How to apply for a Prospective Marriage Visa

Are you living overseas and looking to marry your Australian partner? You could be eligible for the Prospective Marriage Visa, a temporary partner visa.

Also known as the fiancé visa, the 300 visa allows you to enter Australia with the intention of marrying an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.

Along with living outside Australia at the time of your application, there are plenty of things you need to consider to ensure a successful application. Discover everything you need to know about the Prospective Marriage Visa, from visa requirements to the application fee you’ll need to pay.

A 1-minute guide to the Prospective Marriage Visa in Australia

• Visa categories: To secure a Prospective Marriage Visa, you’ll need to apply for a Subclass 300 visa.
• Basic eligibility requirements: You must be planning to marry your prospective spouse before your visa period ends and your sponsor needs to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Cost estimate: From AUD$9,095.00
• Processing time estimate: As of May 2024, 50% of applications for a 300 visa are processed within 14 months with 90% of applications processed within 37 months.

Eligibility requirements for the Prospective Marriage Visa

The 300 visa is designed for international fiancés planning to marry their Australian partner. It’s a temporary partner visa, allowing prospective partners living overseas the opportunity to enter Australia ahead of your marriage.

Typically, a Prospective Marriage Visa allows you to stay in Australia for nine to 15 months from the date your visa is granted. With an approved 300 visa, you can work and study in Australia, too.

So, what conditions do you need to qualify for a Prospective Marriage Visa? According to the Department of Home Affairs, you need to:

• Be 18 years or older
• Be sponsored by an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand Citizen
• Be intending to marry your Australian partner prior to the end of your visa period (and have evidence to prove this)
• Be located outside Australia when applying for this visa
• Meet the Australian Government’s health requirements and character requirements
• Ensure you have adequate health insurance as you’ll be personally liable for your healthcare costs while in Australia on this visa
• Not owe any debt to the Australian Government
• Ensure you sign the Australian values statement

💡 Matilda Tip: Have you already applied for the 300 visa before November 26th 2023? There have been changes to the Migration Regulations 1994, which means you can be granted this visa while in Australia if you were in Australia anytime between February 1st 2020, and November 25th 2023 and meet the eligibility requirements.

Deep dive: intent to marry your partner

A unique condition of securing a 300 visa is proving that you intend to marry your Australian partner.

Once your Prospective Marriage Visa is approved, you only have a short period of time (9 to 15 months) to marry your partner. That means you need to have plans already in place for when and where your ceremony will take place when applying for this visa.

So, what documentation do you need to submit when applying for the 300 visa? You’ll need to provide a signed and dated letter (on a letterhead) from the registered marriage celebrant you’re using to conduct your ceremony.

Make sure this letter includes the date and venue of your ceremony. Plus, ensure that your marriage celebrant has lodged a Notice of Intention to Marry (NOIM) as well.

Deep dive: health requirements for a 300 visa

One of the key visa conditions for a 300 visa is that you’ll need to meet Australia’s health requirements.

You will need to complete a health examination. Once your application is submitted to your Immi account, a medical questionnaire will be generated. From there, you’ll be able to book your health examination at an approved panel clinic. 

Make sure to share your unique health appointment ID (HAP ID) on your medical form so your results will be automatically linked with your visa application.

Deep dive: character requirements for a 300 visa

Another key visa condition for the Prospective Marriage Visa is to meet Australia’s character requirements.

To be considered eligible for a partner visa, you’ll be measured up against Australia’s character requirements under section 501 of the Migration Act 1958.

To meet Australia’s character requirements, you’ll need to provide police clearances from each country you’ve lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. If a significant issue is flagged, your application may be referred to the Character Unit, which can cause processing delays.

Plus, your sponsor will also need to provide police clearances for each country they’ve lived in for 12 months or more over the past 10 years.

Receiving a conviction with a custodial sentence of 12 months or more (even if this sentence was suspended) could result in your application being refused. In contrast, minor offences, such as fare evasion, generally don’t impact your eligibility. 

During your partner visa application, it’s important that you answer all questions truthfully, provide all information requested and declare all criminal activities you’ve engaged in. 

Non-disclosure of even minor offences can impact your eligibility as Home Affairs views this as lying to the Commonwealth—an act that can lead to a three-year ban on any further visa applications. 

💡 Matilda Tip: Remember that the Australian Government will detect your criminal record when reviewing your application, so it’s always important to be honest and declare any past criminal behaviour upfront.

A step-by-step guide to applying for the Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300 visa)

There is a lot to consider when preparing your prospective marriage visa application. From gathering and organising your supporting documents to understanding what level of detail you need to provide, navigating the process alone can be incredibly time-consuming.

In our ultimate guide to applying for a partner visa, we run you through everything you need to consider, including a more detailed version of this step-by-step application guide. For a more consolidated overview of the application process, dive into the summary below.

If you’ve checked your eligibility, it’s time to get ready to submit your Prospective Marriage Visa application. Make sure you’ve gathered all your documents, have translated non-English documents that aren’t easily identifiable and provide original and translated copies.

