- The applicant had not had a visa cancelled or a refused application.
- You must be outside Australia at the time of the Subclass visa 300 application.
- Your sponsor must be your prospective spouse.
- You and your fiancé must be over 18 years of age.
- Your sponsor should apply to sponsor you as soon as after you apply for this visa.
- Your fiancé must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- You and any family member applying for the subclass 300 visa must meet the Australian health and character requirements.
- You should not have any debt to the Australian Government.
Required Documents for Subclass 300 Marriage Visa
Preparing the right documents for the subclass 300 visa is essential, as proper documentation shows the authenticity of your relationship. Here are a few documents you need to submit at the time of visa application:
Personal Documents
- Passport
- National identity card
- Divorce certificate (if applicable)
- Proof of evidence to get married
- Birth certificate
- Health Certificate
- Sponsor documents
Character Documents
- Australian Federal Police Clearance (where applicable)
- Offshore Police Clearance(s) Certificate
Evidence of Relationship
- Evidence of your engagement
- Evidence of intention to live jointly as a married couple
Steps to Apply for The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa
Following the correct sequence of steps and submitting complete information can help you submit a smoother application. Here’s how you can do that:
- You need to set up an ImmiAccount through the Department of Home Affairs to lodge and manage your application.
- Fill out the visa application form carefully and upload all supporting documents through your ImmiAccount.
- Pay the Visa Application Fee
- Your partner must submit a sponsorship application and provide their supporting documents separately.
- Respond to Additional Requests
- Wait for the Visa Decision
PR Pathway of Prospective Marriage Visa
The subclass 300 visa is the starting point of living with your spouse in Australia. It follows a clear three-stage process, where each of the following steps builds on your relationship and legal status in Australia:
- You enter Australia on the prospective marriage visa 300 and marry your partner within the visa validity period.
- After marriage, apply for the Subclass 820 Partner Visa before your visa expires. This allows you to stay in Australia until your permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) application is finalised.
- Once you have held the Subclass 820 visa and your relationship is reassessed, you may be granted the Subclass 801 visa.
However, the subclass 801 visa is only applicable for individuals who hold a temporary partner visa.
What is the Cost of a Prospective Marriage Visa?
The visa 300 involves a government application fee along with additional charges depending on your situation. Here is a quick look at the common charges:
| Applicant Type | Cost Updated as of April 2026(AUD) |
| Primary Applicant | From 9,365 |
| Additional Applicant (18+) | From 4,685 |
| Additional Applicant (<18) | From 2,345 |
*The visa cost is subject to change depending on individual application factors.
In addition to the visa fee, you may need to pay for the following documentation:
- Health examinations
- Police certificates
- Document translation or certification
- Biometrics (if required)
How to Apply for Partner Visa 820/801?
Applying for the Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) is a two-stage process where you lodge one combined application while in Australia. The temporary visa (820) is assessed first, followed by the permanent visa (801) after your relationship is reviewed over time. Here’s a quick look at the Partner Visa application process:
- Step 1: Be in Australia and Check Eligibility
- Step 2: Create an ImmiAccount
- Step 3: Prepare Your Documents
- Step 4: Lodge a Combined Application (820/801)
- Step 5: Pay the Visa Application Fee
- Step 6: Wait for the Subclass 820 visa decision
Processing Time of Prospective Marriage Visa
The visa processing time is published as an indicative range based on recently finalised applications. The average duration of the subclass 300 visa application is as follows:
| Visa Type | 50% of the Application | 90% of the Application |
| Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300) | 13 Months | 31 Months |
Conclusion
The prospective marriage visa subclass 300 gives you and your fiancé, residing in Australia, a clear pathway to live together in Australia. With this visa, you can live in Australia for 9 to 15 months, during which you get enough time to marry your partner. After that, you can apply for permanent residency from the Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) application. To help you lodge a PR application, you can take help from regional experts like an Immigration Agent Perth. They can help you understand your visa obligations and ways to appropriately lodge the application.
