Stage 1
Subclass 300
Apply from outside Australia as the prospective spouse of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. If granted, enter Australia within the requirements in the grant letter.
ApplyOutside Australia
Stay9–15 months
Work & studyPermitted
TravelMultiple entry
Next step820/801 after marriage
Subclass 300 explained
A temporary fiancé visa designed to lead into the onshore Partner Visa pathway.
Home Affairs states that Subclass 300 allows a person to come to Australia to marry their prospective spouse and then apply for a Partner Visa.
The application is not only about proving an engagement. It must show that the couple meet the statutory relationship and sponsorship requirements and genuinely intend to marry.
The primary applicant must be outside Australia when the Subclass 300 application is lodged. The visa, if granted, permits the holder to live, work and study in Australia for the period specified in the grant letter—currently 9 to 15 months from grant—and to travel in and out of Australia while it remains valid.
You and your prospective spouse must have met face to face as adults since turning 18 and be known to each other personally when the application is made. The proposed marriage must occur before the visa period ends.
The marriage can take place in Australia or another country, provided it is valid under Australian law.
The pathway
Subclass 300 is the bridge between engagement and the onshore 820/801 Partner Visa.
The visa should be planned as part of a sequence rather than treated as an isolated application.
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Stage 2
Marry during the visa period
Marry your prospective spouse before the Subclass 300 expires. The marriage must be valid under Australian law.
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Stage 3
Apply for 820/801
After marriage, lodge the onshore Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa while in Australia and before the Prospective Marriage Visa ends.
Why timing matters: Home Affairs states that Subclass 300 holders who apply for the 820/801 Partner Visa before the 300 ends are eligible for a lower Partner Visa application charge. Obtaining another visa can replace the Subclass 300 and affect that concession.
Core eligibility
The fiancé relationship, sponsor and location rules all matter.
Meeting one requirement does not cure a problem with another. The application should address each legal criterion deliberately.
Applicant and relationship
- You and the sponsor must generally be at least 18 years old.
- You must have met face to face as adults since turning 18 and know each other personally.
- You must genuinely intend to marry before the visa period ends.
- The applicant must be outside Australia when the Subclass 300 application is lodged.
- Applicable health and character requirements must be met.
Sponsor
- The sponsor is the prospective spouse.
- They must generally be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- The sponsor must complete the sponsorship process and be approved.
- Prior sponsorships, Partner Visa history and other statutory limitations should be checked before lodgement.
Subclass 300 or Partner Visa?
Make sure the Prospective Marriage Visa is actually the right pathway before you pay the application charge.
Subclass 300 is designed for prospective spouses who are not yet married. If you are already married or already qualify as de facto partners, an offshore 309/100 or onshore 820/801 Partner Visa may remove an unnecessary stage.
Subclass 300
- Typical relationship
- Engaged and genuinely intending to marry
- Where you apply
- Primary applicant outside Australia
- Visa structure
- Temporary fiancé visa, then a separate 820/801 application after marriage
- Best fit when
- You are not yet married and do not currently use a spouse/de facto Partner Visa pathway
Subclass 309/100
- Typical relationship
- Married or qualifying de facto partners
- Where you apply
- Primary applicant outside Australia
- Visa structure
- Combined provisional and permanent Partner Visa pathway
- Explore
- 309/100 Partner Visa hub
Subclass 820/801
- Typical relationship
- Married or qualifying de facto partners
- Where you apply
- Primary applicant in Australia
- Visa structure
- Combined temporary and permanent Partner Visa pathway
- Explore
- 820/801 Partner Visa hub
Not sure which route applies? We assess the relationship status, applicant location, de facto duration, sponsor history and current visa position before recommending a pathway.
Evidence strategy
Show the relationship, the in-person meeting and the genuine intention to marry.
The strongest applications combine relationship history with objective evidence of the couple's contact, engagement and wedding plans.
Your story
- How you met
- How the relationship developed
- Visits and time together
- Future plans
Face-to-face evidence
- Travel records
- Photographs together
- Passport stamps
- Bookings and itineraries
Wedding evidence
- Celebrant or venue correspondence
- Wedding arrangements
- Invitations or planning
- Evidence the marriage will occur during the visa period
Form 888 evidence
- Two witnesses aged 18+
- They know both partners
- They know the relationship history
- Evidence of witness status where relevant
Subclass 300 document checklist
What evidence should a decision-ready Prospective Marriage Visa application contain?
The exact documents vary by case. The aim is not to upload everything you own; it is to present a coherent record that proves identity, sponsor eligibility, the relationship, the face-to-face meeting and the genuine intention to marry.
