Subclass 300 Visa Expiring Before the Wedding: What If You Cannot Marry in Time?

A Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa is temporary and Home Affairs requires the visa holder to marry their prospective spouse before the visa period ends. If the wedding is delayed and the Subclass 300 is approaching expiry, the issue should be addressed before the visa ceases.

Home Affairs currently grants the Subclass 300 for 9 to 15 months from the date of grant. The exact expiry date appears on the grant notice and in VEVO.

Can you simply extend the Subclass 300?

There is no ordinary extension application that simply adds more months to an existing Subclass 300 because the wedding was postponed. If the visa is nearing expiry, the couple needs to consider the actual reason for delay, current location, whether the marriage can still occur in time and what other lawful visa options may exist.

Do you have to hold a large wedding before the visa expires?

No. The immigration requirement is about entering a legally valid marriage with the sponsoring prospective spouse before the Subclass 300 expires. The couple can hold a larger celebration later. If timing is becoming difficult, a legally valid civil marriage before expiry may be more important than preserving the original ceremony date.

Can you marry outside Australia?

Yes. Home Affairs expressly states that a Subclass 300 holder can marry in any country, provided the marriage is valid under Australian law and occurs before the Prospective Marriage Visa expires. This can be useful where family, religious or practical circumstances make an overseas wedding preferable.

What happens after the marriage?

If the couple wants to remain in Australia, the usual next step is to lodge the combined Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa application after marriage and before the Subclass 300 ends. Eligible Subclass 300 holders also qualify for a reduced Partner Visa application charge compared with most ordinary onshore Partner Visa applicants.

What if the Subclass 300 expires before you marry?

If the visa expires while the holder is in Australia and no other visa is in effect, the person can become unlawful. The later availability of an onshore Partner Visa can also become more complicated because Schedule 3 and other validity or status issues may arise. Do not wait until after expiry to seek advice.

What if illness, pregnancy or another serious event delayed the wedding?

The reason for delay may be relevant to visa strategy, but it does not automatically change the expiry date printed on the grant notice. The couple should preserve evidence of the circumstances and obtain advice before the deadline.

Case example

A Subclass 300 holder planned a large wedding for the final month of the visa, but the venue cancelled unexpectedly. Rather than allowing the visa to expire while waiting for a replacement event, the couple arranged a legally valid civil marriage before expiry, obtained the official marriage certificate and lodged the 820/801 Partner Visa application while the Subclass 300 was still valid. The larger family celebration took place later.

If your wedding is delayed, check these dates now

• The exact Subclass 300 expiry date in VEVO.
• The earliest date a valid marriage can be completed.
• When the official marriage certificate will be available.
• The time needed to prepare the 820/801 application.
• Whether overseas travel is needed for the marriage.
• Whether any other visa could replace the Subclass 300 and affect the reduced 820/801 charge.

Home Affairs confirms the 9-to-15-month visa period and marriage-before-expiry requirement on the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa page. See our Subclass 300 hub and 820/801 Partner Visa hub.

General information only. If a Subclass 300 is close to expiry, visa status and next-step options should be checked urgently.