300 Visa Australia: Prospective Marriage Visa Guide
VEMVisa | Australia Family Migration
A practical guide for engaged couples choosing the Prospective Marriage Visa pathway and preparing a clear Subclass 300 application.
The 300 visa, formally the Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300), is for eligible people who are engaged to an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
It lets you come to Australia to marry your prospective spouse, then apply for an onshore Partner visa. For the broader pathways, see our Partner Visa Australia guide.
Important: You must be outside Australia when you lodge a Subclass 300 application. Home Affairs confirms that the visa is designed to let you come to Australia to marry your prospective spouse before applying for a Partner visa.
The Subclass 300 pathway is designed for eligible engaged couples who plan to marry and then apply for an onshore Partner visa.
What is a Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300?
The Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300 is a temporary family-migration pathway for engaged couples. It is not permanent residency, and it is not the same as a Partner visa for people already married or in a de facto relationship.
After marriage, an eligible visa holder can apply for the onshore Partner Visa 820/801. This may lead to permanent residency through the 801 stage if the relevant requirements are met.
Best fit: engaged couples
You intend to marry an eligible Australian sponsor and have not yet entered the married or qualifying de facto Partner visa pathway.
Application location
You must be outside Australia at the time of lodgement. Keep travel and location details clear in your application record.
Next visa step
After marriage, review the onshore Partner Visa 820/801 requirements before the Subclass 300 validity period ends.
300 Visa requirements: relationship, sponsor and location
A Subclass 300 application needs evidence that the relationship is genuine, that both people intend to marry, and that the sponsor is eligible. The Department assesses each application individually.
Relationship and applicant requirements
You and your prospective spouse must be old enough to marry under Australian law.
You must have met in person as adults and be personally known to each other.
You must genuinely intend to marry and live together as a married couple.
You must meet applicable health and character requirements.
You must be outside Australia when the Subclass 300 application is lodged.
Sponsor considerations
The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Sponsorship history, relevant criminal history and other circumstances can affect eligibility.
Check the sponsor instructions in ImmiAccount and on the official visa page before lodging.
Do not rely on a generic checklist alone. Your visa history, children, prior marriages, location and sponsor history can change the evidence required. Confirm your personalised document list in ImmiAccount.
How to apply for a 300 Visa Australia
Most applicants apply online through ImmiAccount. Build the application around a complete relationship timeline, accurate identity records and evidence of your intended marriage.
1. Confirm the correct pathway
Use the 300 visa only where you are engaged and intend to marry. Couples already married or in a de facto relationship often need to compare the 300 pathway with Subclass 309/100.
2. Build your evidence plan
Organise identity, relationship, communication, travel, financial support and intention-to-marry evidence in date order.
3. Lodge through ImmiAccount
Complete the online application and sponsorship steps with consistent details. Keep copies of every document uploaded.
4. Respond to requests promptly
Home Affairs may request further documents, health examinations, biometrics or clarification. Check messages in ImmiAccount regularly.
A complete, clearly organised application helps the Department assess the relationship and intended marriage.
Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300 checklist
The 300 visa checklist should show the relationship is genuine and that the planned marriage is real. It should also cover identity, character and any family circumstances relevant to your case.
Identity and character
Passports, birth records, name-change or divorce records where applicable, and police certificates if requested.
Relationship history
A clear timeline, photos from different periods, communication records, visits, travel and statements in your own words.
Intention to marry
Evidence of the planned marriage, such as a celebrant letter, Notice of Intended Marriage, venue or planning records where relevant.
Sponsor and family documents
Evidence of the sponsor’s status, plus child, custody or consent documents where they apply to the application.
Use the official document prompts in ImmiAccount as the source of truth. A generic online partner visa 300 checklist cannot replace the instructions generated for your own application.
Use ImmiAccount and the official Subclass 300 page to confirm the documents required for your individual application.
Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300 cost and processing time
The Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300 cost can change. The official Visa Pricing Estimator gives an estimate based on your intended lodgement date, location, applicant details and other answers.
Budget separately for possible related costs, such as health examinations, police certificates, biometrics, translations and professional advice. The pricing estimator is an estimate, not a guarantee of your total cost.