Identity & civil status
- Current passport and identity documents
- Birth certificate or alternative identity evidence
- Name-change documents where applicable
- Divorce, annulment or death certificates from previous relationships where relevant
Relationship & meeting in person
- Relationship chronology
- Travel records and passport stamps
- Photographs together
- Communication records while apart
- Financial support and shared plans where relevant
Genuine intention to marry
- Celebrant or registry correspondence
- Notice of Intended Marriage evidence where applicable
- Venue, ceremony or wedding planning records
- Engagement evidence and family involvement
- Plans to live together as spouses
Sponsor material
- Evidence of Australian citizenship, permanent residence or eligible New Zealand status
- Sponsor identity documents
- Prior Partner Visa sponsorship history
- Relationship statement and supporting records
Character, health & Form 80
- Police certificates when appropriately timed
- Military records where applicable
- Form 80 where requested or required by the application process
- Health examinations when directed
Children & translations
- Birth and identity documents for dependent children
- Parental responsibility or consent material where relevant
- Evidence of dependency where required
- English translations of non-English documents
Evidence quality matters more than volume. Home Affairs recommends providing required information with the application and keeping relationship evidence updated while a long-running application is being processed.
Application process
A practical Subclass 300 process from engagement to Partner Visa.
A well-managed file plans beyond the 300 grant so the marriage and later 820/801 application do not become an afterthought.
Legal assessment
Confirm eligibility, sponsor status, in-person meeting history and any visa or sponsorship issues.
Relationship & wedding evidence
Build the chronology, collect witness material and document genuine marriage plans.
Lodge Subclass 300
Submit the visa application from outside Australia and provide the sponsor with the application details needed for sponsorship.
Update while waiting
Keep relationship and wedding evidence current and respond to health, character or information requests.
Enter and marry
Comply with the grant requirements and marry before the visa expires.
Lodge 820/801
After marriage, prepare the onshore Partner Visa application before the Subclass 300 ends.
After you lodge
What happens while a Subclass 300 application is being processed?
Prospective Marriage Visa processing can be lengthy. A strong file is maintained after lodgement rather than treated as finished the day it is submitted.
Add important visits, wedding planning, address changes, new passports and significant relationship evidence through ImmiAccount where appropriate.
Police certificates and health results can expire. Their timing should be considered against current processing times so they do not unnecessarily need to be repeated.
If Home Affairs asks for additional documents or clarification, the response should directly address the request, explain any missing evidence and remain consistent with the original application.
Not every Subclass 300 applicant is interviewed. If an interview is requested, the applicant and sponsor should be able to explain the relationship chronology, time spent together, wedding plans and any apparent inconsistencies accurately.
A pending Subclass 300 application does not itself give a right to enter Australia. Any separate temporary visa application is assessed on its own criteria and should remain consistent with the Partner Visa strategy.
Marriage before decision, relationship breakdown, a new child, passport changes and other material changes can alter the application or require notification.
After the Subclass 300 is granted
Your grant letter starts a new countdown: entry, marriage and the 820/801 application.
The Subclass 300 does not automatically turn into permanent residence. The couple must complete the marriage and then lodge a separate onshore Partner Visa application if they want to continue toward permanent residence.
1
Read the grant letter carefully
Check the visa validity period, first-entry requirement and any conditions. The current visa period is 9 to 15 months from grant.
2
Enter Australia and marry before expiry
The marriage can occur in Australia or overseas, but it must be valid under Australian law and take place before the Subclass 300 visa period ends.
3
Obtain the marriage evidence
Keep the official marriage certificate and continue building financial, household, social and commitment evidence for the Partner Visa application.
4
Lodge the 820/801 before the 300 ends
Home Affairs currently lists a lower Partner Visa application charge for eligible Subclass 300 holders who apply before their Prospective Marriage Visa ends.
5
Check Medicare and health cover separately
Subclass 300 by itself does not automatically establish Medicare eligibility. After an eligible permanent-residence application such as the combined 820/801 is lodged, Medicare eligibility may arise if Services Australia criteria are met. Reciprocal health care arrangements can also be relevant.
Complex Subclass 300 matters
Some fiancé visa cases need a legal strategy, not just a checklist.
Changes in relationship status, sponsor history and immigration history can materially change the pathway.
You marry before the 300 is decided
Home Affairs states that if you marry before decision, you are no longer eligible for Subclass 300. The Department must be notified and a request may be made for consideration under the offshore 309/100 Partner Visa pathway, together with withdrawal of the 300 application.
Sponsorship limitations
Previous Partner Visa sponsorship history can affect whether a sponsor can be approved.
Sponsorship limitations guidePrior visa refusal or cancellation
Adverse immigration history should be reviewed before lodgement because it can affect eligibility or strategy.
Relationship ends or sponsor dies
If circumstances change after grant, there may be notification obligations and, in some cases, possible Partner Visa pathways. Obtain advice promptly.
Family violence
Family violence provisions may become relevant in the later Partner Visa pathway depending on the timing and circumstances.
Family violence provisionsDependent children
Eligible family members can be included subject to the rules. A dependent child may be added before the Subclass 300 is decided, but not after grant.
The Emigrate Lawyers difference
We do not treat Subclass 300 as a one-form visa application.
Our approach is to design the entire relationship pathway—from choosing the right visa, through evidence and sponsorship, to the later 820/801 Partner Visa—before avoidable problems become expensive.
Lawyer-led pathway selection
We first test whether Subclass 300 is actually the right route or whether 309/100 or 820/801 is legally available and more efficient.
