Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300): Complete 2026 Guide

What Is the Prospective Marriage Visa?

The Subclass 300 is a temporary visa that allows your overseas fiancé(e) to come to Australia for the purpose of marrying you. It is an offshore-only visa — your partner must apply from outside Australia. Once granted, the visa is valid for a single entry for nine months. During those nine months, the couple must marry. If the marriage does not take place within nine months, the visa expires and your partner must leave Australia. The 300 visa does not directly grant the right to remain in Australia permanently. After marrying, your partner must apply for the Subclass 820/801 partner visa to stay. The 300 is therefore best understood as a bridging mechanism for couples who want to marry in Australia before beginning the permanent partner visa process.

Who Can Apply?

Both parties must be at least 18 years of age. The Australian sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The overseas applicant must be outside Australia at the time of application and at the time of visa grant. The couple must have met in person at least once — you cannot apply for a 300 visa if you have only communicated online and have never physically met. The intention to marry must be genuine — the Department assesses whether the relationship is real and whether a genuine intention to marry exists. The marriage must be legally recognised in Australia — this means both parties must be legally free to marry (not already married to someone else) and the marriage must comply with the Marriage Act 1961. The couple is not required to be in a de facto relationship before the 300 application, unlike the partner visa pathway. The 300 is designed for couples who have not yet lived together long-term.

The Application Process

The Subclass 300 application is lodged online via ImmiAccount. Your overseas partner lodges the application from their home country. They will need to provide: a completed application form; evidence of your relationship — photographs together, communication records, evidence of how and when you met, statutory declarations from people who know you as a couple; evidence of the sponsor's Australian citizenship or permanent residence; health examinations (medical and chest X-ray); police clearances from every country your partner has lived in for 12 or more months in the past 10 years; and evidence of genuine intention to marry — this can include venue bookings, communication about wedding plans, or a marriage notice lodged with the registry. As the Australian sponsor, you must be approved as a sponsor for the 300 visa by lodging a separate sponsorship form. You cannot have sponsored more than two people for a 300 or partner visa previously, and there are other sponsorship limits that a migration agent can advise on.

Costs and Processing Times

The government application fee for the Subclass 300 is AUD $9,095 (2026 rates) — the same as the 820/801 partner visa. This fee covers the 300 visa only. When your partner subsequently applies for the 820/801 after marrying, they pay only the balance of any additional fees (the Department applies the fee already paid). Additional costs: health examinations AUD $300–$600 per person; police clearances AUD $50–$200 per country; migration agent fees AUD $1,500–$3,500. Processing times in 2026 are 12–18 months for 50% of applications and up to 24 months for 90% of applications. The 300 is processed entirely offshore — your partner will wait in their home country during this time. Unlike the 820 (which can be lodged onshore and grants a bridging visa while waiting), the 300 has no onshore equivalent.

After the Wedding: Applying for the 820/801

After marrying in Australia, your partner should apply for the Subclass 820/801 partner visa as soon as possible — ideally before the 300 visa expires. The 820/801 application is a combined application for the temporary 820 and permanent 801 stages. Because your partner is now your spouse (not a de facto), they do not need to show 12 months of cohabitation before lodging. The marriage certificate is the cornerstone of the 820/801 application. Your partner will need to provide complete evidence across all four relationship categories — financial, social, household, and commitment — in the same way as any other partner visa applicant. The 820 is typically granted within 12–20 months of lodgement. The 801 permanent stage follows approximately two years later, unless you have been together for three or more years before lodging.

Can my fiancé(e) work in Australia on the 300 visa?

Yes. The Subclass 300 grants work rights for its duration. Your partner can work for any employer in Australia during the nine-month period.

What if we do not marry within nine months?

The 300 visa expires and your partner must leave Australia. There is no extension available. If you still intend to marry but need more time, your partner may be able to apply for another 300 visa from offshore, but a new application and fees would apply.

Can my fiancé(e) bring their children on a 300 visa?

Dependent children can be included in the 300 application as secondary applicants. They receive the same nine-month stay.

Is the 300 visa the same as a partner visa?

No. The 300 is a temporary visa specifically for people who intend to marry in Australia. A partner visa (820/801 or 309/100) is for people who are already married or in a de facto relationship. After marrying on a 300, you must then apply for a partner visa to stay permanently.