Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)
Last updated on
Introduction
The Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) enables individuals to travel to Australia to marry their fiancé.
The initial Subclass 300 (Prospective Marriage) visa is a temporary visa that provides a pathway to permanent residency through the Onshore Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801) once the marriage happens in Australia.
The marriage must take place within 9 to 15 months of the visa grant date.
Key Benefits of the Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)
This visa entitles holders to:
- Live and work in Australia unconditionally during the visa validity period.
- Study in Australia without government funding.
- Travel to and from Australia without any restrictions.
Who Can Apply for the Prospective Marriage Visa
To qualify for this visa, you must meet the following requirements:
General Eligibility Criteria
1. Be Offshore
You must be outside Australia at the time of application, and any family members included in your application must also be outside the country.
2. Over 18
Both you and your prospective spouse must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
3. Health and Character
You must:
- You must meet the health requirement, which usually involves completing medical examinations.
- You must meet the character requirement by providing police checks for any country where you have lived for a total of 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Relationship & Sponsorship Requirements
1. Relationship Requirements
To be granted a Prospective Marriage visa, you and your partner must meet the following conditions and show supporting evidence:
1- Met in person
You must have met face-to-face as adults (not just online or by phone).
Evidence may include passport stamps, flight tickets, or photos together.
2- Known to each other
You need to show you personally know each other.
Evidence may include records of communication, joint activities, or time spent together.
3- Genuine intention to marry
You must have real plans to marry within the visa period.
Evidence may include a marriage celebrant’s letter or a lodged Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM).
A Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) is the official form you lodge with an authorised celebrant to book your wedding date in Australia.
4- Commitment to a shared life
You must intend to live together as a couple after marriage.
Evidence may include relationship statements, joint financial records, or proof of ongoing contact.
5- Legally free to marry
Both of you must be legally able to marry under Australian law.
Evidence may include a divorce certificate, death certificate of a former spouse, or a statutory declaration confirming single status.
2. Sponsorship Requirements
Your sponsor must meet certain eligibility and character rules before you can be granted this visa.
Who can be a sponsor?
Your sponsor must be your prospective spouse and be one of the following:
• An Australian citizen
• An Australian permanent resident (must be usually resident in Australia)
• An eligible New Zealand citizen
An eligibile New Zealand citizen is one with protected SCV status (e.g. in Australia on 26 Feb 2001 or confirmed by Centrelink).
General eligibility for a sponsor
Sponsors must be at least 18 years old and not subject to any sponsorship bars (such as having previously sponsored multiple partners within the last 5 years or having been sponsored themselves recently).
Character requirements for a sponsor
Sponsors are required to provide police clearances for any country in which they have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. The Department may refuse sponsorship if the sponsor has certain criminal convictions, particularly relating to family violence or child-related offences.
Limitations on sponsorship
Generally, a person can sponsor a maximum of two partners in their lifetime, with at least five years between sponsorships. Exceptions may apply in compelling circumstances (such as if the previous partner has died).
Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) Fees
- Base application charge: AUD 9,365
- Additional applicant charge 18 and over: AUD 4,685
- Additional applicant charge under 18: AUD 2,345
Application Processing Time
- Processing times typically range from 20 to 30 months.
FAQs
1. How can I extend my stay after marriage?
You must apply for the Partner visa (subclass 820/801). Once lodged, you will usually be granted a bridging visa, allowing you to remain in Australia while your application is processed.
2. What if my sponsor has previously been sponsored?
If your sponsor entered Australia as the fiancé(e) or partner of someone else within the last five years, they are usually barred from sponsoring you — unless compelling circumstances exist (such as children from the relationship).
3. Can I visit my partner (prospective spouse) in Australia when the visa application is under process?
You may be able to visit your partner in Australia while your Prospective Marriage Visa is being processed, usually by applying for a Tourist Visa, provided you meet its eligibility requirements.
4. What if the marriage does not happen within the visa period?
If the marriage does not occur within the 9–15 months the visa is valid, you cannot extend or renew the visa. You may need to reapply or explore other visa options.
5. Do health and character checks expire?
Yes. Health and police checks are generally valid for 12 months. If there are delays in your application, you may need to undergo new checks before a decision is made.
6. What happens in case of a relationship breakdown?
Your visa will usually be refused or cancelled. You may only stay in limited cases, such as if your sponsor has died or if family violence has occurred.
7. What does “usually resident” mean for Australian permanent residents?
It means they must genuinely live in Australia and show strong ties (home, work, tax, family), not just hold the visa.
8. Can I use Medicare while on a Prospective Marriage Visa?
No, you are not eligible for Medicare on this visa. You become eligible once you lodge a Partner visa application (subclass 820/801).