Evidence built for the decision-maker
We organise the relationship chronology, face-to-face meeting evidence, wedding intention, witness material and sponsor evidence into a coherent case rather than a document dump.
300 and 820/801 planned together
The wedding timetable, visa expiry and later Partner Visa application are considered from the beginning so the transition is not left until the last minute.
Complex-matter legal capability
We can address prior refusals or cancellations, sponsorship limitations, character or health concerns, missing documents, Requests for Further Information and procedural-fairness issues.
An Australian law firm, not a migration agency
Your immigration matter is handled within a legal practice with lawyer oversight, professional confidentiality obligations and the ability to advise when the problem becomes legal rather than administrative.
Clear scope and continuity
You receive a written scope and costs disclosure before ongoing work begins, with continuity available into the Partner Visa stage after marriage.
Start with the right pathway, not the first form you find online.
Tell us your relationship status, applicant location and marriage plans and we will assess the legal route.
Fees & processing
Use the current Home Affairs figures at the time you lodge.
Visa charges and processing data can change. We do not use a stale number as a substitute for the official pricing and processing tools.
Government charges · current from 1 July 2026
Subclass 300: from AUD 11,710
Home Affairs currently lists the base application charge from AUD 11,710 for the main Subclass 300 applicant. Additional applicant charges and other costs can apply. Eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens may qualify for a lower visa cost.
After marriageHome Affairs currently lists the 820/801 charge from AUD 1,955 for eligible Subclass 300 holders who move into the onshore Partner Visa pathway.
Prospective Marriage Visa applicants may experience lengthy processing. Home Affairs recommends using the current processing-time guide rather than treating a historical median as a promise for an individual application.
Official Home Affairs Subclass 300 page
Current visa fees and charges
Current processing times
Subclass 300 FAQs
Questions engaged couples commonly ask.
How long can I stay on a Subclass 300 visa?
Home Affairs currently states that the visa allows a stay of 9 to 15 months from the date of grant. Your actual visa period is stated in the grant letter.
Can I work and study in Australia?
Yes. Home Affairs states that Subclass 300 holders can work and study in Australia while the visa is valid, although government support for study is generally not available.
Do we have to marry in Australia?
No. Home Affairs states that you can marry in any country, but the marriage must be valid under Australian law and must occur before the Subclass 300 visa expires.
Do we have to have met in person?
Yes. You and your prospective spouse must have met face to face as adults since turning 18 and be known to each other personally when the application is made.
Where must I be when I apply?
The primary applicant must be outside Australia when the Subclass 300 application is lodged. Home Affairs currently states that the applicant may be in or outside Australia when the temporary visa is decided.
What happens after we marry?
If you want to settle in Australia, the usual next step is to lodge the onshore Partner Visa Subclass 820/801 after marriage and before the Subclass 300 expires.
What if we marry before the Subclass 300 is decided?
You must notify Home Affairs. The Department states that you are no longer eligible for Subclass 300 once married and explains a process for requesting consideration under the offshore 309/100 Partner Visa pathway.
Can I travel while holding the Subclass 300 visa?
Yes. Home Affairs states that the visa permits travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa remains valid.
How much does the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa cost in 2026?
Home Affairs currently lists the base application charge from AUD 11,710 for the main applicant, current from 1 July 2026. Additional applicants and other costs can increase the total. After marriage, an eligible Subclass 300 holder can currently access a lower 820/801 Partner Visa application charge if the Partner Visa is lodged before the Subclass 300 ends.
Will I have a Subclass 300 visa interview?
Not every applicant is interviewed. Home Affairs can request further information or an interview where it needs clarification. The applicant and sponsor should ensure the forms, statements, relationship chronology and wedding plans are accurate and consistent.
Can dependent children be included in a Subclass 300 application?
Eligible members of the family unit can be included when the application is lodged. Home Affairs also allows a dependent child to be added after lodgement but before the temporary visa is decided, subject to the applicable criteria.
Can an arranged-marriage couple apply for the Prospective Marriage Visa?
Potentially, but the statutory criteria still apply. In particular, the couple must have met face to face as adults since turning 18, be known to each other personally when the application is made and genuinely intend to marry before the visa period ends.
Do Subclass 300 holders get Medicare?
A Subclass 300 visa by itself does not automatically establish Medicare eligibility. Services Australia has separate Medicare rules, including rules for people who have applied for permanent residence and for people covered by Reciprocal Health Care Agreements. Eligibility should be checked directly with Services Australia for the person's circumstances.
Before you lodge
Plan the marriage and the Partner Visa transition before the fiancé visa is filed.
The strongest Subclass 300 strategy considers the offshore application, evidence of the relationship, marriage timing, sponsor eligibility and the later 820/801 application as one connected pathway.
Subclass 300 Strategy Consultation
For engaged couples applying from overseas, including sponsor-history issues, previous refusals, long-distance relationships and complex immigration histories.
Claim your consultationLegal review
Reviewed by Madhab Kharel, Principal Lawyer
General information only. Official references: Home Affairs — Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300) and Partner Visa FAQs.