Budget item
What to check
Visa application charge
Use the official estimator immediately before lodgement. Charges can change.
Health and character
Costs depend on where examinations and police certificates are obtained.
Translations and evidence
Allow for certified translations, document retrieval and any evidence preparation costs.
After the 300 visa
After marriage, review the separate fee and requirements for the 820/801 stage.
Visa 300 processing times: use the Department’s processing-time guide rather than relying on historic figures. It is based on recently decided applications, is not specific to your case and does not guarantee a decision date.
A medical examination does not establish a fixed decision date. Processing can still depend on evidence completeness, health, character, verification work and the circumstances of the application.
VEM Visa can review your pathway, evidence plan and application readiness before lodgement.
What prospective marriage visa Subclass 300 holders can do
After grant, Subclass 300 holders can travel to Australia to marry their prospective spouse. The visa is temporary; it does not itself grant permanent residence.
Check the grant notice and VEVO for your own visa conditions, including the period of stay, travel, work and study rights. After marrying, assess the onshore 820/801 Partner visa pathway before the 300 visa ceases.
Check the visa grant notice and VEVO for the conditions that apply to your own visa.
Visa 300 vs 309: which pathway fits your relationship?
The difference is primarily the stage of your relationship at application. A Subclass 300 is for an eligible engaged couple intending to marry. A Subclass 309 is for an eligible spouse or de facto partner applying in the offshore Partner visa stream.
Question
Subclass 300
Subclass 309/100
Relationship at application
Engaged and intending to marry.
Married or in a qualifying de facto relationship.
Immediate purpose
Come to Australia and marry the prospective spouse.
Live in Australia temporarily as the partner while the permanent stage is assessed.
Next step
Apply for 820/801 after marriage, if eligible.
Progresses through the Partner 309/100 pathway.
Read the detailed Subclass 309 visa guide before choosing the offshore Partner visa pathway.
Discuss your Subclass 300 pathway
An eligibility review can help identify relationship-evidence gaps, sponsor restrictions, timing risks and the practical next step after marriage.
Watch VEM Visa’s original Subclass 300 client case-study video. Open on YouTubeDiscuss your relationship evidence, intended marriage and next Partner visa step with VEM Visa.
Frequently asked questions about Visa 300 Australia
Is a 300 visa permanent residency?
No. The Prospective Marriage Visa is temporary. After marriage, an eligible holder may apply for the onshore Partner Visa 820/801 pathway.
How long does a 300 visa take to process?
Use the official processing-time guide for an indication based on recently decided applications. It is not a promise for your case and can change.
Will there be a Subclass 300 visa interview?
An interview is not a standard guaranteed step for every applicant. Home Affairs may request more evidence or clarification. Keep your application timeline and statements accurate, consistent and evidence-based.
Can a 300 visa be extended?
Do not assume an extension is available. Check your grant notice and get advice early if your marriage or next visa plan may not occur within the visa validity period.
Is Visa 300 or Visa 309 better?
Neither is universally better. Visa 300 fits eligible engaged couples who intend to marry. Visa 309 is for eligible spouses or de facto partners applying through the offshore Partner visa stream.
Mr. Phong Cao is a licensed migration agent by MARA (MARN: 1577877). He is also a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA: 12648), one of the most reputable organizations in the field of immigration in Australia. In addition, Mr. Phong Cao holds a QEAC certification in study abroad consulting (QEAC: K580) and Australian real estate investment (RA85931). With over 12 years of experience in Australian immigration, he provides comprehensive solutions for studying and settling in Australia.
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One thought on “300 Visa Australia: Prospective Marriage Visa Guide”
Dimple says:
Hi. I will be highly obliged, if you may get some minuted. That my son in law applied for sub class 300 on 5.5.2024 n all required documents are submitted. More than 14 months elapsed. Can I expect approval in July August 2025. Pl advise. Much awaited.
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cập nhật:
Hi. I will be highly obliged, if you may get some minuted. That my son in law applied for sub class 300 on 5.5.2024 n all required documents are submitted. More than 14 months elapsed. Can I expect approval in July August 2025. Pl advise. Much awaited.