You’ll likely need to provide evidence aligned with the four pillars of Australia’s partner visa program, including:

1. Financial Aspects: From shared bank accounts to joint ownership of major assets, it’s helpful to provide evidence of financial aspects to prove that you share and pool your finances as a couple and pay for living expenses together.
   
   
2. Nature of Household: As you’re likely not living together, this aspect is about providing evidence that demonstrates you’re intent to marry (such as plans for the wedding, venue hire confirmation, receipts from wedding rings and even honeymoon arrangements.
   
   
3. Social Aspects: Demonstrating a shared life is key to providing the social aspects of your relationship. Evidence can include supporting statements from friends or loved ones, joint travel plans or photo evidence of attending events as a couple.
   
   
4. Nature of Commitment: You’ll also need to be able to show the nature of your commitment, including letters, relationship statements and even the terms of your wills that demonstrate the length of your relationship, significant events you’ve shared and your level of commitment to each other.

For a complete list of all the supporting documents you’ll likely need to wrangle, check out our comprehensive checklist below. 

Keep in mind that not every piece of evidence is going to be relevant to your application, which is why working with an RMA can be helpful (as they’ll be able to streamline this process, reduce your workload and narrow down what documentation is relevant for your specific application).

Once you’re ready to submit your application, follow these key steps:

1. Login to your ImmiAccount or create a new account.
2. Select ‘New application’ and choose ‘Family’.
3. Select ‘Stage 1 - Partner or Prospective Marriage Visa’.
4. Fill out your application, attach your supporting documents and pay the visa application charge.
5. Submit your application and share your transaction reference number (TRN) with your sponsor, as they’ll need this to apply for sponsorship. This is a separate application that needs to be completed by the sponsor after the applicant has submitted an application for their visa. 

Once you’ve submitted your application, you may need to provide additional information or supporting material. Once a decision has been made, you’ll receive your visa outcome in writing, which will confirm your visa grant number, the start date of your visa and any visa conditions you need to meet.

Pathways to a permanent partner visa: what’s next?

If you’ve been approved for a Prospective Marriage Visa, you’re probably wondering: how do I secure a permanent partner visa?

This is an important step in your journey to becoming a permanent Australian citizen, and it is a condition of being approved for a temporary 300 visa.

First up, you need to marry your partner. Whether this marriage takes place inside or outside Australia, it must be considered a valid marriage under Australian law.

Once you’re married, you can get the wheels in motion to apply for an onshore partner visa (subclass 820 and 801). If you want to remain in Australia, you need to ensure you’ve secured at least a temporary partner visa (820 visa) before your Prospective Marriage Visa expires.

💡 Matilda Tip: If you apply for a partner visa before your Prospective Marriage visa ends, you’ll score a saving and will pay less on your 820/801 visa application.

With this permanent visa, you automatically become a permanent resident with full working rights and the ability to apply to become an Australian citizen after a certain period of time (typically, you’ll become eligible to apply four years after your permanent partner visa is approved).

Prospective Marriage Visa vs other partner visas

Learn more about the other partner visa pathways available with our complete guides to:

• Onshore partner visas (subclass 820 and subclass 801)
• Offshore partner visas (subclass 309 and subclass 100)

👀 Keep Reading: Learn everything you need to know with our ultimate guide to applying for a partner visa in Australia.

Prospective Marriage Visa FAQs

Can I travel to Australia while waiting for a Prospective Marriage Visa?

It is possible to travel to Australia while awaiting the outcome of your Prospective Marriage Visa. However, you will need to secure another visa type to gain entry to Australia (such as a Visitor visa).

Keep in mind that you’ll need to meet the eligibility requirements of this other visa category and be prepared to depart Australia at the end of your intended stay if your 300 visa isn’t approved in time.

How long does it take to get a 300 visa in Australia?

As of May 2024, 50% of applications for a 300 visa are processed within 14 months, with 90% of applications processed within 37 months.

Keep in mind that processing times for visas can fluctuate and change over time. For the most up-to-date information, head to the the Home Affairs’ Visa Processing Times tool and search by the ‘300 visa’ category.

Can you add family members to your 300 visa application?

Yes, you can add dependent children to your application as long as they are located outside Australia. You’ll need to attach Form 1436 (Adding additional applicant after lodgment) and let the Department of Home Affairs know using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.

What happens if the subclass 300 visa is granted?

Good news: once your 300 visa has been approved, you’ll be able to travel to Australia to marry your partner. Remember, you’ll only have a few months (anywhere from 9 to 15 months) to marry your Australian partner once your visa has been approved.

Once you’re married, you can then begin the process of applying for a permanent partner visa (such as a subclass 801 visa). With a permanent partner visa, you’ll be granted permanent residency with the option to apply for Australian citizenship after a certain period of time.

How much does an Australian Prospective Marriage Visa cost?

The cost of a Prospective Partner Visa starts from AUD$8,850. Plus, you may be able to lower the cost of your permanent partner visa if you submit your application before your 300 visa expires.