Prospective Marriage Visa Australia: Subclass 300 Requirements, Cost and Process

Eligible applicants can use the Prospective Marriage Visa Australia, subclass 300, to come to Australia and marry their prospective spouse.

You must be outside Australia when you apply. If your visa is granted, you can live, work and study in Australia for 9 to 15 months from the date of grant. You can also travel to and from Australia while the visa remains valid.

The visa is designed for people who intend to marry their prospective spouse in Australia. After marriage, you may be able to apply for a Partner visa to continue your pathway in Australia.

This guide explains the key Prospective Marriage Visa Australia requirements, documents, costs, processing considerations and what happens after subclass 300.

What Is a Prospective Marriage Visa in Australia?

The Prospective Marriage Visa, subclass 300, is a temporary Australian visa for people who want to come to Australia to marry their prospective spouse. It is commonly referred to as a fiance visa.

The visa lets you live in Australia for 9 to 15 months from the date of grant, work in Australia, study in Australia, travel to and from Australia while the visa is valid, marry your prospective spouse in Australia, and apply for a Partner visa after marriage if you meet the relevant requirements.

The subclass 300 application must be made from outside Australia. This makes it different from the onshore Partner visa subclass 820, which requires the applicant to be in Australia when applying.

Who Can Apply for the Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300?

You must meet several requirements to qualify for subclass 300. The main requirements include:

Your sponsor must generally be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

You must also have met your prospective spouse face to face as adults since turning 18. You must know each other personally when you apply.

What Are the Prospective Marriage Visa Australia Requirements?

Your application needs to establish more than an intention to get married. You need to show that you have a genuine relationship with your prospective spouse.

Home Affairs asks for evidence about your relationship and previous relationships, if applicable. You also need to provide evidence that you have met your prospective spouse face to face as adults.

You should also be able to demonstrate that you intend to marry your prospective spouse before the visa period ends.

Evidence can include a relationship history, evidence of visits and travel together, photographs from time spent together, communication records, evidence of plans for the wedding, evidence from people who know about your relationship, and evidence of your future plans together.

The evidence should tell a consistent story about your relationship. Do not rely on one type of evidence alone. A combination of relevant documents can provide a clearer picture of your relationship.

What Documents Do You Need for Subclass 300?

Your document requirements depend on your circumstances. Common documents can include:

Home Affairs states that applicants should provide evidence of their relationship with their prospective spouse, any former relationships and any dependants.

You must also provide statements from two witnesses who are at least 18 years old and know you, your prospective spouse and your relationship. These statements can be provided using Form 888.

Documents that are not in English should be translated according to Home Affairs requirements.

Prepare your documents before lodging where possible. Home Affairs states that providing required information with the application can help reduce processing delays.

How Do You Prove Your Relationship for a Prospective Marriage Visa?

Relationship evidence is an important part of a subclass 300 application. The evidence should show that you and your prospective spouse have a genuine relationship.

How Your Relationship Developed

Explain when and how you met. Include important milestones in your relationship. Your timeline should match your supporting documents.

Time Spent Together

Evidence of face-to-face meetings is particularly important. You can provide documents showing visits and travel together. Photographs can support your evidence, but they should not be the only evidence you provide.

Communication

If you have spent periods apart, communication records can help demonstrate ongoing contact. You do not need to provide every message. Select relevant evidence that helps explain the nature and development of your relationship.

Your Future Plans

You should also explain your plans to marry and build your life together. Wedding arrangements can support your intention to marry. A letter or other evidence from the person who will officiate the wedding can also be relevant. Home Affairs lists evidence that you will marry your prospective spouse within 9 months of visa grant as an example of relationship evidence.

Prospective Marriage Visa Australia Cost: How Much Does It Cost?

The current base application charge for the Prospective Marriage Visa subclass 300 is AUD 11,710.

Concessions apply in limited circumstances. From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste applicants who meet the relevant requirements.

The visa application charge is not the only expense you may need to budget for. Additional costs can include health examinations, police certificates, biometrics where applicable, document translation, and other application-related expenses.

Home Affairs recommends using the Visa Pricing Estimator to check the applicable visa charge. The estimator does not include some additional costs such as health checks, police certificates and biometrics.

How Long Does a Prospective Marriage Visa Take to Process?

There is no single guaranteed processing time for every subclass 300 application.

Home Affairs directs applicants to its visa processing time guide for an indication based on recently decided applications. The published timeframe is a guide and is not specific to an individual application.

Processing priority can also affect how long an application takes. Under the current family visa processing arrangements, offshore Prospective Marriage visa applications are given lower priority than onshore Partner visa applications. Home Affairs notes that lower priority applications are likely to experience longer processing times.

This means you should not plan your wedding, travel or relocation around an assumed processing date. Instead, check the current processing guide and keep your application information up to date.

What Happens in a Subclass 300 Visa Interview?

Some applicants may be asked to provide additional information or attend an interview. An interview can help assess the information provided about your relationship and circumstances.

You should be prepared to explain how you met, how your relationship developed, how often you communicate, when you have spent time together, your wedding plans, your future plans as a couple, and relevant details about your prospective spouse.

Your answers should be consistent with the information and documents in your application. Do not try to memorise answers. Instead, make sure you understand your application and can explain your relationship accurately.

What Can You Do on a Prospective Marriage Visa?

A subclass 300 holder can live, work and study in Australia for 9 to 15 months from the date of visa grant. The visa also allows multiple travel movements while it remains valid.

You must comply with the conditions attached to your visa. You can check your visa details and conditions through VEVO.

The visa is temporary. It is not the permanent visa stage of the Partner visa pathway.

What Happens After You Get Married on a Subclass 300 Visa?

After you marry your prospective spouse, you may be able to apply for a Partner visa. Home Affairs states that eligible subclass 300 holders can apply for Partner visas after marriage.

The application should be made before the Prospective Marriage visa expires. This creates a pathway from the temporary Prospective Marriage visa to the Partner visa process.

The next visa stage is not automatic. You still need to meet the relevant Partner visa requirements when you apply.

An important cost difference also applies. Home Affairs currently lists a generally lower Partner visa application charge of AUD 1,955 for applicants who hold a Prospective Marriage visa subclass 300.

Subclass 300 or Partner Visa: Which Pathway Is Relevant?

The right pathway depends on your relationship and circumstances.

The key difference is your relationship status and the purpose of the visa. Subclass 300 is designed for a person who intends to marry their prospective spouse. Partner visas are designed for spouses or de facto partners.

Subclass 300 Pre-Lodgement Checklist

Start by checking whether subclass 300 matches your circumstances. Confirm that you are outside Australia when applying, you have an eligible sponsor, you have met your prospective spouse face to face as adults, you genuinely intend to marry, you can provide evidence of your relationship, you can meet the health and character requirements, and you have prepared the required supporting documents.

Then review your relationship evidence before lodging. Make sure your dates, travel history, relationship timeline and supporting documents are consistent. Keep copies of everything you submit.

Before lodging, review your relationship evidence, eligibility and supporting documents against the subclass 300 requirements.